Ascorbic acid inclusion in semen extender improves the post-thawed semen quality of sahiwal cattle (Bos indicus).

M. U.  Sohail; A. H.  Shahzad; S.  Iqbal; M. Z.  Shabbir; Z.  Iqbal; S.  Abbas; M.  Younus; D.  Nak; Y.  Nak; T.  Arshaad

The antioxidant effects of ascorbic acid at different inclusion rates were evaluated upon semen (n=150) from mature Sahiwal cattle bulls (Bos indicus, n = 6) in summer season. The semen was diluted in Tris-citrate egg yolk extender containing different levels (0.0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 mg/mL) of ascorbic acid at 37.0oC. Semen was cryopreserved at -196oC in 0.5 mL French straws. Semen straws were thawed at 37oC to assess the spermatozoa indices in terms of motility, viability, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity under phase-contrast microscope. Supravital staining, hypo-osmotic swelling test and normal acrosomal reaction analysis tests were also performed for viability, plasma membrane and acrosomal integrity, respectively. The data were subjected to one way ANOVA. The results revealed significant improvement (P