Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function

Abstract

Purpose To study the effect of addition of zinc to human semen sample prior to cryopreservation on post-thaw sperm quality and function. Methods Semen samples were collected from men attending university infertility clinic for semen analysis (n0109). Liquefied semen samples were cryopreserved in glycerol-egg yolkcitrate medium with or without the prior addition of zinc (100 μM) and stored in liquid nitrogen. After 10 days, the semen samples were thawed to assess the outcome. Sperm motility, DNA integrity, mitochondrial potential and the ability of spermatozoa to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction was assessed in post-thaw samples. Results Semen samples cryopreserved after addition of zinc had a significantly higher percentage of sperm with intact DNA (p<0.001), mitochondrial function (p<0.001) and progressive motility (p<0.01) compared to the semen samples cryopreserved without zinc supplementation. Apart from this, ability to undergo capacitation and acrosome reaction in vitro was significantly higher in semen samples cryopreserved with zinc (p<0.0001 and p<0.001 respectively).Conclusions Addition of zinc to semen samples prior to cryopreservation helps in preventing the freeze-thaw-induced sperm DNA damage and loss of sperm function.

The efficacy of antioxidants in sperm parameters and production of reactive oxygen species levels during the freeze‐thaw process: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

“…Finally, 54 articles were selected for assessment. During full‐text screening, no common antioxidants were identified in nineteen articles (Asadmobini, Bakhtiari, Khaleghi, Esmaeili, & Mostafaei, ; Brugnon et al, ; Fontoura et al, ; Isachenko et al, ; Kotdawala et al, ; Lu et al, ; Meamar et al, ; Naeini, Bafrani, & Nikzad, ; Najafi et al, ; Oehninger, Duru, Srisombut, & Morshedi, ; Parameswari et al, ; Pariz & Hallak, ; Saeednia et al, ; Sbracia, Grasso, Sayme, Stronk, & Huszar, ; Sobhani, Eftekhaari, Shahrzad, Natami, & Fallahi, ; Taylor, Roberts, Sanders, & Burton, ; Vickram et al, ; Werner et al, ), twelve articles lacked common sperm parameters (Banihani, Agarwal, Sharma, & Bayachou, ; Branco, Garcez, Pasqualotto, Erdtman, & Salvador, ; Donnelly, McClure, & Lewis, ; Esteves, Spaine, & Cedenho, ; Gadea et al, ; Garcez et al, ; Garcez, Branco, Lara, Pasqualotto, & Salvador, ; Jenkins, Aston, & Carrell, ; Li, Lin, Liu, Xiao, & Liu, ; Minaei et al, ; Nabi et al, ; Shabani Nashtaei et al, ) and one article lacked sufficient data (Karimfar et al, ). Finally, 23 articles (Aliabadi, Jahanshahi, Talaei‐Khozani, & Banaei, ; Askari, Check, Peymer, & Bollendorf, ; Azadi, Tavalaee, Deemeh, Arbabian, & Nasr‐Esfahani, ; Bateni et al, ; Deng et al, ; Duru, Morshedi, Schuffner, & Oehninger, ; Esteves, Sharma, Thomas, & Agarwal, ; Ghorbani et al, ; Kalthur et al, ; Keshtgar, Iravanpour, Gharesi‐Fard, & Kazerooni, ; Martinez‐Soto, Dioshourcade, Gutiérrez‐Adán, Landeras, & Gadea, ; Merino et al, ; Moubasher, Din, Ali, El‐sherif, & Gaber, ; Najafi et al, ; Nekoonam, Nashtaei, Naji, Zangi, & Amidi, ; Rossi, Mazzilli, Delfino, & Dondero, ; Taylor et al, ; Thomson et al, ; Varghese et al, …”

“…Finally, 54 articles were selected for assessment. During full-text screening, no common antioxidants were identified in nineteen articles (Asadmobini, Bakhtiari, Khaleghi, Esmaeili, & Mostafaei, 2017;Brugnon et al, 2013;Fontoura et al, 2017;Isachenko et al, 2008;Kotdawala et al, 2012;Lu et al, 2018;Meamar et al, 2012;Naeini, Bafrani, & Nikzad, 2014;Najafi et al, 2016…”

In situviability detection assays induce heat-shock protein 70 expression in spermatozoa without affecting the chromatin integrity

“…Sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) assay was performed as described by Fernandez et al . () with minor modifications (Kotdawala et al ., ). Briefly, the washed spermatozoa were mixed with 1% low melting point agarose maintained at 37 °C.…”

Comparison between the Effects of Adding Vitamins, Trace Elements, and Nanoparticles to SHOTOR Extender on the Cryopreservation of Dromedary Camel Epididymal Spermatozoa

“…In recent years, studies have also been conducted on camels, cow bulls, and human semen diluents, to supplement anti-oxidants such as glutathione, vitamin C (Vit C), vitamin E (Vit E), zinc (Zn), and selenium (Se) to improve the post-thawed motility, vitality, and membrane integrity of spermatozoa [18][19][20].…”