ARS | Publication request: EFFECTS OF WATER- AND LIPID-SOLUBLE ANTIOXIDANTS ON TURKEY SPERM VIABILITY,MEMBRANE INTEGRITY AND MOTILITY DURING LIQUID STORAGE

Submitted to: Journal Of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: May 22, 1997
Publication Date: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Aerobic conditions are required to maintain the viability of turkey sperm in vitro. In mammalian sperm, excess oxygen during in vitro storage results in lipid peroxidation causing membrane damage and reduced sperm motility and subsequent fertility. Antioxidants were added to turkey semen to determine if these vitamins could limit the damaging effects of lipid peroxidation to sperm during liquid storage. Semen was diluted into Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender, extended semen served as a control, treatments were extended semen supplemented with vitamin E; Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT); Tempo ; or vitamin C and stored at 5 degrees C for 48 h. Sperm viability in extended semen was evaluated after 0, 24 or 48 h storage. Membrane integrity and motility were measured as well. Control sperm viability was reduced almost 50% between the 0 and 48 h time points. However, supplementation with some concentrations of vitamin E, Tempo and BHT maintained populations of viable, membrane intact, motile sperm simila to the 0 h levels at the 48 h time point. Vitamin C treatments were similar to controls at all time points. Addition of the antioxidants vitamin E, BHT and Tempo to extended turkey semen improves sperm survival, membrane integrity and maintains motility after 48 h storage.

Technical Abstract: Antioxidants were added to turkey semen to determine if these vitamins could limit the damaging effects of lipid peroxidation to sperm during liquid storage. Semen was diluted into Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender, extended semen served as a control, treatments were extended semen supplemented with vitamin E; Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT); Tempo ; or vitamin C and stored at 5 degrees C for 48 h. Sperm viability in extended semen was evaluated after 0, 24 or 48 h storage. Membrane integrity and motility were measured as well. Control sperm viability was reduced almost 50% between the 0 and 48 h time points. However, supplementation with some concentrations of vitamin E, Tempo and BHT maintained populations of viable, membrane intact, motile sperm similar to the 0 h levels at the 48 h time point.Vitamin C treatments were similar to controls at all time points. Addition of the antioxidants vitamin E, BHT and Tempo to extended turkey semen improves sperm survival, membrane integrity and maintains motility after 48 h storage.