Effect of Egg Yolk-Derived Low-Density Lipoprotein and Melatonin Supplementation on Post-Thaw Semen Quality of Salem Black Bucks
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.48165/ijvsbt.22.2.26Keywords:
Buck semen, Cryopreservation, LDL, Melatonin, Semen quality.Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate egg yolk-derived low-density lipoprotein (LDL) as a semen extender and melatonin as an antioxidant in goat semen cryopreservation by assessing post-thaw semen quality parameters. Semen ejaculates (n=24) were collected twice weekly from Salem Black bucks (n=2) using an artificial vagina. After preliminary evaluation, screened pooled samples were extended using six different extenders: Tris–egg yolk–glycerol extender (control), Tris–6% LDL–glycerol extender (Group 2), Tris–8% LDL–glycerol extender (Group 3), control with 0.5 mM melatonin (Group 4), control with 1 mM melatonin (Group 5), and Tris–8% LDL–glycerol extender with 0.5 mM melatonin (Group 6). Semen samples were diluted according to the appropriate dilution rate, filled into straws, and cryopreserved at -196 °C following standard protocols. Physiological characteristics of fresh, freshly diluted (22 °C), pre-freeze (5 °C), and post-thaw semen were evaluated on days 0, 7, and 30 of cryostorage. Post-thaw evaluation on day 30 of cryostorage revealed significantly higher (p < 0.01) progressive motility, sperm livability, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosomal integrity, with values of 54.50%, 57.33%, 54.50%, and 51.33%, respectively, in the treatment group 6 followed by group 4 than others. The results indicate that the extender replacing egg yolk with 8% LDL and supplemented with melatonin 0.5 mM is effective for semen preservation in Salem Black bucks. Melatonin improved post-thaw semen quality by reducing oxidative damage during cryopreservation.
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