Effect of antioxidants (taurine, cysteine, -tocopherol) on liquid preserved Kolbroek boar semen characteristics

Abstract

Successful artificial insemination depends on maintaining longevity of semen in the reproductive tract, and semen characteristics among others. The study compared efficacy of Androhep extender supplemented with 75 mM taurine, 5 m M-cysteine, or 200 mg/l alpha-tocophero on liquid preservation of Kolbroek boar semen characteristics over 24 and 48 h after storage at 17°C. Total motility was evaluated using computer aided sperm analyzer (CASA), viability using SYBR/propidium iodidemembrane function using HOST test and lipid peroxidation using the MDA test. Statistical analysis was done using PROC GLM procedure of SAS (1996). Data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). Untreated samples showed higher sperm quality in terms of membrane integrity, functionality and motility. All antioxidant treated spermatozoa did not show increased longevity (p>0.05) after 48 h of storage compared with untreated samples. Supplementation of Androhep extender with antioxidants did not improve sperm survivability of kolbroek liquid preserved semen. Therefore, the antioxidants were ineffective in improving longevity of Kolbroek liquid preserved semen after 48 h storage at 17°C. Further studies are required to find the effective antioxidant concentration to elicit sperm protection for Kolbroek boar semen liquid preservation.

Antioxidant Effect of a Polyphenol-Rich Murtilla (Ugni molinaeTurcz.) Extract and Its Effect on the Regulation of Metabolism in Refrigerated Boar Sperm

“…On the other hand, our results under long-term refrigeration showed beneficial effects on sperm viability and motility, with improved results in both parameters after long exposure times (168 hrs). This effect has been observed in long-term refrigeration using cysteine as an antioxidant, where motility and cell viability are substantially improved, while adverse effects were observed with tocopherol, which reduces mitochondrial potential, motility, and viability [65, 66]. Our initial results showed a reducing effect of mitochondrial parameters, reflected in the long incubation analyses; however, in contrast to the control, application of the extract led to a smaller loss of potential over time and reduced the production of oxidizing agents, suggesting a positive effect from the formulation of a seminal dose until the end of the analysis.…”

Buck Semen Does Not Easily Succumb to Oxidative Stress

“…The decreases in these parameters, accompanied by high rate of sperm cell death via apoptosis and decreased viability, indicated that boar semen is highly susceptible to oxidative stress and DTT fail to rescue them [12]. We have also shown recently that other antioxidants like α-tocopherol, taurine and cysteine do not restore boar semen motility and velocity parameters following oxidative stress associated with liquid preservation [13]. Others have shown that post-thaw buck semen exhibited decreased DNA damage and lipid peroxidation accompanied by increased antioxidant enzyme activities with no changes in progressive motilities and sperm velocity parameters in the presence of antioxidants [14].…”

Seasonal Variations in Semen Quality, Testosterone Levels, and Scrotal Size following Dietary Flaxseed Oil and Ascorbic Acid in South African Indigenous Rams

“…With a few changes, Maxwell and Johnson’s Hyper-Osmotic Swelling Test (HOST) was used to assess membrane permeability, as further described by Ngcobo et al [ 31 ]. Following the mixing of the semen and the HOST, the solution was then incubated for 30 min at 37 °C in a 5% CO 2 incubator (MCO-20 AIC Sanyo ® CO 2 incubator (Sanyo, Japan)) [ 37 ]. Thereafter, samples were smeared on the microscope slide (76 × 26 × 1 mm, Germany) gently at a 45° angle, and air-dried.…”

“…For malondialdehyde levels, semen concentration was initially determined, and then samples were standardized to 5.29 × 109 ± 0.36 [ 31 ] using a non-egg-yolk and glycerol tris-based extender [ 38 ]. Thereafter, the standardized samples were mixed with 1 mL of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to precipitate proteins [ 37 ]. The mixture was then centrifuged for 10 min at 1500× g force, according to [ 37 ].…”

“…Thereafter, the standardized samples were mixed with 1 mL of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) to precipitate proteins [ 37 ]. The mixture was then centrifuged for 10 min at 1500× g force, according to [ 37 ]. After centrifugation, the sample solution was collected, and the supernatant was mixed with 0.67% TBA in a 1:1 ratio before boiling at 100 °C for 10 min and cooling to room temperature before analysis.…”