Effect of vanillic acid in comparison with vitamin E+C on short- and long-term ‎preservation of ram semen

In the present study, the effect of vanillic acid in comparison with vitamin E+C on the semen characteristics of Zel's ram under short and long-term preservation, was investigated. The experimental groups consisted of different concentrations of vanillic acid (0, 1, 10 and 100 μg/mL), a mixture of alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (vitamin E+C), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) (as alpha-tocopherol solvent). The samples were evaluated at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after storage at 4 °C and following the freeze-thawing process. During the cold storage, sperm quality traits (motility, viability and membrane integrity) and mitochondrial activity increased significantly (P<0.05) at concentrations of 1 and 10 μg/ml vanillic acid in comparison with control and vitamin E+C groups. Our results revealed that the total motility and percentage of spermatozoids in the concentration of 1 μg/ml of vanillic acid were higher than control and vitamin E+C groups (P<0.05). Also, plasma membrane integrity and morphology of spermatozoid were higher in concentrations of 1 and 10 μg/ml of vanillic acid than control group. Concentration of 1 μg/ml of vanillic acid showed the highest mitochondrial activity than vitamin E+C treatment (P<0.05). Our findings showed that addition of vanillic acid at the concentrations of 1 and 10 μg/mL to the semen extender improved the quality of spermatozoid in the Zel breed sheep.