Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) and green tea polyphenols do not improve stallion semen parameters during cooling at 4C.
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abstract
Stallion semen storage for artificial insemination is mainly based on liquid cooled storage. In many stallions this technique maintains sperm quality for an extended period of time (24-72hr) at 7C. While this technique is commonly used in the horse industry, there can be a decline in fertility in some stallions, due to an inability of their sperm to tolerate the cool storage process. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of two natural antioxidants (epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) at 20, 60 and 120m and green tea polyphenols, and p at .001, .01 and .1mg/ml) on some sperm parameters (sperm motility, viability/acrosome integrity and DNA quality) in extended semen immediately after its collection (T0) and after 2, 6, 24 and 48hr of cool storage. Two ejaculates from three trotter stallions were analysed after 48hr of storage at 4C. No beneficial effect on the analysed parameters was observed: the two antioxidants were not able to improve sperm quality after 48hr of storage. These results are in agreement with previous findings on the effect of different antioxidants reported by other researches, who have demonstrated that stallion semen keeps good antioxidant capacity after dilution for 24hr. In conclusion, the positive effect exerted by antioxidant molecules in other species is not confirmed in the equine one.
