Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the dose- and time-dependent effects of curcumin on bovine spermatozoa during short-term (0h, 2h, 6h) and long-term (12h, 24h) in vitro culture periods. Semen samples were collected from 20 adult breeding bulls, and diluted in physiological saline solution containing 0.5% DMSO together with 0, 1, 5, 10, 50 and 100 μM/L of curcumin. Spermatozoa motion parameters were determined using the SpermVisionTM and CASA (Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer) system. Cell viability was measured using the metabolic activity MTT assay, and the nitroblue-tetrazolium (NBT) test was used to assess the intracellular superoxide formation. The CASA analysis revealed that concentrations of 50 μM/L and 10 μM/L of curcumin were able to significantly prevent the decrease of motility and progressive motility (P
Highlights
Over the last years, different studies have evaluated the beneficial effects of oral antioxidant administration on spermatozoa physiology and fertility in animals and humans (Donnely et al, 1999; Agarwal and Sekhon, 2010)
The present in vitro study is aimed to find out the efficacy of CUR on bovine spermatozoa motility, viability and superoxide radical formation during a 24 hour in vitro cultivation, in order to define an optimal concentration of this compound for further experiments
The CASA assessment of the motion parameters showed a gradual decrease of spermatozoa motility and progressive motility in all groups over the course of a 24h in vitro culture (Table 1, Table 2)
Summary
Different studies have evaluated the beneficial effects of oral antioxidant administration on spermatozoa physiology and fertility in animals and humans (Donnely et al, 1999; Agarwal and Sekhon, 2010). The in vitro data are essential, as it has been systematically shown that diverse antioxidants may protect the male germ cells against oxidative injury and subsequent sperm dysfunction (i.e. loss of motility and viability). This is essential for spermatozoa processing protocols routinely performed in medical and veterinary laboratories for long-term spermatozoa preservation (cryoconservation) or procedures related to assisted reproductive techniques. The polyphenol curcumin [1,7-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)-1,6-heptadiene3,5-dione] (CUR) is a major bioactive chemical component of turmeric power, found in the herbal remedy and dietary spice turmeric. The present in vitro study is aimed to find out the efficacy of CUR on bovine spermatozoa motility, viability and superoxide radical formation during a 24 hour in vitro cultivation, in order to define an optimal concentration of this compound for further experiments
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