Spirulina Supplementation to the Semen Extender Influences the Quality and Antioxidant Parameters of Chilled or Cryopreserved Arabian Stallion Spermatozoa.
Abstract: The present study attempted to investigate the effect of various concentrations of spirulina platensis additions to the semen extender on Arabian stallion spermatozoa quality. Semen samples were collected with artificial vagina from five fertile stallions and diluted with an extender containing spirulina (2, 4, 6, and 8 mg/100 mL) or without spirulina (control). Aliquots of diluted semen were cooled (5°C, 90 minutes) and frozen (-196°C, 7 days), then physical traits of thawed spermatozoa were examined. Furthermore, antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured in post-cooling and freezing spermatozoa. The results indicated that spirulina supplemented with the extender had no effect (P >.05) on sperm quality parameters and antioxidant activities after cooling. However, adding 6 mg spirulina/100 mL to the freezing extender improved (P < .05) the speed parameters and total motility percentage of frozen/thawed spermatozoa. Besides, supplementation of freezing extender with the previous level increased (P < .05) TAC, SOD and GSR concentrations/activities (0.86 ± 0.32 mM/L, 323.70 ± 12.81 U/mL, and 38.65 ± 1.90 U/mL, respectively) compared with the control (0.70 ± 0.25 mM/L, 165.80 ± 8.12 U/mL, and 25.70 ± 1.83 U/mL, respectively). While, lipid peroxidation of the frozen-thawed semen was reduced (P < .05, 17.97 ± 1.30 µmol/ L) compared with the control (29.39 ± 1.89 µmol/ L). Accordingly, the present results revealed that additions of 6 mg spirulina/100 mL to the freezing extender improved semen quality and reduced cryodamage of the Arabian stallion spermatozoa.
Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2022-08-21 PubMed ID: 36002116DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104108Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research investigates how adding different doses of spirulina platensis to an extender that preserves horse semen affects the quality of the sperm. The study concluded that a specific concentration of spirulina in the mixture improves the speed and total motility percentage of the frozen and then thawed sperm, and also boosts antioxidant activity, thus improving the semen’s quality and reducing the cryodamage.
Methodology
- Semen samples were collected from five fertile Arabian stallions using an artificial vagina.
- The semen was then diluted with an ‘extender’, a preserving solution, either containing spirulina (2, 4, 6, or 8mg/100mL) or without spirulina as a control.
- The diluted semen was cooled (5°C, 90 minutes) and then frozen (-196°C, 7 days).
- Physical traits of the sperm that had been thawed from the deep freeze were then examined for quality parameters.
- Additionally, the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione reductase (GSR), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured after the semen had been cooled and frozen.
Findings
- The study found that, after cooling, the use of an extender supplemented with spirulina had no discernible effect on sperm quality parameters or antioxidant activities.
- However, when 6mg spirulina/100mL of extender was used to freeze the semen, the study found that the speed parameters and total movement of the frozen and then thawed sperm were improved.
- The same concentration of spirulina also increased the level of TAC, SOD and GSR – signaling enhanced antioxidant activity.
- Lipid peroxidation of the frozen-thawed semen, which can indicate cell damage, was reduced in the sample group where the extender had been supplemented with spirulina.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that adding 6mg spirulina/100mL to the extender used to freeze horse semen improved overall semen quality.
- This dosage of spirulina also reduced the ‘cryodamage’ – cell damage that can occur during the freezing and warming process.
Cite This Article
APA
Zeitoun MM, Ateah MA, Almaiman AT, Mansour MM.
(2022).
Spirulina Supplementation to the Semen Extender Influences the Quality and Antioxidant Parameters of Chilled or Cryopreserved Arabian Stallion Spermatozoa.
J Equine Vet Sci, 118, 104108.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2022.104108 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Production and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Animal and Fish Production, Faculty of Agriculture, El-Shatby, Alexandria University, Egypt.
- Department of Animal Production and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Animal Production and Breeding, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia.
- Department of Animal and Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damanhour University, Egypt, Damanhour, Al-Behera, Egypt. Electronic address: Mohamed.Mohsen@agr.dmu.edu.eg.
MeSH Terms
- Female
- Male
- Horses
- Animals
- Semen
- Semen Analysis / veterinary
- Antioxidants / pharmacology
- Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology
- Sperm Motility
- Spirulina
- Spermatozoa
- Superoxide Dismutase / pharmacology
- Dietary Supplements
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Mansour MM, Zeitoun MM. Influence of spirulina supplementation on growth performance, puberty traits, blood metabolites, testosterone concentrations, and semen quality in Barki male lambs. Open Vet J 2023 Jun;13(6):772-781.
- Boni R, Ruggiero R, De Luca F, Preziosi G, Ferrara MA, Ostuni A, Guerriero S, Gallo A, Murano C, Cecchini Gualandi S. Enhancing Stallion Semen Cryopreservation: Selected Antioxidant Extracts and Sperm Freezability. Antioxidants (Basel) 2025 Nov 16;14(11).
- Candidate KS, Nemati F, Tabari MG, Ghadikolaii FP, Bishehkolaei R. Protective effects of Spirulina platensis and phycocyanin on sperm quality, DNA integrity, and testicular tissue following oxidative stress in rats: An experimental study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2025 Jul;23(7):559-568.
- Boni R, Ruggiero R, Di Palma T, Ferrara MA, Preziosi G, Cecchini Gualandi S. Stallion Sperm Freezing with Different Extenders: Role of Antioxidant Activity and Nitric Oxide Production. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 25;14(17).
- Shehab NG, Omolaoye TS, Du Plessis SS, Rawat SS, Naidoo N, Abushawish KY, Ahmed A, Alaa B, Ihsan H, Abdelhalim M, Ayman M, El Nebrisi E. Phytochemical Evaluation of Lepidium meyenii, Trigonella foenum-graecum, Spirulina platensis, and Tribulus arabica, and Their Potential Effect on Monosodium Glutamate Induced Male Reproductive Dysfunction in Adult Wistar Rats. Antioxidants (Basel) 2024 Aug 2;13(8).
- Alharbi YM, Ali M, Alharbi MS. Impact of the Antioxidant Hydroxytyrosol on the Quality of Post-Thawed Stallion Semen. Vet Med Int 2024;2024:6558480.
- Al-Yahyaey F, Stephen C, Al-Shukaili Y, Al-Bulushi S, Shaat I, Bush R. Effect of Spirulina platensis Supplementation on Reproductive Parameters of Sahrawi and Jabbali Goat Bucks. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 2;13(21).
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