Protective effects of fruit-juices on sperm viability of West African Dwarf goat bucks during cryopreservation

Abstract

The present study was conducted to determine the effects of adding fruit-juices to semen extenders on viability of buck spermatozoa during cryopreservation in two studies. Pooled semen samples obtained from West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks were diluted with Tris-egg yolk based extenders. In study I, the diluted semen samples were supplemented with orange (Citrus sinensis), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) and pineapple (Ananas comosus) juices (2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 ml/100 ml). In study II, the diluted semen samples were supplemented with 5 ml/100 ml of different combinations of fruit-juices consisting of pineapple and orange juices (TEYPO) at a 1:1 ratio, pineapple and cucumber juices (TEYPC) at a 1:1 ratio, orange and cucumber juices (TEYOC) at a 1:1 ratio, and pineapple, orange and cucumber juices (TEYPOC) at a 1:1:1 ratio, respectively. The diluted semen samples were cryopreserved and thereafter evaluated for sperm viability parameters. The extenders supplemented with 7.5 and 10% orange, and 10% pineapple had higher (P < 0.05) motility compared to the control. There was higher (P < 0.05) acrosome integrity in extenders supplemented with orange and pineapple at all levels compared to the control while cucumber at 10% had higher (P < 0.05) acrosome integrity compared to other levels and the control. The extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple had higher (P < 0.05) membrane integrity compared to the control except at 7.5% of extender supplemented with cucumber. Similarly, the extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple had lower (P < 0.05) sperm abnormality compared to the control. The extenders supplemented with cucumber, orange and pineapple at 2.5, 10 and 7.5% respectively had lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of MDA compared to other levels and the control. There was higher motility and acrosome integrity in extenders supplemented with different combinations of fruit-juices (P < 0.05) compared to the control. TEYPC had higher (P < 0.05) membrane integrity and lower (P < 0.05) concentrations of MDA compared to the control. The findings revealed that extenders supplemented with orange and pineapple at 10% consistently improved motility, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity, and reduced sperm abnormality compared to the control while no particular combination of these fruit-juices was consistently superior in all the parameters