Quality of frozen-thawed semen from stallions supplemented with nutraceutical

The effect of oral supplementation with the main antioxidants and fatty acids involved in spermatogenesis (vitamin E, selenium, L-carnitine, omega-3, and omega-6) was assessed on the seminal quality of frozen semen of stallions (n = 8). The animals, with previously evaluated quality of semen, were divided into Group I (n = 4) and Group II (n = 4) for a 30-week experiment. Group I received the nutraceutical Reproductive® Garanhoes JCR (Vetnil, Louveira / SP, Brazil) for 60 consecutive days (treatment) and Group II received the placebo solution in the same period (control), after this period the quality of the cryopreserved semen was evaluated. The animals underwent 60 days of sexual rest, groups were reversed and new assessments of semen were performed. Frozen-thawed semen samples were evaluated regarding spermatozoa kinetics and integrity of plasmatic and acrosomal membrane. Nonparametric analysis was performed using the Mann & Whitney U test through NPAR1WAY procedure of the Statistical Analysis System (SAS).Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation. When the animals received supplementation, higher values (P < 0.05) of spermatozoa progressive motility (7.28 ± 4.32 versus 5.25 ± 2.86), integrity of the plasma membrane (43.64 ± 7.53 versus 39.19 ± 5.15) and acrosomal membrane (40.73 ± 7.78 versus 35.73 ± 4.09) were observed. Our results demonstrated a positive and possibly synergistic effect of the antioxidant L-carnitine and selenium on spermatozoa kinetics. Similarly, the increase in plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity may have occurred due to the higher concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids, combined with the prevention of excessive lipid peroxidation by antioxidants. Thus, supplementation with a nutraceutical containing fatty acids and antioxidants improved the quality of frozen stallion semen.