Influence of ellagic acid and ebselen on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during liquid preservation of ram semen

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to assess the effects of ellagic acid and ebselen on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during liquid preservation of ram semen. Materials and Methods: In this experimental study, sixty ejaculates from six mature Merino rams were used. In experiment 1, the ejaculates were diluted in base extender contained ellagic acid at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 2 mM. In experiment 2, ebselen at 0 (control), 10, 20, and 40 μM were added to the extender. Sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, DNA integrity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), the antioxidant potential (AOP), and total glutathione (tGSH) were evaluated at 0, 24, 48, and 72 hours of preservation. Results: Supplementation of ellagic acid at 1 and 2 mM resulted in higher sperm motility and viability at 0 hours of storage. Ellagic acid at 2 mM led to higher motility and viability compared to controls after 0, 24, and 48 hours of preservation and increased AOP after 24 and 72 hours. Higher tGSH was at 1 mM ellagic acid, compared to control after 72 hours. Addition of ebselen at a concentration of 40 μM increased motility at 24 and 48 hours and 10 μM produced the same effect after 48 and 72 hours of storage as well as higher viability, compared to the controls after 0 hours of storage. Sperm DNA integrity was significantly improved after 24, 48, and 72 hours with the addition of ebselen at 10 μM, and after 72 hours at 40 μM. Addition of 40 mM ebselen also reduced the LPO levels after 24 hours of storage compared to the controls. Conclusion: The results showed that supplementation of ellagic acid and ebselen in semen extender has a potential effect on sperm and oxidative stress parameters during liquid preservation of ram semen.