The Preservative Effect of Pineapple Juice on Chilled Bull Semen

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the preservative effects of pineapple juice on the progressive motility (PM) and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) of chilled bull semen. Semen samples obtained from bred Holstein bulls were diluted in egg yolk citrate extender (EYC) and firstly substituted with pineapple juice (Ananas comosus) at four levels of substitution; 0.25ml, 0.50ml,0.75ml, and 1ml of pineapple juice (PJ) in five treatments; T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively with T1 being the control. Secondly, pineapple juice (Ananas comosus) was added at four levels of addition; 0.25ml, 0.50ml,0.75ml, and 1ml of pineapple juice (PJ) in five treatments; T2, T3, T4, and T5 respectively with T1 being the control. The diluted semen samples were preserved at a temperature of 5⁰C and microscopic evaluation was done each day for PMI and PM until all the sperm cells died. The results obtained indicate a higher progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity for both the substitution and addition of pineapple juice in the EYC extender compared to the control. It was therefore evident that the substitution of egg yolk in the EYC extender with pineapple juice at 25% led to higher PMI and PM. Substitution of egg yolk in egg yolk citrate extender at 75% and 50% did not show a significant difference with the control while a 100% substitution resulted in a rapid drop in PMI and PM values. There was a higher (P<0.05) PMI and PM at all levels of addition as compared to the control with the highest PMI and PM obtained from T2, T3, T4, and T5 but shows no statistically significant difference (P<0.05)  between them. It is therefore evident pineapple juice in the EYC extender has a significant positive effect on plasma membrane integrity as compared to the control with no pineapple juice.