Cryopreservation and Assessment of Honamli and Hair Buck Semen Using Resveratrol

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol (Res) (3,5,4' -trihydroxystilbene) is a natural polyphenol that exhibits important biological activities. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of resveratrol (Res) on freezethawed survival of semen from Honamli and Hair Bucks. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six bucks, aged 2 – 3 years (three from each breed), were included in the study. Semen was collected from each breed and mixed separately after removing seminal plasma. The mixed semen was diluted with different Res concentrations (0 μM as control, 25 μM, 50 μM, 100 μM, 500 μM, and 1 mM) in Tris diluent and subjected to cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen vapor and frozen. After thawing, the samples were evaluated for motility and some spermatologic quality parameters by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Data were analyzed separately for Honamli and Hair breeds. The results showed that the Res 1 mM group had the lowest motility in all assessments (P <0.05). However, no significant differences were observed between the other Res and control groups (P >0.05). In terms of apoptosis, Hair bucks exhibited a statistically significant difference in late apoptotic parameters, with the control showing the highest values (P <0.05). The Res 25 μM group (similar to the control group) showed lower mitochondrial oxidative stress than the Res 1 mM group (P <0.05). CONCLUSION: Res at a dose of 1 mM did not protect most sperm functional and biochemical parameters except for apoptosis and performed worse than the control group. When all parameters are evaluated collectively, concentrations lower than 1 mM should be used for freezing Honamli and Hair Buck semen with resveratrol.