The effect of lycopene and ascorbic acid on the post thaw Angora buck semen parameters

The main goal of this research was to examine the impact of antioxidants, specifically lycopene and ascorbic acid, on the viability of goat sperm following cryopreservation and thawing. Goat rearing plays a vital role worldwide by supplying animal protein, creating employment opportunities, and providing raw materials for various industries. Improving the reproductive efficiency of goats is crucial for genetic conservation, as well as for enhancing profitability and sustainability for breeders. This study illustrates that both lycopene and ascorbic acid, either alone or in combination, have a positive influence on motility, plasma, acrosomal, and mitochondrial membrane integrity after thawing. Semen samples were obtained from four mature goats and segregated into four groups: control (C), lycopene at 2 mM/mL (L2), ascorbic acid at 5 mM/mL (A5), and a combination of lycopene at 2 mM/mL + ascorbic acid at 5 mM/mL (L2A5). Following dilution in Tris/egg yolk diluent, the semen samples were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen and then thawed for assessment. The L2A5 group displayed the highest values across all evaluated parameters (motility, plasma, mitochondrial and acrosomal membrane integrity) when compared to the control group (p