Role of Membrane Lipid Fatty Acids in Sperm Cryopreservation

Abstract

Lipid is an important constituent of cell membrane. Membrane lipid composition of spermatozoa has been correlated to different function. Many researchers have related membrane lipid with survival success after cryopreservation or cold shock. Sperm maturation and acrosome reactions are natural phenomenon, but cryopreservation or cold shock is not. Therefore, sperm cells are not programmed for such change and undergo stress. So the change in membrane lipid composition due to cold shock or cryopreservation may be looked upon as response of spermatozoa to a certain stressed condition. A significant body of research worked on the relationship between membrane lipid and fatty acid composition and ability of cell to tolerate adverse change in temperature. However, as the approach of different research groups was different, it is very difficult to compare the changes. Studies have been done with different species, ejaculated/seminal or epididymal sperm. Lipid analyses have been done with whole cell membrane isolated by different methods. Fatty acids estimated were from whole cell, plasma membrane, head membrane, or phospholipids. The cryopreservation condition, media composition, and diluents/cryoprotectants were also different. At this onset a comprehensive review is needed to cover changes of sperm membrane lipid composition of different species under different cryopreservation conditions.

Influence of omega‐3 incorporation in sperm preservation medium on physical and kinematic properties of chilled and cryopreserved ram spermatozoa

“…Furthermore, incorporation of exogenous n ‐3 PUFAs in sperm medium has been reported to modify fatty acid profile of sperm membrane, thereby improve sperm quality under cold‐shock exposure (Mandal, Badyakar, & Chakrabarty, ). However, the results of previous studies in this area are rather conflicting due to the difference in type of PUFAs, as well as the concentration incorporated in the diluent, among different studies.…”

“…Therefore, inclusion of enzymatic or nonenzymatic antioxidants in semen diluents gained considerable attention in recent fertility-related practices (Bucak et al, 2010;Bucak, Atessahin, & Yuce, 2008;Hashem, Haddad, & Eslami, 2017;Jha et al, 2013;Zeitoun & Al-Damegh, 2015). Furthermore, incorporation of exogenous n-3 PUFAs in sperm medium has been reported to modify fatty acid profile of sperm membrane, thereby improve sperm quality under cold-shock exposure (Mandal, Badyakar, & Chakrabarty, 2014). However, the results of previous studies in this area are rather conflicting due to the difference in type of PUFAs, as well as the concentration incorporated in the diluent, among different studies.…”

Süt Tozu-Yumurta Sarısı Sulandırıcısına Balık Yağı İlavesinin Dondurulmuş-Çözdürülmüş Bali Boğa Spermatozoonlarının Kalitesi Üzerine Etkisi

“…Before semen freezing, percent docosahexaenoic acid was greater in fatty acid treatment than that in the group without fatty acid and reduced significantly in both groups after thawing [6] .…”

Orally administered Chrysin improves post‐thawed sperm quality and fertility of rooster

“…More solubility of free radicals in plasma membrane along with the high concentration of PUFAs in phospholipids enhances initiation and propagation of oxidative stress which results in protein, DNA and plasma membrane dysfunction (Pamplona, ). A strong direct correlation has been proposed for n ‐3 especially DHA amount of sperm and its post‐thawed motility and viability (Mandal, Badyakar, & Chakrabarty, ). It seems that beneficial effects of Chrysin on plasma membrane integrity and functionality mediated through its capability to improve the antioxidant capacity of spermatozoa which was previously reported by Ciftci et al.…”