Using Aqueous Extract of Maca (Lepidium meyenii) to Study its Effectiveness on Short-Term Storage Ram Semen Dilution and Fertility

Abstract

Studying aims to evaluate sperm characteristics using aqueous extract of maca added to ram semen extender. Five media of ram semen extenders as M0, M1, M2, M3 and M4 contained different levels of aqueous extract of maca at 0, 5, 10, 20 and 40 μg/mL respectively, were storage at 5C for 5 days,. Then, sperm characteristics as progressive sperm motility, livability, abnormality and intact acrosome and lipid peroxidation (LPO) concentration were estimated. Also, a fertility trial using forty ewes (n=20 in each) were inseminated by M0 (as control) and M3 (as the best sperm parameters). The aqueous extract of maca 20 μg/mL improved previous sperm characteristics and reduced both abnormal sperm and lipid peroxidation (LPO) compared with other extenders during storage at 5C for 5 days. Also, an improvement observed in total pregnancy rate of ewes using M3 (79.17%) compared with M0 (65.38%) after chilling at 5C for 2 days. The results indicate that the aqueous extract of maca maintains spermatozoa characteristics during chilling at 5C for 5 days especially 20μg/mL which maintains fertile ability after the 2 days of chilling.