Effect of Nano Zinc Oxide on Post-Thaw Variables and Oxidative Status of Moghani Ram Semen

The damages of freezing technique of sperm including motility, survival and membrane disorders involves the formation of ice crystals, oxidative stress, osmotic changes and the re-organization of lipid-protein in the cell membrane. Zinc plays basic role in membrane stability and physical properties of the attached fibers, sperm tail morphology and sperm motility. The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of Nano zinc oxide (Nano-znO) on post-thaw variables and oxidative status of Moghani ram semen. In order to collect semen of four Moghani rams, 3-4 years old with an average weight of 80-90 kg were used to twice a weekly. Sperm samples (in five replicates) were frozen in five groups: control group, 0.01, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/mL of Nano-znO. The hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) was used to evaluate the integrity of the plasma membrane of the sperm. The results showed that the average of integrity of the plasma membrane of sperm and MDA production in the medium containing 0.1 mg/mL of Nano-znO was with the highest and lowest percentages, respectively (P<0.05). There was a significant difference in total motility for 0.1 and 1 mg/mL treatments compared to the control group and the use of 0.01 and 0.1 mg/mL treatments had a significant increase in the percentage of progressive motility compared to the control group but in 0.5 and 1 mg/mL treatments reduced progressive motility. Viability sperm in group 0.1 and group 0.01 was better than control group (P<0.05). The use of 0.1 mg/mL of Nano-znO in the ram semen diluted improved total motility, progressive motility and the percentage of survival. In conclusion using Nano-znO had a positive effect on qualitative properties of sperm and lead to a significant improvement in some antioxidant parameters of Moghani ram seminal plasma in the non-breeding season.