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EFFECTS OF COENZYME Q10-UBIQUINONE SUPPLEMENTATION ON FROZEN-THAWED STALLION AND BOVINE SEMEN QUALITY
Thesis

EFFECTS OF COENZYME Q10-UBIQUINONE SUPPLEMENTATION ON FROZEN-THAWED STALLION AND BOVINE SEMEN QUALITY

Ahmed Mosallam
Master of Science (MS), Washington State University
2026
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Abstract

Semen cryopreservation is essential for preserving valuable genetics, but freeze-thaw processing can reduce sperm function through cold shock, osmotic stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and oxidative injury. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10; ubiquinone/ubiquinol) is a lipid-soluble antioxidant and mitochondrial electron carrier that may support sperm motility and membrane stability. This thesis evaluated CoQ10-ubiquinol supplementation in frozen-thawed stallion semen and bovine semen, with emphasis on dose, timing of exposure, and post-thaw incubation. In the stallion experiment, frozen semen from three stallions was thawed and incubated with 0, 75, 150, or 300 µM CoQ10, then evaluated by computer-assisted semen analysis at 10, 60, and 120 minutes post-thaw. CoQ10 did not improve standard motility outcomes under these conditions, and higher concentrations tended to be associated with lower motility at later incubation times. In the bovine experiment, semen from eight bulls was evaluated after CoQ10 supplementation either before freezing or after thawing. Pre-freeze supplementation showed a concentration-dependent response, with 75 µM generally producing more favorable total and progressive motility than higher concentrations. Post-thaw supplementation did not improve motility relative to the untreated control. Overall, CoQ10 responses appear dose-, timing-, formulation-, and male-dependent. Future studies should incorporate oxidative stress biomarkers, membrane and mitochondrial assays, fertility endpoints, and stratification by freezability phenotype.

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