Effect of Different Levels of Silymarin and Caproic Acid on Storage of Ram Semen in Liquid Form

Abstract

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effect of silymarin on stored spermatozoa using four rams. In experiment 1, silymarin was evaluated as a supplement for Tris-glucose extender. Semen samples (n = 20) were diluted with extender containing 0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 μg/ml silymarin and incubated at 5°C for 72 h. Membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, sperm viability and motility were evaluated at 72 h. Concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) was determined after 48 h. Membrane integrity was higher in 100 μg/ml silymarin (65.2%) than control group (43.2%, p < 0.05). Acrosome integrity was highest in 100 μg/ml silymarin (71.3%, p < 0.05). Progressive motility was higher in 100 (58.5%), 150 (60.62%) and 200 μg/ml silymarin (54.7%) than control group (30.7%, p < 0.05). The highest MDA concentration was observed in control group (400 mm/10 × 10(6) sperm; p < 0.05). The goal of experiment 2 was to determine the interaction between silymarin and caproic acid on ram stored sperm. Ejaculates (n = 20) were diluted by Tris-glucose extender, added 0 (S- ) or 100 μg/ml (S+ ) silymarin and 0 (C- ) or 0.3125% (C+ ) caproic acid, and thereafter, aliquots were incubated at 5°C for 72 h. Membrane integrity was lower in C- S- (57.6%) than C- S+ (73.2%), C+ S- (80.2%) and C+ S+ (72.1%, p > 0.05). The highest sperm viability and acrosome integrity were observed in C+ S- (82.4 and 80.1%, respectively; p < 0.05). There was no difference between C- S+ and C+ S+ on sperm viability and membrane integrity, progressive motility and MDA concentration (p > 0.05). Therefore, the supplementation of extender with silymarin and caproic acid improved sperm quality and caproic acid was superior to caproic acid plus silymarin.

Ameliorative effect of silymarin on the quality of frozen–thawed boar spermatozoa

“…SMN had protective effects on human sperm against oxidative stress induced by environmental pollutants (Aghashahi et al, 2020). Roostaei‐Ali proved that SMN could improve ram sperm quality preserved at 5°C (Roostaei‐Ali Mehr & Parisoush, 2016). Given these findings, we suggested that SMN had positive effects on cryopreserved sperm.…”

“…Indeed, SMN was able to overcome the adverse effects of sperm under oxidative stress conditions. Reportedly, the supplementation of SMN improved goat sperm quality by its antioxidant properties (Roostaei‐Ali Mehr & Parisoush, 2016). In the present study, we found that the addition of SMN could dramatically increase T‐AOC activity, in the meanwhile, decrease the tROS and MDA content of post‐thaw spermatozoa.…”

Liquid Storage of Ram Semen: Associated Damages and Improvement

“…Silymarin is an efficient antioxidant, scavenging free radicals and protecting cells against LPO [103]. It has been reported that the addition of sylimarin (100 µg/L) to a Tris-glucose extender improves motility, membrane and acrosome integrity, and reduces LPO as indicated by the MDA concentration during liquid storage of ram semen at 5˚C up to 72 h [97].…”

Impact of silymarin on cadmium‐induced apoptosis in human spermatozoa

“…Silymarin exerts its antioxidant properties by scavenging free radicals, increasing antioxidant defence enzymes levels and decreasing lipid peroxidation levels (Fraschini, Demartini, & Esposti, 2002). In this context, several in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated the protective effects of silymarin on sperm parameters, varicocele‐induced lesions and prostate cancer (Eskandari & Momeni, 2016a; Moshtaghion, Malekinejad, Razi, & Shafie‐Irannejad, 2013; Roostaei‐Ali Mehr & Parisoush, 2016).…”