Objectives: In this study, we evaluated the effects of glutathione in combination with trehalose addition to semen extenders on the quality parameters of frozen-thawed red deer (cervus elaphus) spermatozoa.
Method of study: The semen samples collected from six mature red deer once a week were diluted with Tris-egg yolk-based extenders. The diluted semen samples were supplemented with glutathione (8 mmol L-1 ) and or trehalose (5%, w/v), cryopreserved, thawed and then subjected to sperm quality parameter evaluation.
Results: Both glutathione and trehalose addition to the extender significantly improved progressive motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activity and decreased percentage abnormality and sperm malondialdehyde level compared with the control group (P<.05). Moreover, glutathione in combination with trehalose addition to semen extenders had higher efficiency compared with the glutathione or trehalose addition alone (P<.05).
Conclusion: Therefore, glutathione in combination with trehalose could be a promising cryoprotectant for red deer sperm.
Keywords: cryopreservation; glutathione; sperm; trehalose.
© 2016 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.