Supplementation of Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) Reduces Oxidative Stress and Improves Quality of Frozen–Thawed Frieswal Bull Spermatozoa

Suresh Kumar; Megha Pande; A. S. Sirohi; Y. K. Soni; S. Tyagi; M. Kumar; S. Arya

Authors

Suresh Kumar Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
Megha Pande Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
A. S. Sirohi Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
Y. K. Soni Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
S. Tyagi Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
M. Kumar Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA
S. Arya Division of Cattle Physiology and Reproduction, ICAR-Central Institute for Research on Cattle, Meerut-250 001, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA

Keywords:

Butylated Hydroxytoluene, Frieswal, Bull, Semen Quality, Oxidative Stress.

Abstract

The present study was conducted to compare the effects of different concentrations of the antioxidant Butylated Hydroxytoluene (BHT) on semen quality parameters and oxidative stress (OS) of Frieswal bulls. The semen samples (22) were diluted in cryo-protective egg yolk Tris glycerol extender (EYTG) with different concentrations of BHT (2.5, 5.0 and 10 mM; Group I, II and III respectively). Motility, viability, abnormality, acrosome integrity and membrane stability tests were performed at post-dilution, post equilibration and post thaw stage. Subsequently, levels of lipid peroxidation along with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activities were evaluated following freezing-thawing. Group II with 5 mM BHT supplementation at post thaw stage, showed significant (p<0.05) increased sperm motility, viability, acrosomal intactness, plasma membrane integrity and a significant reduction in abnormal sperm cells. Likewise, all the parameters related to OS were also found to be significantly superior (p<0.05) in this group. Thus, the present data indicated that BHT at the concentration of 5 mM in EYTG extender is optimal for cryopreserving Frieswal bull spermatozoa by improving post-thaw sperm characteristics including acrosome intactness and plasma membrane integrity, and limiting oxidative stress.