Effects of Antifreeze Protein Type I and Glycerol in Diluents on Cryopreserved Goat Epididymal Sperm

Abstract

The effect of antifreeze protein (AFP) as a cryoprotectant used in different concentrations of glycerol on post-thaw quality of epididymal sperm was investigated. Sperm were isolated from 50 testicles, obtained from 25 healthy mature goat bucks, with progressive motility >80%, and total morphological abnormalities p < 0.05) in groups A5G5 and A5G7. Plasma membrane integrity, sperm acrosome integrity, DNA integrity, acrosome intact sperm, and mitochondrial membrane potential were found to be higher (p < 0.05) in groups A5G5 and A10G5. Sperm viability was found to be higher (p < 0.05) in group A5G5, while lipid peroxidation was recorded lower (p < 0.05) in groups A5G5 and A5G7. Regarding the apoptosis occurrence, the results demonstrate higher (p < 0.05) live post-thawed spermatozoa for groups containing 5 μg/mL AFP with 5% and 7% glycerol in addition to the lowest (p < 0.05) value for groups containing 0 μg/mL AFP with 5% and 7% glycerol. Based on these results, the present study concludes that the addition of 5 μg/mL AFP in combination with 5% glycerol in freezing extender improves the post-thaw quality, structure, and function parameters for buck spermatozoa.