The cryoprotective effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on bovine semen quality.

Abstract To investigate the effects of ascorbic acid supplementation on standard semen quality parameters and antioxidant activities after thawing of bovine frozen semen, antioxidant ascorbic acid was added at concentrations of 2.5, 4.5, 6.5 and 8.5 mg/ml to bovine semen cryoprotective medium. The results showed that the sperm motility and motion characteristics were improved in the presence of ascorbic acid in extender, as compared to the control. The motility and straight linear velocity (VSL), linearity index (LIN), average path velocity (VAP), wobble coefficient (WOB), lateral head displacement (ALH) values and the percentage of “grade a” sperm in the extender supplemented with 4.5 mg/ml ascorbic acid were significantly higher than that of other treatment groups ( P P P P P