Royal Jelly improves the sperm parameters of ram semen
during liquid storage and serves as an antioxidant source
Volume 113, Issues 2–3, July 2013, Pages 346–352
The current study was carried out to investigate the
protective effects of the Royal Jelly (RJ) supplementation on the sperm
kinematics, plasma membrane functionality, the level of produced nitric oxide
(NO) and total antioxidant capacity during the liquid storage of ram semen at 4
°C, for various periods of time (0, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h).
Semen samples were collected from four rams and pooled,
diluted with Tris–egg yolk extender without RJ (control) or supplemented with
different concentrations of RJ (0, 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2%), at a final
concentration of 200 × 106 sperm/mL. Sperm viability, kinematics and membrane
functionality were determined by nigrosin–eosin staining, computer-assisted
sperm analysis (CASA), and by using the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST),
respectively. Additionally, the oxidative and nitrosative status were evaluated
after the RJ supplementation. The RJ supplementation resulted in a significant
(P < 0.05) increase of sperm viability with the highest increase at 1% RJ
concentration for 120 h. A significant protective effect of RJ on sperm
membrane functionality was obtained at lower concentrations (0.5 and 1%) and in
all incubated time points. The most prominent protective effect of RJ on sperm
motility parameters was found on the progressive velocity (VSL) as after 72 h
storage, no significant reduction was found in comparison to the 50% reduction
in the control group. The produced NO level during storage time was reduced by
addition of RJ at low concentrations (0.5 and 1%).
Our data suggest that the RJ supplementation at lower
concentrations (0.5 and 1%) improves the ram sperm kinetics and plasma membrane
functionality during the liquid and cold storage. Moreover, the protective
effect of RJ might be attributed to its antioxidative/antinitrosative
capacities.
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