Reducing the effects of acute stress on frozen-thawed rooster’s semen quality with supplementation of rosemary and fennel hydro-alcoholic extract in cryopreservation extender

The aim of this study was evaluation of cryo-viability of rooster semen supplemented with Rosemary and Fennel extracts in extender on quality of cryopreserved sperm under acute stress. A total of 24 roosters randomly divided into two groups: without stress (CON) or under oxidative stress, with administration of dexamethasone, 4 mg/Kg body weight, three times, every other day for 1 week, (DEX). Collected semen samples of birds were pooled in each groups and used in one of following treatments: 1) CON: with no extract supplementation or dexamethasone administration, 2) DEX: Dexamethasone group, 3) CON+Ros: semen of control group supplemented with 10 ml rosemary extract per deciliter of extender, 4) DEX+Ros; semen of DEX group supplemented with 10 ml rosemary extract per deciliter of extender, 5) CON+Fen: semen of control group supplemented with 6 ml fennel extract per deciliter of extender and 6) CON+Fen: semen of DEX group supplemented with 6 ml fennel extract per deciliter of extender. Results showed induced stress decreased sperm motility and biochemical parameters (P<0.05). Viability and membrane integrity of sperm were higher in CON+Ros and CON+Fen than other experimental groups (P<0.05). Similarly, supplementation of extender with rosemary and fennel extract in groups DEX+Fen and DEX+Ros improved mentioned parameters in rooster’s semen under physiologic stress. Totally, results showed supplementation of rosemary and fennel extract in cryopreservation extender can improve the quality of frozen-thawed semen in roosters reared under physiologic stress.