Abstract
Oxidative stress occurs when the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overcome the antioxidant defenses of the organism, jeopardizing several biological functions, including reproduction. In the male reproductive system, oxidative stress not only impairs sperm fertility but also compromises offspring health and survival, inducing oxidative damage to lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. Although a clear link between oxidative stress and male fertility disorders has been demonstrated in humans and laboratory rodents, little information is available about the implications of impaired redox homeostasis in the male fertility of domestic and wild animals. Therefore, this review aims to provide an update regarding the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that are associated with oxidative stress in the male reproductive system and their impact on the reproductive performance of domestic and wild animals. The most recent strategies for palliating the detrimental effects of oxidative stress on male fertility are reviewed together with their potential economic and ecological implications in the livestock industry and biodiversity conservation.
Highlights
Oxidative stress occurs when the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) overcome the antioxidant defenses of the organism, jeopardizing several biological functions, including reproduction
Strategies for Palliating the Negative Effects of Oxidative Stress on Considering the variety of intrinsic factors that are associated with male susceptibility to oxidative stress, an initial first strategy to improve the reproductive management of livestock consists of the selection of genetic characteristics that confer a greater resistance of sperm cells to an imbalance between ROS levels and antioxidant defenses
The addition of antioxidants from plant extracts has shown a beneficial effect on porcine sperm quality during liquid storage or under oxidative stress conditions [194,195]. Another interesting approach to reduce oxidative stress was found by Balamurugan et al [133], who found that partial deoxygenation of extender prior to semen addition decreases post-thaw ROS and lipid peroxidation levels and increases sperm quality in buffalos
Summary
Oxidative stress is defined as a failure in the regulation of redox signaling due either to the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) or the exhaustion of regulatory antioxidant mechanisms [1]. The type and content of PUFAs in the sperm membrane contribute to explain sperm cryotolerance across species, being, for instance, positively correlated with the levels of docosahexaenoic acid in marsupials [6] Besides their deleterious effects, a small amount of ROS (typically hydrogen peroxide H2 O2 , superoxide anion O2 − , and nitric oxide NO) plays a key physiological role in the fertilization process by promoting sperm capacitation, acrosome reaction, and sperm-zona pellucida binding (in horses: [11]; in cattle: [12]; in buffalos, Bubalus bubalis: [13]; in pigs, Sus scrofa: [14]). The male ability to cope with oxidative challenges greatly varies between individuals and is associated with individual traits such as age, breeds, behavior, or social rank
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