The effects of different levels of superoxide dismutase in Modena on boar semen quality during liquid preservation at 17°C

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the influence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the quality of boar semen during liquid preservation at 17°C. Semen samples from 10 Duroc boars were collected and pooled, divided into five equal parts and diluted with Modena containing different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 U/mL) of SOD. During the process of liquid preservation at 17°C, sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content were measured and analyzed every 24 h. Meanwhile, effective survival time of boar semen during preservation was evaluated and analyzed. The results indicated that different concentrations of SOD in Modena showed different protective effects on boar sperm quality. Modena supplemented with SOD decreased the effects on reactive oxygen species on boar sperm quality during liquid preservation compared with that of the control group. The added 200 U/mL SOD group showed higher sperm motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, effective survival time and T‐AOC activity. Meanwhile, the added 200 U/mL SOD group showed lower MDA content and H2O2content. In conclusion, addition of SOD to Modena improved the boar sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress during liquid preservation at 17°C and the optimum concentration was 200 U/mL.