Effect of Bovine Serum Albumin Supplementation in Tris-Soybean Lecithin-Based Extender on Quality of Chilled Ram Epididymal Spermatozoa

Objective: This study was designed to assess the effects of using tris-soybean lecithin (TSL)-based extender supplemented with bovine serum albumin (BSA) on the quality of ram epididymal spermatozoa during refrigerated storage. Method: Epididymal sperm were collected from 22 Zandi rams, diluted in TSL-based extender at different concentrations (0%, 2.5%, 5%, 7.5%, and 10%) of BSA, and stored for 5 days at 4°C. Sperm parameters including motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity, chromatin protamination, and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were evaluated at 0, 24, 72, and 120 hours of refrigeration. Results: The addition of 10% BSA to the extender significantly improved sperm viability at 24 and 120 hours of refrigerated liquid storage (p < 0.05). An enhancement in plasma membrane integrity was observed along with a decrease in MDA level by increasing the concentration of BSA from 0% to 10% (p > 0.05). Sperm motion characteristics were higher in the BSA-free group at 120 hours of preservation (p < 0.05). No statistical difference was found for nuclear protamination between experimental groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: BSA supplementation in TSL-based extender can preserve the viability of epididymal ram spermatozoa during liquid storage at 4°C.