Effect of Different Levels of Vitamin C and Zinc on Sperm Quality Characteristics of Arabi Ram

During the semen storage, oxidative damage is one of the major causes of reduced motility and fertility of spermatozoa. Therefore, antioxidants such as zinc and vitamin C in seminal plasma may be have the important effects on reduce the lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa by prevent the destroy effect of ROS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different levels of vitamin C and zinc in tris extender on spermatozoa characteristics of Arabi ram in liquid condition by 3×3×4 factorial arrangement with the use of completely randomized design. Treatments were included the levels of vitamin C (0, 150 and 300 μg/ml), zinc (0, 90 and 180 μg/ml) and storage periods of diluted semen (0, 2, 4 and 8 hours) in refrigerator temperature. Semen was collected weekly from 8 Arabic rams with 2-3 years old in breeding season and mixed together. The mixed semen was divided in to 9 parts and after dilution with tris, vitamin C and zinc levels were added. Spermatozoa characteristics include the progressive motility, viability and morphological defect rates were evaluated in various times of semen storage period. The effects of vitamin C, zinc and storage periods of semen on spermatozoa progressive motility, viability and morphological defect rates were significant (P<0.05). Also, comparison the means by Duncan test revealed that the highest motility and viability rates and lowest morphological defect rates were observed in zero levels of vitamin C and zinc (P<0.05). Therefore, vitamin C and zinc have no improved effects on motility, viability and morphological defect rates of spermatozoa in liquid storage condition of Arabian ram.