Supplementation of Plant-Based Cryopreservation Medium with Folic Acid Conserves the Quality of Bulk Post-Thawed Spermatozoa

The current study evaluated the effects of cryopreservation medium supplementation with folic acid as an antioxidant on post-thawed semen quality in bulk. Semen samples were collected from four proved Iranian Mahabadi bulls and diluted in extender containing 1.5% soybean lecithin. The diluted semen was assigned into six parts and supplemented with different doses of folic acid as follows: FA0 (extender without folic acid), FA0.05, FA0.1, FA0.2, FA0.4, and FA0.8 (extenders containing 0.05, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mM folic acid, respectively). Then, the semen samples were cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. Sperm motility and velocity parameters, membrane integrity, abnormal morphology, viability, and lipid peroxidation were evaluated after thawing. In the results, FA0.05 presented higher (p≤0.05) total motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, and viability and lower lipid peroxidation compared to other groups. Abnormal morphology was not affected (p>0.05) by treatments. In conclusion, supplementation of cryopreservation medium with 0.05 mM folic acid is a helpful method to conserve the quality of post-thawed semen in bulk.