Inclusion of Spirulina platensis and Salvia verbenaca extracts to boost semen quality and fertilization ability in sheep

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of Spirulina platensis (SP) and Salvia verbenaca (SV) extracts added to skimmed milk (SM) extender on ram sperm quality and fertility. Semen was collected using an artificial vagina, extended in SM to reach a final concentration of 0.8 × 109 spermatozoa/mL, stored at 4°C and evaluated at 0, 5 H and 24 H. The experiment has been performed in three steps. Firstly, from four extracts (methanol: MeOH, acetone: Ac, ethyl acetate: EtOAc and hexane: Hex) of SP and SV, only acetonic and hexanoic extracts of SP and acetonic and methanolic extracts of SV showed the highest in vitro antioxidant activities and were then selected for the following step. Thereafter, the effects of four concentrations (1.25, 3.75, 6.25, and 8.75 μg/mL) of each selected extract on stored sperm motility were evaluated. The output of this trial led to select the best concentrations having beneficial effects on sperm quality parameters (viability, abnormalities, membrane integrity, and lipid peroxidation) and fertility after insemination. The results showed that the same concentration (1.25 μg/mL) of both Ac‐SP and Hex‐SP, as well as 3.75 μg/mL of Ac‐SV and 6.25 μg/mL of MeOH‐SV, maintain all sperm quality parameters at 4°C during 24 H of storage. Besides, no difference was found in fertility between the selected extracts and the control. In conclusion, SP and SV extracts were shown to improve the quality of ram sperm and to maintain fertility rate after insemination as similar or competitive to many previous studies published in the field.

Comparative evaluation of Duragen® and skim milk extenders to enhance ram semen quality and fertility: A promising alternative in ovine artificial insemination

“…More precisely, a fertility rate of 65% in Argentine and South Africa has been reported in Merino sheep using fresh diluted semen (Bonato et al, 2021; Fernandez et al, 2019). In another study, Ben Moula et al (2023) have recently reported a lower fertility rate of 61% in Sardi sheep using semen stored in SM at 5°C for 5 h. However, Simonetti et al (2002) reported a greater value (up to 76.47% fertility) while using fresh diluted semen. It is essential to consider that factors such as season, synchronization protocol, semen collection method, insemination technique and number of spermatozoa per dose can influence fertility rates across studies.…”

“…; Zaragoza, Spain) or in laboratory‐prepared skimmed milk (SM). The latter extender has the following criteria: proteins (3.1/100 g), carbohydrates (5/100 g), calcium (0.12/100 g), lipids (0/100 g), and including 50 μg/mL of penicillin (Ben Moula et al, 2023). The Duragen® was prepared according to manufacturer recommendations.…”

Exploring Endogenous and Exogenous Factors for Successful Artificial Insemination in Sheep: A Global Overview

“…To maintain semen quality, it can be kept at a controlled temperature (28–30 °C) during insemination. Insemination is carried out on synchronized estrus, and the results obtained range between 56.7% and 70% [ 81 , 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Additionally, preserved semen has become an important tool for genetic improvement and has streamlined semen transport.…”

The Addition of Opuntia ficus-indica Ethanolic Extract to a Skimmed Milk‐Based Extender Impacts Ram Sperm Quality

“…Research has shown that plant extracts can be efective in improving semen quality in many animal species [11][12][13][14]. One of the key properties of plant extracts is their antioxidants activity, which is responsible for their ability to scavenge free radicals [15].…”