Effect of adding Ferula hermonis Boiss roots and some antioxidants to Tris extender on post-cryopreserved sperm abnormalities percentage of Holstein bulls

This study was carried out to explore the adding effect of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots and some antioxidants to Tris extender on post-cryopreserved sperm abnormalities percentage of Holstein bulls for different preservation periods (cooling at 5°C, 2, 30 and 60 days post cryopreservation, PC). Eight Holstein bulls of 2.5-3 years of age were used in this study. Semen was collected via artificial vagina in one ejaculate per bull per week for the 7-week experimental period. Pooled semen was equally divided into eight treatments using Tris extender. The alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots (0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender; T2), L-Carnitine (0.06g/ 50 ml extender; T3), reduced glutathione (0.03 g/ 50 ml extender; T4), vitamin C (0.2 g/ 50 ml extender; T5), L-Carnitine; 0.06g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender (T6), reduced glutathione; 0.03 g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender (T7) and vitamin C; 0.2 g/ 50 ml extender + alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots; 0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender (T8) were added to Tris extender and comparisons in response were made with the control group (Tris extender, A1). The total phenolic compound of the extract was 124.38 ± 5.05 mg GAE/ g extract and the extract with 0.01 and 0.03% did not hemolyze the red blood cells and had not poisoning effect on blood cells. The T2 group exhibited lesser (P≤ 0.01) percentage of sperm tail midpiece abnormalities as compared with the T1 group at all preservation periods. Moreover, the T3 was also recorded lesser (P≤0.01) sperm's head abnormalities percentage at 60 days PC time period in comparison with the T1 group. On the other hand, T4, T5, T6, T7 and T8 exhibited lesser (P≤0.05) total sperm abnormalities percentage at 60 days PC time period as compared with the T1 group. In conclusion, the adding of alcoholic extract of Ferula hermonis Boiss roots (0.03 ml/ 50 ml extender) and L-Carnitine (0.06g/ 50 ml extender) to Tris extender had an obvious influence in reducing the sperm abnormalities percentage of Holstein bulls at different cooling and cryopreservation periods as compared with the control (T1) group. This may contribute to a positive enhancement in conception and pregnancy rates of the inseminated cows, and consequently increase the owner's economic income.