Effect of supplementing L-Glycine and L-Carnitine on post thaw semen parameters and fertility in chicken.

Abstract

The effect of supplementing L-glycine and L-carnitine in cryopreservation mixture on post-thaw semen and fertility parameters was studied. Semen from adult PD6 line roosters was collected, pooled and used. The samples after equilibration at 5°C for 30 minutes were mixed with the diluent with the final concentration of supplements L-glycine of 5 or 15 mM and L-carnitine of 1mM along with a cryoprotectant (4 % dimethylsulfoxide; DMSO), and the semen was cryopreserved in 0.5 ml French straws. Different in vitro semen quality parameters, fertility and hatchability were assessed in post-thaw samples. Post-thaw sperm motility, live sperm, MTT dye reduction test and seminal plasma lipid peroxidation were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the cryoprotectant only (4 % DMSO) as well as in the L-glycineand L-carnitine- supplemented treatments. Fertility was significantly (P < 0.05) lower the L-glycine- and L-carnitinesupplemented treatments compared to fresh semen, however, hatchability on fertile egg set was similar in all the treatments. The post-thaw semen parameters, fertility and hatchability in L-glycine- and L-carnitine- supplemented treatments were similar to that of the cryoprotectant only treatment. In conclusion, L-glycine and L-carnitine supplementation did not improve post-thaw semen parameters or fertility and hatchability. Thus, inclusion of these compounds in the chicken semen cryopreservation mixture may not provide advantage during the cryopreservation process.