COMPARISON OF TWO COLORIMETRIC ANTIOXIDANT CAPACITY ASSESSMENT METHODS IN BOVINE SEMEN FRACTIONS

Abstract

The antioxidant capacity represents the concentration and activity of diverse components which prevent oxidative damage to biomolecules. This study compares the effectiveness two routinely available protocols (Total antioxidant status - TAS and Ferric reducing ability of plasma - FRAP) with respect to the relationship between the antioxidant capacity and semen quality in bovine seminal plasma and spermatozoa. Computer assisted semen analysis was used to evaluate selected spermatozoa motion parameters; TAS and FRAP were assessed using UV/VIS spectrophotometry. Higher antioxidant activity (P<0.01) measured by both techniques was recorded in the seminal plasma. At the same time, the antioxidant properties evaluated by both techniques significantly (P<0.01) reflected on the semen quality in both seminal plasma as well as spermatozoa. Our results suggest that both methodologies used to assess the antioxidant capacity of semen are equally suitable to be routinely used in veterinary medicine.