Natural honey as a cryoprotectant to improve Arab stallion post-thawing sperm parameters

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of extender supplementation with different concentrations of a honey bee on post-thawed sperm motility, viability index, membrane and acrosome integrities in Arab stallion. Methods: Five ejaculates from each of four Arabian stallions were subjected to cryopreservation with a modified INRA-82, without any supplementation (control) or supplemented with 1%, 2%, 3%, 4% and 5% honey bee. After thawing, all samples were maintained at 37 °C, while analyses were performed at 0, 1, and 2 and 3 h. Sperm motility percentage, viability index percentage, membrane integrity percentage and acrosome integrity percentage of each sample were determined by conventional laboratory methods. Results: Relative to the control group, supplementation with honey (2%, 3% and 4% significantly improved (P 0.05) compared with the control. Conclusion: Honey bee supplementation in Arab stallion semen extenders provided a better protection of sperm parameters against cryopreservation injury, in comparison to the control groups.

Keywords

• Arabian stallion
• Semen
• Preservation
• Honey