In vitro effects of alpha-ketoglutarate and folic acid supplementation on bull sperm exposed to ammonia stress

This study examined the effects of alpha-ketoglutaric acid (AKG; 2.00, 4.00, and 8.00 mM L-1) and folic acid (FA; 50.00 nM L-1) on bull sperm cells under ammonia stress induced by 175 µM L-1 ammonium chloride. Sperm parameters including kinematic motility, survival rate, membrane integrity, DNA integrity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) activities, and apoptosis were assessed in the groups. Sperm motility indices, survival rate, plasma membrane integrity, SOD, CAT, TAC, and GPx enzymes activity, DNA damage, and apoptosis in the treated groups were significantly differed from those in the control groups. The AKG concentrations of 4.00 and 8.00 mM L-1 cosupplemented with 50.00 nM L-1 FA mitigated the negative effects of ammonia on sperm cells. This study indicated that supplementation with AKG and FA at the desired concentrations counteracted the adverse effects of ammonia toxicity that preceded clinical signs. Further studies are needed to evaluate the fertility of these sperms, either in vitro or in vivo.