Veterinary Research Forum

Abstract The cooling procedure markedly diminishes the quality of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) sperms, primarily because their membranes are highly susceptible to this process. This susceptibility triggers the generation of reactive oxygen species and free radicals, ultimately leading to lipid peroxidation in the sperm membrane. Surprisingly, there has been a lack of research on the use of Tris-based extenders to safeguard guinea pig sperm under refrigeration conditions. This study aimed to assess the viability of guinea pig spermatozoa diluted in Tris buffer-based extenders during storage at 5.00 ˚C. Sperm collection was carried out through castration of the animals. For this study, 10 adult male guinea pigs were utilized, being divided into four groups including phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), human tubal fluid (HTF), Tris-citric-glucose (TCG), and Tris-fructose-yolk (TFY) cultures. Evaluations including sperm motility, morphology, plasma membrane integrity, viability, and total count were conducted at 0, 24, and 48 hr after sampling. The results obtained indicated that at the 24-hr and 48-hr marks of the experiment, both overall and progressive motility percentages, viability, plasma membrane integrity, and morphology of sperms in the PBS and HTF cultures exhibited a significant increase in comparison with the TCG and TFY cultures. Consequently, it can be inferred that PBS and HTF cultures are highly effective in preserving the quality of guinea pig spermatozoa.

Abstract The aim of the present study was to assess the protective effect of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on sperm quality parameters, testosterone level and malondialdehyde (MDA) in phenylhydrazine (PHZ) treated mice. For this purpose, 32 NMRI mice with the age range of 8 to 10 weeks, weight average 26.0 ± 2.0 g, were randomly divided into four equal groups. The control group (1) received normal saline (0. 1 mL per day) by intraperitoneal injection (IP). Group 2 (PHZ group) was treated with initial dose of PHZ (8 mg 100 g^-1, IP) followed by 6 mg 100 g^-1 , IP every 48 hr. Group 3, (Group PHZ+EP) received PHZ (according to the previous prescription) with EP (40 mg kg^-1, daily, IP). Ethyl pyruvate group (4) received only EP (40 mg kg^-1, daily, IP). Treatment period was 35 days. After euthanasia, sperms from caudal region of epididymis were collected and the total mean sperm count, sperm viability, motility and morphology were determined. Testis tissue MDA and serum testosterone levels of all experimental groups were also evaluated. A considerable reduction in mean percentage of number, natural morphology of sperm, sperm motility and viability and serum testosterone concentration besides DNA injury increment among mice treating with PHZ in comparison with control group were observed. However, in PHZ+EP group the above mentioned parameters were improved. This study showed that PHZ caused induction of toxicity on sperm parameters and reduction of testosterone as well as the increment of MDA level and EP as an antioxidant could reduce destructive effects of PHZ on sperm parameters, testosterone level and lipid peroxidation.

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induced by the cryopreservation process, can be responsible for mammalian sperm damage. Curcumin is known as an effective antioxidant against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of curcumin on sperm count, motility and viability, semen total antioxidant capacity and DNA integrity of rat spermatozoa during semen freeze-thawing process. Sperm collected from 10 adult rats were divided into two groups (n=10 for each group): control and a test group supplemented with 2.5 mM curcumin. After freezing-thawing, the number of spermatozoa, motility, viability, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and DNA integrity of the sperm were analyzed. Motility, viability and DNA integrity of sperm were significantly preserved in treatment groups compared to the control (p < 0.05) after freezing-thawing. Following cryopreservation, TAC was significantly preserved in thawing semen supplemented with curcumin compared to the control group (p<0.05). Based on our results, it is concluded that curcumin addition during freezing resulted in positive effects on sperm parameters after thawing in adult rats.