Effects of Shilajit Added to Honeybee Sperm Extender on Sperm Freezing

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of shilajit (S) at different doses (0, 5, 10, 15, 20%) added to honey bee (Apis melilifera) semen extender on motility, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity parameters. In the study, a total of 25 colonies, 5 groups and 5 colonies in each group, were used. The control group (S-0) constitutes the group where shilajit was not added to the honeybee extender. S- 1, S- 2, S-3 and S-4 groups were formed as groups with 5, 10, 15 and 20% shilajit added to the honey bee extender, respectively. Sperm were collected from approximately 400 drones aged 14-21 days in approximately 25 colonies that were fed every other day. Then they were frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor and stored in liquid nitrogen at -196 degrees C for approximately 7 months. At the end of this period, the frozen samples were thawed at 37 degrees C and examined in terms of relevant parameters. Compared with other groups, S-3 and S-4 groups increased sperm motility (p<0.05); It was determined that S-2, S-3 and S-4 groups increased plasma membrane integrity while the acrosome integrity was significantly preserved in the groups with different doses of shilajit added to the diluent compared to the control group (p<0.01). As a result, it was concluded that different doses of shilajit to honey bee extender had positive effects on spermatological parameters.