Effect of Betaine and Raffinose in Cryopreservation Medium on Fertility in Kadaknath Chicken

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Kadaknath is an important indigenous chicken with black pigmentation and cryopreserved semen reputably had low fertility. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of betaine and raffinose in semen extenders on post thaw semen parameters and fertility. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen was cryopreserved in 4% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) with betaine supplemented at 0.1, 0.2 and 0.4 M or raffinose supplemented at 1, 5 and 10 mM. Post thaw semen parameters and fertility were evaluated. RESULTS: Betaine at higher concentrations significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited the post thaw sperm motility, live sperm and MTT dye reduction and a declining trend in the fertility with increasing betaine. Inclusion of raffinose had no effect on the post thaw in vitro semen parameters, however, the fertility was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in the 10 mM raffinose supplemented group. CONCLUSION: Betaine has negative effect on post thaw semen parameters and raffinose at 10 mM concentration improves the fertility from cryopreserved semen.