FRONTIERS IN VETERINARY SCIENCES, cilt.11, sa.1, ss.1-9, 2024 (SCI-Expanded)
This study investigated the antioxidant effect of quercetin-treated semen on
frozen–thawed spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in crossbred Kamori
goats. In total, 32 ejaculates from four fertile bucks were diluted in Tris-based
egg yolk extender with varying levels of quercetin (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 μM).
Qualified semen samples were pooled and frozen in French straws. The
results revealed that the addition of quercetin in the semen extender increased
(p < 0.05) frozen–thawed sperm total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM),
rapid velocity (RV), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL),
curvilinear velocity (VCL), and amplitude of lateral head (ALH) displacement in
contrast to the control group. Quercetin supplementation had no effect on beat
cross frequency (BCF), straightness (STR), and linearity (LIN) (p > 0.05). Quercetin
showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) plasma membrane and acrosome integrity
and viability (p < 0.05) of spermatozoa in contrast to the control group. Quercetin
in the semen extender significantly increased (p < 0.05) superoxide dismutase
(SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and total
antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels while reduced (p < 0.05) the contents of total
oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were in contrast to
the control group. Ultrasound results revealed that 24 out of 30 (80%) goats
were found pregnant when semen was treated with 5 μM quercetin while the
control group showed 18 out of 30 (60%) animals were pregnant. Thus, the
study concluded that 5 μM quercetin-treated semen was found to be efficient,
showed increased antioxidant status, and reduced oxidant production, leading
to improved spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in goats