Canthaxanthin enhances the quality of cryopreserved goat spermatozoa

The excessive production of reactive oxygen species during the freezing and thawing process triggers lipid peroxidation in the sperm membrane, resulting in oxidative harm and a decline in semen quality. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of different concentrations of canthaxanthin on the quality of goat spermatozoa throughout the process of cryopreservation. Semen was collected from each goat using an artificial vagina for a continuous duration of 3 weeks. The semen was divided into five equal portions and mixed with an extender having different concentrations of canthaxanthin: 0.00 (control), 5.00, 15.00, 25.00, and 35.00 µM. The computer-assisted semen analyzer was used to determine the sperm motility and kinetic parameters. The findings indicated that the inclusion of canthaxanthin at a concentration of 5.00 µM resulted in a minimal enhancement in sperm kinematic factors such as overall motility, progressive motility, fast progressive motility, curve-line velocity, distance curve line, amplitude of lateral head displacement, beat-cross frequency, wobble, linearity, and straightness. Nevertheless, these enhancements did not demonstrate statistical significance compared to the control, 15.00, 25.00, and 35.00 µM. The introduction of 5.00 µM of canthaxanthin resulted in a significant rise in straight-line velocity, average path velocity and head activity compared to the control group. Hence, the addition of 5.00 µM of canthaxanthin could be employed to improve the cryopreservation of goat spermatozoa.