Effect of antioxidant and polyunsaturated fatty acid treatment on epididymal sperm samples from Bos taurus taurus bulls

• Grant number: 06/05736-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: January 01, 2007
• End date: October 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Valquiria Hyppolito Barnabé
• Grantee: Marcilio Nichi
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Sperm recovery from the cauda epididymis to ve used for criopreservation can be very advantageous, for example: in case of the unexpected death of a genetically highly valuable animal, for preserving endangered species, or when the collection of sperm by other means becomes impossible. On the other hand, the sperm, even when collected from the epididymis, is highly susceptible to the attack by reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in its membrane, which, however, is fundamental to allow the sperm to fertilize the oocyte or to resist cold shock. Among the PUFA in the sperm, the decosaexanoic acid (DHA) appears to be the most important for fertility; but high concentrations of this PUFA diminishes the resistance of the cells against the oxidative stress. Furthermore, one of the reasons for decreased quality of cryopreserved sperm, is the oxidative stress. Therefore, treatments aiming to interfere in the oxidative chain reaction or in the lipid profile of the sperm or medium, may be importante to increase the quality of cryopreserved epididymal sperm. The objectives of this study was to study the interaction of the diluent supplemented with DHA (to improve freezability and to study a possible antioxidant effect) and an antioxidant (to protect against cryopreservation on its own and to possible negative effect of the DHA), in an factorial 2x2.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

NICHI, M.; RIJSSELAERE, T.; LOSANO, J. D. A.; ANGRIMANI, D. S. R.; KAWAI, G. K. V.; GOOVAERTS, I. G. F.; VAN SOOM, A.; BARNABE, V. H.; DE CLERCQ, J. B. P.; BOLS, P. E. J.. Evaluation of epididymis storage temperature and cryopreservation conditions for improved mitochondrial membrane potential, membrane integrity, sperm motility and in vitro fertilization in bovine epididymal sperm. REPRODUCTION IN DOMESTIC ANIMALS, v. 52, n. 2, p. 257-263, APR 2017. (06/05736-1)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

NICHI, Marcilio. Effect of antioxidant and poli-unsaturated fatty acids on epididymal sperm in bulls. 2009. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ/SBD) São Paulo.