Geleia real como suplemento para diluidor comercial de sêmen suíno

Abstract

Swine semen is highly sensitive to thermal stress, suffering damage during the cooling process due to the low stability of the sperm membrane, which compromises cell viability and motility. To minimize these effects, the addition of antioxidants to semen extenders has been explored. Royal jelly, rich in bioactive antioxidants and antimicrobial compounds, emerges as a promising alternative. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of lyophilized royal jelly supplementation in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) extender on the quality of cooled swine semen. Sperm quality was analyzed using the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) system in ejaculates collected from five boars, and data were subjected to two-way ANOVA to assess the effects of royal jelly concentration (0%, 0.25%, 0.5%, 1%, and 2%) and storage time at 16 °C (24 and 120 hours). It was observed that the concentration of royal jelly, storage time, and their interaction significantly affected total and progressive motility, as well as the incidence of sperm abnormalities, including bent tails and distal cytoplasmic droplets. Higher concentrations of royal jelly (1% and 2%) drastically reduced motility and increased the percentage of defective sperm after 24 hours, with effects worsening after 120 hours of cooling. Proximal droplets were influenced only by storage time. These results indicate that, at the tested concentrations, royal jelly had a toxic effect on cooled swine semen. It is concluded that further studies are necessary to investigate lower concentrations of royal jelly and explore its potential antioxidant benefits without compromising sperm viability.