Gallic and carnosic acids improve quality of frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa.
The objective was to determine effects of gallic acid (GA) and carnosic acid (CA), present in carob pods and rosemary extract respectively, on frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa. Thirty ejaculates were collected from five Merino rams, pooled, diluted in Tris-based extender and divided into five equal portions containing: 0.05 or 2 mM of GA; 0.05 or 0.2 mM of CA; or no additive (control). Extended semen was equilibrated at +4°C, loaded into straws, held 5 cm above liquid nitrogen for 12 min then plunged. Computer-aided sperm analysis was used to assess motility, whereas flow cytometry was used to assess high mitochondrial membrane potential (HMMP) and percentages of spermatozoa with plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI). Spermatozoa supplemented with 2 mM GA had greater total motility than control spermatozoa (39.9 ± 3.01 vs. 29.2 ± 1.31%, mean ± SEM, p < .05). The PMAI was greatest in 0.2 mM CA (13.3 ± 0.68%), whereas HMMP was highest in 0.05 mM CA but lowest in control (22.9 ± 4.95 and 11.4 ± 3.64% respectively; p < .05). In conclusion, for cryopreservation of ram semen in Tris-based extender, supplementation with 2 mM GA increased post-thaw motility, whereas supplementation with 0.05 mM CA enhanced mitochondrial function.
['Gungor|Sukru|S|https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3460-522X', 'Inanc|Muhammed E|ME|https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6954-6309', 'Ozturk|Caner|C|', 'Korkmaz|Firat|F|', 'Bastan|Ilktan|I|', 'Cil|Beste|B|', 'Kastelic|John P|JP|']
D045784:Abietanes D000818:Animals D015925:Cryopreservation D003451:Cryoprotective Agents D005615:Freezing D005707:Gallic Acid D008297:Male D012662:Semen Preservation D012756:Sheep D013081:Sperm Motility D013094:Spermatozoa
carnosic acid gallic acid flow cytometry computer-assisted sperm analysis