The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of antioxidant supplementation
on the quality of flow cytometrically-sorted boar spermatozoa. The effects of ascorbic
acid-2-glucoside (AA-2G) on the sex-sorting process were evaluated using a variety of concentrations.
The effects of different antioxidants (AA-2G, l-glutathione, and vitamin E) on
the viability and lifespan of boar spermatozoa were also compared during sorting. Furthermore,
the effect of AA-2G on acrosome intactness, the capacitation ability of sorted
boar spermatozoa and pregnancy efficiency after artificial insemination (AI) at different
sorting-to-insemination intervals were examined. Greater (P < 0.05) percentages of motile
spermatozoa and acrosome intactness and longer storage time periods were observed in
the AA-2G-supplemented group when compared with the other antioxidant-supplemented
or control groups. At an AA-2G concentration of 0.068 mg/mL, the motility characteristics
(i.e., straightness (STR), velocity according to the average path (VAP), and amplitude of the
sperm head lateral displacement (ALH)) of the sex-sorted boar spermatozoa were greater
(P < 0.05) than in those treated with other AA-2G concentrations. The capacitation rate of
boar spermatozoa in the AA-2G-supplemented group was less (P < 0.05) than that in the
control group. After sorting-to-insemination interval of 10 h, the pregnancy rates after AI
with boar spermatozoa for the AA-2G-supplemented group were 59.25%, while the control
group remains no sufficient quality semen. This study demonstrates that AA-2G supplementation
can improve the quality of flow cytometrically sorted boar spermatozoa and
that the optimal concentration of AA-2G for sorting is 0.068 mg/mL