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The goal of current investigation was to ascertain the impact of carnitine as an additive in tris-egg yolk-based extender on Hariana bull semen (32 ejaculates) chosen for cryopreservation. Progressive motility, viability, HOS response, and acrosomal integrity were estimated after equilibration (pre-freeze) and after thawing. The activity of enzymes malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) were quantified in post-thaw seminal plasma. Semen ejaculates from Hariana bulls (n=4) were diluted in tris egg yolk glycerol (TEYG) and were divided into four equal groups. Aliquot/Group I was processed without carnitine and served as control, while Groups II, III and IV received carnitine at concentration of 2.5 mM, 5 mM and 10 mM per 80x106 spermatozoa, respectively. Carnitine at 5 mM concentration significantly (p<0.05) enhanced sperm viability, acrosomal integrity, and intact plasma membranes both at pre-freeze and post-thaw stage. The addition of 5 mM and 2.5 mM carnitine reduced oxidative stress considerably (p<0.05). The results of this investigation revealed that carnitine has cryoprotective properties on bull spermatozoa via reducing oxidative stress and free radicals. Hence to improve post-thaw sperm functional dynamics, it was suggested that 5 mM of carnitine be supplemented as an additive to semen extender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present experiment was designed to study the effect of supplementation of Trehalose on freezability and antioxidant activity of Hariana bull semen. Semen samples were diluted in TFYG extender containing different concentrations of Trehalose (10 mM, 30 mM & 50 mM). The control samples were extended with TFYG alone. Results clearly indicated that, 30 mM Trehalose group had significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage of individual sperm motility, sperm viability, and intact acrosome in comparison to the control and other Trehalose supplemented groups. In biochemical assays, no clear-cut demarcation for antioxidant enzyme was found for Trehalose supplementation. However, Trehalose supplementation has showed increase activity for Glutathione reductase (GR). The results obtained clearly indicated that supplementation of Trehalose (30 mM) to extender prior to cryopreservation improves Hariana bull sperm quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of seasonal variations on various seminal attributes and freezability of Hariana bull semen. The study was conducted over a period of four months and divided into two peak seasons as winter (December-January) and summer (May-June). Twenty-four ejaculates were collected from 4 bulls in each season. The physico-morphological characteristics of semen, viz., volume (ml), mass activity (0-5 scale), pH, sperm concentration (million/ ml), progressive motility (%), sperm livability (%), HOST (%), total morphological sperm abnormality (%) and acrosomal integrity (%) were estimated at different stages of cryopreservation in different seasons. During summer season the ejaculate volume and seminal pH were found non-significantly higher than in winter, whereas the percentage of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa was significantly (p<0.05) higher in summer. Postthaw percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa was significantly (p<0.05) higher in winter than summer season. Live sperm per cent were significantly (p<0.05) higher in winter than summer season both at fresh and pre-freeze stage. HOST positive sperm and acrosomal integrity were significantly (p<0.01) higher in winter season than summer at all three stages. The study generated basic information that the summer season adversely affects the various physico-morphological characteristics of Hariana bull semen altering its freezability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study, melatonin, a known antioxidant pineal peptide was used as an additive in the tris-egg yolk glycerol-based semen extender in Hariana bull semen and post-thaw sperm characters were evaluated. In the study, Group I was a control without melatonin; and Group II, III, and IV were having 0.5 mM, 1 mM, and 2 mM melatonin/80 × 106 spermatozoa, respectively were treatment groups. Thirty-two semen ejaculates from 4 Hariana bulls were processed for freezing and post-thaw sperm characteristics were evaluated. Sperm motility, velocity, the viability with intact membrane, and total antioxidant capacity were markedly (P < 0.05) improved in Group IV compared to all other groups. The lipid peroxidation and total protein carbonylation were substantially (P < 0.05) decreased in Group IV compared to all other groups. The population of cryocapacitated, acrosome-reacted, and apoptotic-like spermatozoa were significantly (P < 0.05) decreased in Group IV. Further, the relative band intensity of 74 kDa protein and percent of spermatozoa showing positive immune reactivity to tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins was decreased in Group IV. The progesterone-receptor ligand binding, in vitro capacitation response, and Vanguard distance were markedly (P < 0.05) improved in Group IV. In summary- Group IV having 2 mM melatonin was found to be optimal in providing cryoprotective effects to Hariana bull spermatozoa after freezing-thawing and can be suitably used as a semen additive during semen cryopreservation. • Melatonin in semen extender lowers oxidative damage to spermatozoa. • Melatonin in semen extender lowers cryocapacitation-like changes in spermatozoa. • Melatonin ion semen extender minimizes apoptotic-like changes in spermatozoa. • 2 mM melatonin can be used as an additive in Tris-egg yolk based semen extender. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]