Effects of encapsulated rosemary extract on turkey semen quality characteristics during short-term low temperature storage
Keywords:
Turkey semen, Oxidative stress, Rosemary extract, EncapsulationAbstract
The use of fresh semen stored at low temperatures for artificial insemination is common in avian and especially turkey commercial farms due to its more practicality and compromised sperm structural integrity and functional activity of cryopreserved semen. Various natural compounds have been used to preserve the sperm quality and fertility during short term storage. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro effects of rosemary extract, in both un-encapsulated and encapsulated forms, on turkey spermatozoa during short-term low-temperature storage. Semen samples collected from mature male turkeys were treated with different concentrations (0, 5, 10, and 25 µg/mL) of either form of rosemary extract. The effects on sperm motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity and membrane potential, apoptosis, necrosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS), superoxide production, lipid and protein oxidation, DNA fragmentation, and bacterial load were evaluated at 0, 2, and 24 hours of storage. Supplementation with 5 and 10 µg/mL rosemary extract improved sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, and membrane potential (P ≤ 0.0001). However, 25 µg/mL had a detrimental effect. Encapsulated rosemary extract yielded better sperm quality outcomes than the un-encapsulated form, especially at the 25 µg/mL dose and after 24 hours of storage. These findings suggest that rosemary extract in semen extender can enhance sperm quality. Moreover, encapsulation may mitigate the toxicity of high extract doses and support prolonged preservation of sperm fertility.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Sara Ataei-Nazari, Filip Benko, Michal Ďuračka, Tomáš Slanina, Miroslava Kačániová, Nenad Vukovic, Eva Tvrdá
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