EFFECTS OF COENZYME Q10 SUPPLEMENTATION IN A FREEZING EXTENDER ON THE QUALITY OF CRYOPRESERVED AC CHICKEN SPERM

Abstract

 Cryopreservation is an effective technique for preserving poultry genetic resources; however, oxidative stress during freezing and thawing severely impairs sperm quality. This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of coenzyme Q10 supplemented in a Beltsville freezing extender on the post-thaw quality of Ac chicken sperm. Semen collected from ten healthy Ac roosters was pooled and cryopreserved in extenders containing 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, or 80 µg/mL coenzyme Q10. The experiment was conducted with four independent replicates, each consisting of a pooled semen sample collected from 10 roosters at Tra Vinh University, Vietnam, from January to May 2026. After thawing, sperm quality was assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis for motility parameters, Eosin–Nigrosin staining for viability, the hypo-osmotic swelling test for plasma membrane integrity, and the thiobarbituric acid assay
for malondialdehyde concentration. Coenzyme Q10 supplementation significantly improved all evaluated sperm quality parameters in a nonlinear dose response peaking at 40 µg/mL (P < 0.05). The extender supplemented with 40 µg/mL coenzyme Q10 produced the highest total motility (47.12%), progressive motility (44.87%), viability (59.09%), plasma membrane integrity (59.51%), and sperm velocity parameters, while exhibiting the lowest malondialdehyde concentration (25.38 nmol/20 × 106 spermatozoa). In contrast, supplementation with 80 µg/mL coenzyme Q10 significantly reduced these beneficial effects, although sperm quality remained superior to that of the  control group. These findings demonstrate that supplementation of the freezing extender with 40 µg/mL coenzyme Q10 effectively enhances the cryotolerance of Ac chicken sperm by reducing oxidative damage and preserving sperm motility and membrane integrity.