loading page

Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) improved semen quality and sperm DNA of frozen-thawed Arabian stallions preserved in modified INRA-82 extender
  • +6
  • Amal Aboelmaaty,
  • Islam El-Seadawy,
  • Mohamed Kotp,
  • Hazem Aldebakey ,
  • Heba Hozyen,
  • Diya El-Badry,
  • Abeer M. Anwer,
  • Tsvetan Tsvetkov,
  • Teodora Daneva
Amal Aboelmaaty
National Research Centre

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

Author Profile
Islam El-Seadawy
National Research Centre
Author Profile
Mohamed Kotp
National Research Centre
Author Profile
Hazem Aldebakey
National Research Centre
Author Profile
Heba Hozyen
National Research Centre
Author Profile
Diya El-Badry
Agriculture Research Center
Author Profile
Abeer M. Anwer
Agriculture Research Center, GIZA
Author Profile
Tsvetan Tsvetkov
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction Acad Kiril Bratanov Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Author Profile
Teodora Daneva
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction Acad Kiril Bratanov Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
Author Profile

Abstract

Background: Alpha tocopherol is one of the non-enzymatic lipophilic antioxidants. Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic analog that possesses similar modes of actions in protecting the cryopreserved sperms. Objectives: This study hypothesized that a certain concentration of any antioxidant is suitable for improving the post-thaw semen quality of stallions. Study Design: Case control study. Methods: To determine this concentration, a synthetic antioxidant similar to vitamin E in potency and scavenging oxidative stress power in concentrations of 0.0, 0.25, 0.50, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 mM/ml were added to semen extender. The post-thaw sperm progressive motility at 0, 1h, 2h, 3h, the sperm viability index, the plasma membrane integrity tested by the hypo-osmotic selling test (HOST), the acrosome integrity, non-fragmented DNA, % of DNA in the comet head, % of DNA in the comet tail, comet tail length, and comet tail moment were compared. Results: According to our hypothesis, 1.0 mM BHT was the most suitable concentration that preserved the highest (P<0.0001) post-thaw sperm progressive motility at 0.0, 1h, 2h, 3h., the highest viability index (P<0.0001), plasma membrane and acrosome integrities (P<0.0001), non-fragmented DNA (P<0.001), and % of DNA in the comet head (P<0.001), the lowest DNA % in the comet tail (P<0.001) and comet tail moment (P<0.0001), and the shortest (P<0.0001) comet tail length. Main limitations: Collection of semen for research from registered Arabian Horse was the main obstacle for conducting this research. In conclusion, the concentrations of BHT around 1.0 mM/ml (0.5, 2.0mM/ml) proved better post-thaw semen characteristics, but BHT in concentrations >2.0mM/ml indicated the worst of all concentration which kept the lowest semen quality than non-supplemented control.
14 Jun 2023Submitted to Equine Veterinary Education
16 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
16 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
04 Sep 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned