EFFECT OF GREEN TEA EXTRACT ON MOTILITY PARAMETERS OF RABBIT SPERM

Abstract

Reproduction is a fundamental expression of living matter. Semen quality is the guarantee of successful insemination in breeding rabbits. The basic criterion in assessing of semen quality is sperm motility. There are many endogenous and exogenous factors affecting reproduction. Green tea has recently become a subject of investigation in connection with the prevention of various diseases and also its effects on reproduction. The aim of our study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of green tea extract on the motility parameters of rabbit sperm in vitro at different time intervals (0, 60, 120 minutes) at 37°C. Sperm was collected from adult male rabbits (n = 5). Samples were diluted with saline with addition of green tea extract - group A (0.75 mg/L), group B (1.5 mg/L), group C (2.25 mg/L), group D (3 mg/L) and group K without the addition of green tea extract. The measurements were performed using CASA analysis. We observed increased motility parameters at all time intervals in the group with the lowest concentration of green tea extract compared to the control group. After the addition of higher concentrations of green tea extract (≥ 1.5 mg/L), we observed decrease of all motility parameters at all time intervals compared to the control group. The results of our work indicate that low doses of green tea extract (≤ 0.75 mg/L) positive affect sperm motility. However, higher doses decrease rabbit sperm motility.