Evaluation of the addition of quercetin and vitamin E to the cryopreservation medium of ram semen on in vivo fertility

Abstract

Cryopreservation induces oxidative stress that has adverse effects on post-thawed semen quality. The objective was to evaluate the effect of adding quercetin to sheep semen cryopreservation medium. Semen was collected from three sheep stallions by artificial vagina, and a commercial diluent was used. Treatments were: control; quercetin 200 µM; vitamin E 100 µM; and the quercetin and vitamin E combination. Vitality, motility, acrosome integrity and fertility were evaluated in vivo. Numerical variables were analyzed with ANOVA and gestation rate with chi-square. In the evaluation of sperm motility characteristics, no significant difference was found between treatments. The treatment with the highest percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosome was quercetin 200 µM (22.33±2.51%) compared to the other treatments (P<0.05). In vivo fertility was not statistically significant, but a numerical difference in the percentage of gestation was found with the addition of 200 µM quercetin (51.92%) compared to the other treatments. In conclusion, the addition of 200 µM quercetin to the ovine semen cryopreservation medium improved the vitality and integrity of the acrosome, but not the in vivo fertility percentage.