Liquid Storage of Ram Semen: Associated Damages and Improvement

The successful application of assisted reproductive techniques (ARTs) in ovine as other mammal species relies on many factors among which the quality semen used. After collection, samples are generally processed for storage (liquid or cryoconservation) before being used insemination vitro embryo production. During liquid process, sperm cells exposed to artificial conditions lead oxidative stress—the imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants (AO), following overproduction reactive oxygen (ROS)—resulting ultrastructural, biochemical functional damages spermatozoa. Especially, viability, motility, mitochondrial activity, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity reduced while morphological abnormalities, DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation (LPO) increased, affecting fertilizing ability subsequent early embryonic development when using standard extenders. Indeed, an optimal extender must not only regulate support environment adequate pH buffering capacity protect spermatozoa from osmotic cooling stresses, but, also prevent generation and/or scavenge excess ROS. To improve ram storage, several methods have been developed with supplementation extenders antioxidant like-compounds (enzymes, amino-acids, vitamins, plant extracts), seminal plasma, sugars, fatty acids, nanoparticles a relevant approach. Promising results registered these compounds, confirming they can be preserve fertility. Therefore, present review provides updated overview associated mechanisms that undergo during storage. Moreover, different compounds tool is discussed well their efficiency reduce