The Use of κ-Carrageenan in Egg Yolk Free Extender Improves the Efficiency of Canine Semen Cryopreservation

Abstract

κ-Carrageenan is a plant polysaccharide derived from red seaweeds reported to possess potential medicinal and antioxidants activities. The present study aimed to identify the cryoprotective effects of κ-carrageenan on the quality of frozen-thawed canine semen. Twenty-eight ejaculates were collected and diluted in a Tris egg-yolk-free extender supplemented with various concentrations of κ-carrageenan (0.0%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, and 0.5%). The addition of κ-carrageenan to the extender at a 0.2% concentration induced a significant increase in the total motility (TM) and the rapid progressive motility (RPM) of canine sperm. Among the experimental groups, the highest percentage of sperms with intact acrosomes was found in the 0.5% κ-carrageenan group (p < 0.05). Apoptosis levels were significantly lower in the 0.1% and 0.2% κ-carrageenan treatment. Moreover, sperm in the κ-carrageenan supplemented group showed a significantly higher expression of antiapoptotic (Bcl-2) and lower expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX5), spermine synthase (SMS), and spermine oxidase (SMOX) genes than those in the control group. In conclusion, the addition of κ-carrageenan to the freezing extender improved the overall efficiency of frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa.

The Effect of κ-Carrageenan on Porcine Sperm Cryo-Survival

“…In this study, adding κ-Carrageenan to the extender improved the membrane integrity of FT boar spermatozoa. These findings are consistent with those of previous studies using canine [27] and rooster [28] semen samples. Such plant polysaccharide-promoted cryo-survival has been reported in boar [45] and human [46] spermatozoa.…”

“…It has been used as a food additive and has several potential pharmaceutical applications, such as antioxidant, anticancer, and immunomodulatory activities [23,25,26]. Furthermore, κ-Carrageenan improves dog [27] and rooster [28] sperm cryo-survival through diminishing intracellular ROS, modulating apoptosis, and upregulating endogenous antioxidant enzymatic activities. Despite these beneficial effects of κ-Carrageenan, it has not been used for porcine semen cryopreservation.…”

Evaluation of Kappa‐carrageenan supplementation in extender for post‐thaw Kajli ram sperm quality

“…These results agree with those of Kim et al. (2022), who observed a decline in the canine sperm membrane integrity with increased k‐carrageenan concentration. However, these results were against the study of Ren et al.…”

“…Lower membrane integrity in the extenders with 0.8% and 1% supplementation of k-carrageenan could be attributed to the hyperosmotic environment, which caused osmotic dehydration of the sperm, leading to shrinkage of the sperm and damaging the fluid nature of the membrane (Li et al, 2020). These results agree with those of Kim et al (2022), who observed a decline in the canine sperm membrane integrity with increased k-carrageenan concentration. However, these results were against the study of Ren et al (2019), who observed almost the same percentage of plasma membrane integrity with Lycium barbarum and Laminaria japonica, two plant-based polysaccharides, irrespective of their concentration.…”

“…Polysaccharides are large molecules with antioxidative properties extracted from multiple sources, including algae, fungi, plants and bacteria (Paul et al., 2021). A few of these that are reported to be used in sperm cryopreservation include the examples of carboxymethyl cellulose (Yan et al., 2020), xanthan gum (Saragusty et al., 2009), gum arabic (Kim et al., 2022) and Lyciumbarbarum (Ren et al., 2019). Carrageenans are a family of polysaccharides extracted from red seaweeds, Rhodophyta, by hot extraction method commonly used in the pharmaceutical and food industries (Campbell & Hotchkiss, 2017).…”