Catalase, superoxide dismutase and butylated hydroxytoluene benefit mid-term storage of red-legged partridge sperm (Alectoris rufa).

1. The present study assessed the effect of different antioxidants on the quality of chilled/frozen-thawed sperm of red-legged partridge.2. Sperm samples from 40 red-legged partridges were collected and extended 1:1 (v:v) with Lake and Ravie 84, supplemented with ascorbic acid or butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 mM and catalase (CAT) or superoxide dismutase (SOD) at 0, 100, 200 and 300 IU/ml. Ten sperm samples were used per concentration. Motility and viability were evaluated in fresh and after 6 h of chilling at 5°C or after freezing-thawing.3. For chilled sperm, the presence of ascorbic acid decreased viability and several motility variables; BHT 0.8 mM increased non-progressive motility (NPM, 26.7 ± 1.99 vs. 20.7 ± 2.12); CAT 200 IU/ml improved the rectilinear velocity (40.4 ± 4.63 μ/s vs. 29.9 ± 4.62 μ/s) and linear progression ratio (52.8 ± 3.11% vs. 45.4 ± 2.98%); SOD 100 IU/ml increased NPM (24.5 ± 1.21% vs. 19.3 ± 1.75%) and tended to improve total progressive motility (42.7 ± 3.33% vs. 33.2 ± 3.26%, p = 0.07). Using an extender supplemented with CAT 200 or SOD 100 did not improve the post-thawed sperm quality.4. The present work provides an advance in the optimisation of chilling and freezing protocols for red-legged partridge sperm.