Enhancing porcine semen quality using garlic extracts as an exogenous antioxidant
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This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Aqueous Garlic Extracts (AGE) on the quality and spermatozoa fertilizing potential of extended porcine semen.
Ejaculate (242.80 mL) was collected from a matured boar using the gloved hand technique. The volume of BTS extender (3mLs) and semen (1mL) was constant across all treatments. The different treatments contained varying volumes of AGE as follows: Treatment 2: 50 mL Treatment 3: 75 mL, Treatment 4: 100 mL and Treatment 5: 125 mL at a semen-to-extender using micropipette at dilution ratio of 1:3, while Treatment 1 contained 3mLs of BTS + 1mL of semen and no AGE. Semen samples were allotted to treatments in a completely randomized design. The semen was analyzed at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours, for livability (%), normal spermatozoa (%), secondary morphological classification (%), acrosome integrity (%) and pH values remained constant within the accepted range across all treatments.
Results showed that AGE inclusion significantly improved (p<0.05) livability, normal spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and pH when compared to the control treatment. These improvements were consistent across all AGE concentration levels. Aqueous garlic extracts demonstrated cytoprotective potential and can be used to extend porcine semen for up to 72 hours to improve its quality and fertilizing potential.
