ABSTRACT
In this study, we demonstrated that, in seasonal Mediterranean ovine breeds, supplementing the TALP medium with cAMP-elevating agents (the cocktail medium) is effective for achieving ram sperm capacitation, and that melatonin is able to regulate this phenomenon. We investigated the behavior under capacitating conditions using the TALP and cocktail mediums, and the response to melatonin, of spermatozoa from three sheep breeds (Colombian Creole, Romney Marsh, and Hampshire) subject to the equatorial photoperiod, during the dry and the rainy seasons. The cocktail medium was able to induce sperm capacitation, assayed by chlortetracycline staining and phosphotyrosine levels, to a greater extent than TALP, without a higher loss of viability (membrane integrity and viable spermatozoa without phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation). The addition of melatonin at 100 pM or 1 µM in the cocktail medium partially prevented the decrease in viability without PS translocation and the increase in capacitated spermatozoa from all breeds, with no significant effect on phosphotyrosine levels. Differences between breeds and seasons were evidenced. This study shows that melatonin is able to exert direct effects on spermatozoa in ovine breeds under equatorial photoperiod conditions, as it does in seasonal breeds located in temperate regions.
ABSTRACT
Resumen El objetivo del presente estudio fue evaluar el efecto sobre la calidad espermática de tres substancias antioxidantes (50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides, 50 µg de catalasa/ml de eyaculado y cisteamina 5mM) en una base de diluyente comercial Triladyl™, bajo condiciones de refrigeración y congelación/descongelación en semen ovino. Se congeló semen de seis machos adultos en una base del diluyente comercial Triladyl™. El eyaculado de cada macho fue puesto en cuatro diferentes alícuotas: una para control, y a las demás se les adicionó con la base del diluyente 50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides, 50 µg de catalasa/ml de eyaculado y cisteamina 5 mM. La calidad espermática precongelación (5 °C) y poscongelación se evaluó con la ayuda de un sistema de análisis computarizado (IVOS II®), con lo cual se eliminó la subjetividad a la prueba. Se observó que 50 µM de trolox/108 SPZ y 50 µg de catalasa/ml tienen la capacidad de mantener valores (p < 0,05) superiores de motilidad total (64,26 ± 0,82 y 55,54 ± 0,85) y motilidad progresiva (47,26 ± 0,75 y 44,32 ± 1,13) en condiciones de precongelación, y para motilidad total (67,60 ± 1,91 y 63,47 ± 3,40), motilidad progresiva (50,87 ± 2,58 y 38,88 ± 2,31) y viabilidad (66,97 ± 2,25 y 61,16 ± 4,31) en poscongelación, comparados con los tratamientos control o la adición de 5 mM de cisteamina. La adición de 50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides y de 50 µg de catalasa/ml de semen mejora la motilidad total y progresiva del semen ovino refrigerado a 5 °C y la viabilidad en semen congelado/descongelado.
Abstract The present study aimed to evaluate the effect on sperm quality of three antioxidant substances (50 μM of trolox/108 spermatozoa, 50 μg of catalase/ml of ejaculate, and 5mM cysteamine) in a Triladyl™ commercial diluent base, under conditions of refrigeration and freezing/thawing in sheep semen. Semen from six adult males was frozen in a commercial Triladyl™ diluent base. The ejaculate of each male was placed in four different aliquots: one for control, and the other three with additional 50 μM of trolox/108 spermatozoa, 50 μg of catalase/ml of ejaculate, and 5 mM cysteamine, respectively, in the diluent base. Pre-freezing (5 °C) and post-freezing sperm quality was evaluated using a computerized analysis system (IVOS II®), which eliminated subjectivity during the test. It was observed that 50 μM of trolox/108 SPZ and 50 μg of catalase/ml are able to maintain higher values (p < 0.05) of total motility (64.26 ± 0.82 and 55.54 ± 0.85 ) and progressive motility (47.26 ± 0.75 and 44.32 ± 1.13) under pre-freezing conditions, and of total motility (67.60 ± 1.91 and 63.47 ± 3.40), progressive motility (50.87 ± 2.58 and 38.88 ± 2.31), and viability (66.97 ± 2.25 and 61.16 ± 4.31) in the post-freezing period, compared to control treatments or the addition of 5 mM of cysteamine. The addition of 50 μM of trolox/108 spermatozoa and 50 μg of catalase/ml of semen improves the total and progressive motility in ovine semen refrigerated at 5 °C, as well as viability in frozen/thawed semen.
Resumo O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar o efeito sobre a qualidade espermática de três substancias antioxidantes (50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides, 50 µg de catalasa/ml de ejaculado e cisteamina 5mM) numa base de diluente comercial Triladyl™, sob condições de refrigeração e congelamento/descongelamento em sêmen ovino. Sêmen de seis machos adultos foi congelado numa base do diluente comercial Triladyl™. O ejaculado de cada macho foi posto em quatro diferentes alíquotas: uma para controlo e nas outras foi adicionada a base do diluente 50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides, 50µg de catalasa/ml de ejaculado e cisteamina 5mM. A qualidade espermática precongelação (5 °C) e pós-congelação avaliou-se com ajuda de um sistema de análise computadorizado (IVOS II®), eliminando assim a subjetividade ao teste. Observou-se que 50 µM de trolox/108 SPZ e 50 µg de catalasa/ml têm a capacidade de manter valores (p < 0,05) superiores de motilidade total (64,26 ± 0,82 e 55,54 ± 0,85) e motilidade progressiva (47,26 ± 0,75 e 44,32 ± 1,13) em condições de pre-congelação, e para motilidade total (67,60 ± 1,91 y 63,47 ± 3,40), motilidade progressiva (50,87 ± 2,58 e 38,88 ± 2,31) e viabilidade (66,97 ± 2,25 e 61,16 ± 4,31) em pós-congelação, comparados com os tratamentos controle ou a adição< de 5 mM de cisteamina. A adição de 50 µM de trolox/108 espermatozoides e 50 µg de catalasa/ml de sêmen melhora a motilidade total e progressiva do sêmen ovino refrigerado a 5 °C e a viabilidade em sêmen congelado/descongelado.
