Sodium selenite supplementation diminishes reactive oxygen species and enhances post-thaw spermatozoa membrane integrity of Indonesian indigenous bulls

Fransisca Gani  Padmawati; Dio Fico Felsidan  Diatmono; Dio Fico Felsidan  Diatmono; Jasminetha; Pradita Iustitia  Sitaresmi; Dyah  Maharani; Diah Tri  Widayati

Authors

Fransisca Gani Padmawati Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Dio Fico Felsidan Diatmono Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Dio Fico Felsidan Diatmono Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Jasminetha Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Pradita Iustitia Sitaresmi Research Center for Animal Husbandry, National Research and Innovation Agency, Cibinong Science Center, West Java 16915, Indonesia
Dyah Maharani Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia
Diah Tri Widayati Department of Animal Breeding and Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Science, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia

Keywords:

Antioxidant, Indigenous bull, Post-thaw semen, Sodium selenite, Spermatozoa quality

Abstract

Importance of the work: Cryopreservation and thawing induce oxidative stress (OS), which
impairs spermatozoa quality. Sodium selenite (Se) supplementation may provide protective and
antioxidant effects.
Objectives: To evaluate the effects of Se supplementation on reactive oxygen species (ROS)
production and membrane integrity of Aceh and Bali bull semen.
Materials and Methods: In total, 220 semen straws were obtained from superior bulls of both
the Aceh and Bali breeds from the Artificial Insemination Center (Balai Besar Inseminasi BuatanBBIB) Singosari, East Java, Indonesia. Samples were allocated to five treatment groups: control
(no supplementation) and Se supplementation at 1 part per million (ppm), 5 ppm, 25 ppm and 50
ppm (T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively). Each solution was stored at 4°C for 60 min. The parameters
assessed were: motility, viability, abnormalities, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), acrosome
membrane integrity (AMI) and ROS level. Data were analyzed using one-way analysis of variance
(ANOVA), followed by Duncan’s multiple range test and Pearson’s correlation analysis.
Results: There were significant (p < 0.05) improvements in post-thaw motility, viability, primary
abnormality and PMI in all supplemented groups compared to the control groups for both breeds.
Secondary abnormalities were observed exclusively in the Aceh bull samples, whereas significant
AMI was noted only in the Bali bull samples. Se supplementation significantly reduced ROS levels,
with T2 having the greatest efficacy. The Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed strong positive
correlations (p < 0.01) among motility, viability and PMI across both breeds, whereas ROS was
negatively correlated with all quality parameters. There were breed-specific differences in the
relationship between morphological abnormalities and sperm quality.
Main finding: Se supplementation improved post-thaw spermatozoa quality in both breeds, with 5
ppm being the optimal concentration. These findings highlight the potential of Se as a key additive
in semen extenders to support semen quality during cryopreservation