Cat epididymal semen cryopreserved with and without vitamin E: effect on sperm parameters and lipid peroxidation

Abstract

The aims of this study were to investigate: 1) if the addition of α-tocopherol (vitamin E) in three concentrations (0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM) is able to preserve spermatozoa integrity after thawing and 2) the effect of α-tocopherol supplementation on lipid peroxidation. Fifty four domestic cats were used in this study constituting 18 pools (3 cats per pool). Each pool was submitted at four experimental groups: group 0 (control)-epididymal sperm were frozen with a commercial Botucrio ® extender; group 0.3, group 0.6 and group 0.9-the extender was supplemented with 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM of α-tocopherol, respectively. Each semen sample was evaluated for motility, progressive forward motility, morphology, sperm viability (plasma membrane integrity-PMI), hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST), before and after thawing. The evaluation of lipid peroxidation reaction by Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS) test was performed on thawed semen only. Results demonstrated that there was no significant difference between control and the three α-tocopherol groups with regards to motility and progressive motility after thawing (P > 0.05). As expected, in fresh samples viability was significantly higher than in all the cryopreserved groups in which there was no positive influence of any of the αtocopherol concentration used. Lipid peroxidation was higher in the supplemented groups 0.6 and 0.9 mM of α-tocopherol than in control and in 0.3 mM group. In conclusion, the addition of α-tocopherol to the commercial extender had no positive influence on reduction of lipid peroxidation. This topic deserves further investigations to better understand the effect of cryopreservation procedures on epididymal spermatozoa and to establish adequate strategies to counteract sperm cryodamages.

Sperm Quality and Histology of the Testis and Epididymis in Chemical Castrated Male Cats with Intra-testicular Injection of Sodium Chloride Solution

“…Motility was observed under a light microscope at 200×. Motility was estimated as the percentage of motile spermatozoa (0-100%, Macente et al, 2018).…”

“…For each sample, 100 cells were assessed. Morphological abnormalities were classified as head abnormalities, tail abnormalities and, midpiece defects (Macente et al, 2018).…”

Antioxidants in assisted reproductive technologies: An overview on dog, cat, and horse

“…Indeed, Tris egg yolk extender treatment with cysteine or vitamin E was used to improve the motility and integrity of the sperm membrane and DNA of the frozen and thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa [ 76 ]. Macente et al [ 77 ] found that the addition of cysteine or Trolox, a water-soluble vitamin E analog, to Tris egg yolk extender improved the motility, membrane, and DNA integrity but had no effect on acrosome integrity in cats [ 77 ]. Recently, resveratrol, a phytoalexin with antioxidant activity, has been used as an IVM supplement and has been able to prevent OS’s adverse effects on domestic cat oocytes and improve embryo development after storage of the ovary at 4°C for 48 h [ 78 ].…”