Effects of Adding Punicalagin or Oleuropein to TRIS Diluent on Quality of Frozen–Thawed Semen from Rams

Abstract

The sensitivity of ram sperm to reactive oxygen species is high. The supplementation of antioxidant-rich diluents may help to protect sperm against oxidative damage. This study aimed to evaluate the role of adding natural antioxidants (punicalagin or oleuropein) as a supplement to the basic TRIS extender on the post-thaw quality parameters of spermatozoa from Najdi rams. The results exhibited that the addition of punicalagin or oleuropein to the diluent could boost the quality of ram sperm through improving the viability, total motility and progressive motility, and patterns of motility in the considered spermatozoa.