Effects of adding royal jelly to Tris-egg yolk extender on Afshari ram sperm parameters after liquid storage of semen

The present study was conducted to evaluate the protective effects of royal jelly in Tris based extender on ram sperm parameters including motility, viability, morphology and plasma membrane integrity during 7 days liquid storage. 64 semen samples were collected with artificial vagina from 4 rams. After initial assessments, semen samples were mixed and then were diluted with Tris based extender having 0 (control), %1, %3 and %5 royal jelly. Motility was assessed with CASA system. Morphology and viability were assessed with Eosin-Negrosin staining method and plasma membrane integrity was assessed with HOST method. Diluted semen samples were kept in 37° for 1 hour and 4° C for 7 days. The results showed that motility percentage (51.25±2.86) in %3 royal jelly supplemented group was significantly higher than other treatment groups after 7 days’ liquid storage of semen (P< 0.05). The percentage of sperm cells with functional plasma membrane (46.53± 2.96) in %3 royal jelly supplemented group was significantly higher than control group (P< 0.05). The percentage of live sperm cells in %3 (56.96±3.37) and in 1% (54.68±2.83) royal jelly supplemented groups were higher than control group (P< 0.05). In conclusion, the results of present study showed that supplementation of %3 royal jelly to Tris based extender improves ram sperm parameters after 7 days’ liquid storage of semen.