IMPROVING POST-THAW SEMEN QUALITY AND REDUCING OXIDATIVE STRESS IN BUFFALO BULL SEMEN VIA MELATONIN-ENHANCED CRYOPROTECTANTS

Wisut Maitreejet; Reanuka Somsrithanakorn; Taweeporn Raungprim; Sukanya Rattanatabtimtong; Sutisa Majarune

doi:10.56825/bufbu.2026.4516425

Authors

Wisut Maitreejet Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Reanuka Somsrithanakorn Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Taweeporn Raungprim Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Sukanya Rattanatabtimtong Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Sutisa Majarune Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture at Kamphaeng Saen, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.56825/bufbu.2026.4516425

Keywords:

Bubalus bubalis, buffaloes, melatonin, egg yolk-tris-fructose-glycerol, semen quality, lipid peroxidation, Thai swamp buffalo, melatonin, egg yolk-tris-fructose-glycerol, semen quality, lipid peroxidation, Thai swamp buffalo, semen quality, lipid peroxidation, Thai swamp buffalo

Abstract

This study evaluated the effects of melatonin supplementation in semen extenders on post-thaw sperm quality and oxidative stress in frozen semen from Thai swamp buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls. Semen samples were collected from 4 bulls and divided into 4 groups: a control (0 mM melatonin) and three treatment groups supplemented with 1, 2, or 3 mM melatonin in egg yolk-tris extender. Diluted semen was loaded into 0.25 ml French straws and then sealed. The straws were subsequently frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. After 24 h of storage, semen samples were thawed, and assessments of sperm quality and lipid peroxidation. The results demonstrated that total sperm motility was significantly higher (P=0.017) in the 1 mM (49.20%) and 2 mM (48.73%) Melatonin groups compared to the control (40.71%), with no significant difference observed in the 3 mM group (43.15%). The proportion of static sperm was significantly reduced (P=0.018) in the 1 and 2 mM groups. Furthermore, malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations, indicative of lipid peroxidation, were significantly lower (P<0.001) in all melatonin-treated groups (1.84, 1.17, and 1.10 µM for 1, 2, and 3 mM, respectively) compared to the control (2.91 µM). These findings indicate that supplementation of egg yolk-tris extender with 1 or 2 mM melatonin improves post-thaw sperm motility and reduces oxidative damage, thereby enhancing the cryopreservative quality of buffalo bull semen.

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