Abstract
The objective of this study was to enhance the in vitro sperm quality and in vivo fertility of frozen-thawed equine semen by the addition of l-carnitine (LC) to post-thawed semen. Different concentrations of LC were added to thawed samples to obtain four treatments control and 0.5, 1 and 2mM LC. In the in vitro experiments, sperm motility and kinematics, membrane integrity and intracellular calcium ion concentration ([Ca2+ ]i ) were investigated, and the antioxidant bioactivity of LC was assessed by measuring hydrogen peroxide and nitrite concentrations (NO2 - ). The fertility rate was assessed via the artificial insemination of mares. The treatment with 1mM LC increased sperm [Ca2+ ]i (60.6±0.05 AU), reduced nitrite concentration (39.1±14.9µM/µg protein), increased the sperm straightness percentage (STR: 78.3±5.3%) and increased the pregnancy rate (75%) as compared to the control ([Ca2+ ]i 48.4±0.05 AU, NO2 - concentration 63.1±14.4µM/µg protein, STR 67.5±7.9%, 12.5% pregnancy rate, p<0.05). These results suggest that 1mM LC acts as an antioxidant and stimulator of sperm metabolism in post-thawed equine semen, increasing the fertility rate. Thus, addition of LC might be an alternative to improve the fertility of poor quality post-thawed equine semen.
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