Supplementation of Freezing Medium with Ginseng Improves Rooster Sperm Quality and Fertility Relative to Free Radicals and Antioxidant Enzymes

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Rooster sperm cryopreservation is the preferred technique for genetic preservation, particularly in indigenous breeds whose numbers are decreasing. However, cryopreserved semen is highly damaged, mainly from cold shock and oxidative stress during freezing, leading to membrane and sperm damage. It is necessary to protect sperm membranes against peroxidative damage to improve semen quality and fertility. This study aimed to determine the optimal ginseng concentration used as a freezing extender in cryopreserved Thai native rooster semen. Ginsenosides are active components extracted from ginseng that exert antioxidant effects that inhibit oxidative stress. Our results showed that ginseng extract dosage in the freezing extender influenced frozen-thawed semen quality, improved motility and membrane integrity, reduced oxidative stress caused by the freezing process, enhanced enzyme activity in seminal plasma, and increased fertility in rooster semen cryopreservation. ABSTRACT: To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to determine the effect of ginseng as an antioxidant supplement in freezing extenders on the quality of cryopreserved rooster semen. Semen samples were collected from 40 Thai native roosters (Pradu Hang Dum) using the dorso-abdominal massage method and then pooled and divided into five groups according to the concentrations of ginseng supplementation (0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, and 1 mg/mL) in a freezing extender. The semen suspensions were loaded into a medium straw and cryopreserved using the liquid nitrogen vapor method. The post-thaw semen was evaluated for sperm quality (sperm motility and membrane integrity), seminal plasma characteristics (lipid peroxidation, superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and glutathione peroxidase [GPx]), and fertility. The results showed that ginseng extract supplementation at 0.25 mg/mL yielded the highest total motility, progressive motility, and membrane integrity (59.47%, 30.82%, and 48.30%, respectively; p < 0.05) in cryopreserved rooster semen. Higher malondialdehyde concentrations were observed in the control group than in the other groups (p < 0.05). SOD, CAT, and GPx increased compared with those in the control group (p < 0.05). The results showed that the fertility rate with 0.25 mg/mL of ginseng was higher than that of the control group (62.80% vs. 46.28%: p < 0.05). In conclusion, supplementation with 0.25 mg/mL of ginseng is recommended as an alternative component to the freezing extender to improve rooster semen cryopreservation.