Abstract
The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in boar spermatozoa increases in refrigeration; this can have an impact on sperm quality and fertilization capacity. We evaluated the effect of polyphenol-rich aqueous extract of murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz) on boar sperm stored at 17°C in order to reduce oxidative stress and improve sperm quality in the long term. Five experiments were performed: first, characterization of the polyphenol content from five genotypes of murtilla; second, determination of the genotype with the best antioxidant effect (MT-Ex); third, the antioxidant capacity on O2 − and lipid peroxidation; fourth, the influence of MT-Ex on motility, calcium movement, cAMP, and metabolic parameters; and fifth, analysis of long-term refrigeration. The average phenolic content was 344 ppm; gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol were detected. All extracts evaluated presented a concentration-dependent antioxidant effect. MT-Ex reduces intracellular O2 −/peroxides but low lipid peroxidation. MT-Ex in nonstimulated ROS conditions reduces sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential, cAMP, and ATP, but the succinate dehydrogenase activity remained normal; also, we observed a reduction in calcium movement in in vitro sperm capacitation. The long-term analyses showed that MT-Ex improved sperm motility decay and reduced membrane damage and ROS at 168 h. Based on this study, we propose MT-Ex as a supplement in semen extenders.
Highlights
The world pork market grows larger every year
We evaluated the antioxidant potential of fruit extract from five Ugni molinae genotypes, Table 1: Total polyphenol content (TPC, μgGAE mL-1) in murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz.) fruit aqueous extract obtained from genotypes INIA 14-4, 19-1, 22-1, 23-1, and 27-1
In order to corroborate the effect of cAMP as a physiological indicator of important processes in capacitation and acrosomal reaction, we evaluated the intracellular calcium movement of sperm samples maintained in different buffers
Summary
The world pork market grows larger every year. Pork is considered a good and cheap alternative source of animal protein and a rich source of B complex vitamins. One of the most used systems in the swine industry is the refrigeration of semen dosage and it is recommended to maintain sperm viability during transportation/storage, and its efficiency is determined by many factors including the medium, the semen extender used, and the refrigeration time and temperature (usually 17°C) [1] This process leads to a decrease in fertility rates due to reduced sperm motility and viability [2] and increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [3,4,5]. The purpose of an extender is to maintain the stability of the spermatozoa during the refrigeration period, reducing the number of dead spermatozoa as a result of cold stress and osmotic variations [6] In this sense, the study of oxidative stress in boar semen allows evaluating the effects of antioxidants in the long term unlike other biological models
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