Abstract
Simple SummaryThe success of semen preservation is vital for the use of artificial reproductive technologies in sheep. However, reduced temperatures can cause significant damage to the sperm cell. Recent investigations in other species have identified room-temperature liquid storage as a viable alternative if spermatozoa are protected from the increased risk of lipid peroxidation, a side effect of unaltered metabolism. The following review aims to summarise the factors which contribute to the survival of ram spermatozoa during liquid storage and the role of pro-survival factors and antioxidants in helping to ameliorate the damaging effects caused by lipid peroxidation on fertility. This would contribute towards establishing a new method of semen preservation for the sheep industry which maximises fertility following storage and artificial insemination.Semen preservation is an essential component of reproductive technologies, as it promotes genetic gain and long-distance semen transport and multiplies the number of ewes able to be inseminated per single ejaculate. However, the reduced temperature during cold storage at 5 or 15 °C inflicts sub-lethal damage to spermatozoa, compromising sperm quality and the success of artificial breeding. New and emerging research in various species has reported the advantages of storing spermatozoa at higher temperatures, such as 23 °C; however, this topic has not been thoroughly investigated for ram spermatozoa. Despite the success of storing spermatozoa at 23 °C, sperm quality can be compromised by the damaging effects of lipid peroxidation, more commonly when metabolism is left unaltered during 23 °C storage. Additionally, given the biosafety concern surrounding the international transport of egg-yolk-containing extenders, further investigation is critical to assess the preservation ability of synthetic extenders and whether pro-survival factors could be supplemented to maximise sperm survival during storage at 23 °C.
Highlights
Semen preservation is defined as the lengthening of the fertile lifespan of spermatozoa by maintaining the functional, ultrastructural, and biochemical properties of the spermatozoa [1]
The findings examined in this review will help identify the components required to preserve the quality and lifespan of ram spermatozoa following liquid storage at 23 ◦ C, offering the ovine industry an alternative to the cryopreservation of spermatozoa
Gungdogen et al.’s, 2010 investigation demonstrated these consequences when ram spermatozoa were diluted to 100 × 106 sperm/mL and recorded lower membrane damage and oxidative stress compared to spermatozoa diluted to 25 × 106 sperm/mL
Summary
Semen preservation is defined as the lengthening of the fertile lifespan of spermatozoa by maintaining the functional, ultrastructural, and biochemical properties of the spermatozoa [1]. A systemic review or comparison of the traditional ram sperm extenders and their performance at different temperatures would be beneficial in validating this storage technique for the industry (Table 1) Despite these studies reporting encouraging results on the impact of 23 ◦ C storage on spermatozoa, many studies highlighted an accentuated risk of lipid peroxidation damage when stored at 23 ◦ C [13,14]. Research into these factors’ ability to minimise lipid peroxidation and reduce ROS while supporting sperm functionality at 23 ◦ C is required As such, this literature aims to review the current knowledge on the factors that impact the quality of ram spermatozoa during liquid preservation at 5, 15, and 23 ◦ C, with a focus on temperature-induced liquid peroxidation at room temperature (23 ◦ C). The findings examined in this review will help identify the components required to preserve the quality and lifespan of ram spermatozoa following liquid storage at 23 ◦ C, offering the ovine industry an alternative to the cryopreservation of spermatozoa
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