Semen was collected twice weekly from five sexually mature Holstein bulls
raised at international Livestock Management Training Center (ILMTC), Sakha,
belonging to the Animal Production Research Institute, to evaluate the effect of
different concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) on sperm motility, livability and
abnormality in semen stored at 25°C and 5°C for different storage periods- Only
ejaculates with mass motility of 70% or more were pooled for each collection day for 5
weeks. The collected semen was diluted with Tris-extender and held in a water bath
at 37°C, then divided into four portions. Different concentrations of GSH were added
to the four diluted portions of semen (0, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.2 mlvlfrnl Tris extender).
Thereafter, each portion of semen was divided into two sub-portions, 10 replicates in
each. Replicates of the 1“ sub-portion were stored at 25°C (room temperature), while
those of the 2"° portion were stored at 5°C (refrigerator temperature) for 0, 6, 24, 48,
72 and 96 h periods. Percentages of progressive motility, livability and abnormality of
spermatozoa were determined at various storage times. Results revealed that adding
GSH at concentration of 0.4 mM at 25°C showed the highest (P111005) sperm motility
and livability percentages (56.8 and 57.1%, respectively), and the lowest (W005)
sperm abnormality (14.3%) as compared to the control without adding GSH (39.3,
40.8 and 17.3%, respectively). At different storage periods at 2500, concentration of
0.4 mM GSH showed the highest motility and livability percentages, followed by 0.8
and 1.2 mlvl levels, respectively, while the control semen showed the lowest
percentages. The opposite trend was observed for sperm abnormality. In semen
stored at 25°C with 0-4 GSH, sperm cells maintained (Pr-£0.05) their motility and
livability only for 12 h; however, the differences in sperm abnormality were not
significant between 0 and 48 h. In semen stored at 5°C, semen supplemented with 0.4
mM had the highest (Pr-10.05) sperm motility and livability and the lowest sperm
abnormality. Semen supplemented with 1.2 mM, which was stored at 5°C showed the
lowest sperm motility and livability. Sperm motility and livability decreased (P<0.05) by
increasing storage period. However, sperm abnormality was not affected by storage
period, ranging between 13.1-14.3%. By increasing storage period, sperm motility and
livability gradually reduced. Semen supplemented with 0.4 mlv‘l showed almost the
highest motility and livability percentages and the lowest sperm abnormality
percentage The present results suggested the possibility of storage bull semen at
25°C or 5°C for 48 h with maintenance of sperm motility and livability percentages
above 50%, and sperm abnormality percentage at a level of 14% in semen
supplemented with 0.4 mM glutathione.