Fortification of Catalase Improves Post Thaw Fertility of Goat Semen

Artificial Insemination (AI) in goats is less developed compared to the large animals due to the lack of suit-able protocol of goat semen freezing and AI in India. The AI plays a pivotal role in the long-term ex-situ in vitro conservation of threatened breeds, increased productivity, and performance of a large number of non-descript and low potential goats. The objective of the present study was to enhance the life and fertility po-tential of cryopreserved semen and consequently the conception rate through frozen semen AI by the addi-tion of catalase in an extender. Ejaculates (30) were collected and were extended with tris-citric acid-fructose diluent. Catalases were added in diluent (0 IU/mL, 200 IU/mL, 400 IU/mL, 600 IU/mL, 800 IU/mL and 1000 IU/mL). Analysis of data using SPSS 16 revealed that motility, live sperm count, acro-somal integrity, and hypo-osmotic swelling positive spermatozoa were counted differed significantly (P<0.05) at different concentrations of catalase. The post-thaw motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integ-rity, and hypo-osmotic swelling positive spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.05) highest in 800 U/mL of catalase used in the present study. Mitochondrial membrane potential was also significantly highest (P<0.05) in frozen semen in 800 IU/mL catalase. Goats (20) were inseminated with frozen semen straw of 800 IU/mL catalase and 8 goats (40%) were pregnant. The conception rate in the control group was 35%. Our study suggested that the addition of catalase reduced the detrimental effects of freezing on motility, viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and can be used for routine semen freezing and AI.