Effect of Zataria multiflora essential oil on rooster semen during storage at 4°C

Experiment was conducted to determine effect of Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil on stored spermatozoa. Semen collection was performed by using 15 mature roosters twice a week at four times. In each session, ejaculates were pooled and split into seven parts. The amounts of 0 (EO0), 50 (EO50), 100 (EO100), 200 (EO200), 400 (EO400), 600 (EO600) and 1000 (EO1000) ng/ml Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil were added to each part. Samples were chilled to 4°C and maintained for 72 h. Sperm assessment was performed at 0, 24, 48 and 72 h. Lipid peroxidation was evaluated after 48 h. Results showed that there was no interaction between Zataria multiflora essential oil and incubation time on membrane integrity, sperm motility and viability (p > 0.05). The highest sperm progressive motility (80.43%), viability (86.31%) and functional membrane integrity (85.81%) was observed in EO200 (p < 0.05). The lowest sperm motility (61.31%) and viability (73.31%) was observed in EO1000 (p < 0.05). The concentrations of malondialdehyde was lowest in EO200 (0.17 nM/ml, p < 0.05). Therefore, addition of 200 ng/ml Zataria multiflora boiss essential oil to semen improved longevity of rooster spermatozoa at 4°C.