Cryopreserved Indonesian Simmental bull semen: Effect of L-arginine supplementation in Tris egg yolk extender on sperm quality.

BACKGROUND

The Indonesian government aims to encourage the beef cattle population to increase livestock numbers through artificial insemination (AI). However, this initiative encounters challenges due to the low quality of semen following cryopreservation.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the influence of L-arginine supplementation in the Tris egg yolk extender on the motility, kinematic movement, viability, acrosome integrity, and lipid peroxidation of cryopreserved Simmental bull spermatozoa.

METHODS

The experiment involved four groups with 20 replicates each: the control group (CG), Group 1 (G1) using 0.05 M L-arginine, Group 2 (G2) using 0.1 M L-arginine, and Group 3 (G3) using 0.2 M L-arginine in a Tris-Yolk extender. Observations included spermatozoa motility and kinematic movement (computer-assisted sperm analysis), viability, acrosome integrity, and lipid peroxidation measured by Malondialdehyde (MDA) (thiobarbituric acid test). Data were analyzed using post hoc analysis of variance, Duncan's test, with significance p < 0.05.

RESULTS

The findings of this study indicate that the supplementation of 0.05 M L-arginine (G1) in extender significantly (p < 0.05) enhanced motility and kinematic movement parameters, viability, and acrosome integrity while reducing lipid peroxidation, as measured by MDA levels. Furthermore, supplementation with 0.05 M L-arginine had a positive effect on motility and kinematic movement both before freezing and post-thawing. In contrast, the addition of L-arginine at higher concentrations (G2 and G3) did not benefit the observed parameters in this study.

CONCLUSION

A low dose of L-arginine (G1) effectively enhances sperm motility, viability, and acrosome integrity and reduces lipid peroxidation levels. In contrast, higher doses (G2 and G3) had no beneficial effects compared with GC and G1.