Comparison of two processing techniques for cryopreserved porcine sperm. Effect on routine and functional parameters

BREININGER E; RODRIGUEZ PC; SATORRE MM

Congreso; XVIII Jornadas Anuales Multidisciplinarias de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2016

Cryopreservation increases reactive oxygen species (ROS) that is associated with oxidative stress and involves changes that affects sperm membrane characteristics and causes damage and inhibition of cellular mechanisms. Different techniques were developed to improve post-thaw sperm quality. Alpha-tocopherol protect sperm membranes from ROS damage and improvesboar sperm functionality. Sephadex filtration removes dead and abnormal spermatozoa, increasing post-thaw semen quality. The aim of this study was to compare two different processing techniques: cryopreservation with alpha-tocopherol added to freezing extender and post-thaw simple washing (VE-SW) or cryopreservation without alpha-tocopherol and post-thaw Sephadex filtration (C-SF), with cryopreservation without alpha-tocopherol and post-thaw simple washing (C-SW), evaluated by routine and functional sperm parameters. Motility (MOT), sperm membrane integrity (MI) and acrosome integrity (AI) were used as routine sperm parameters and in vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction induction were evaluated by incubating sperm in TBM medium with bicarbonate and follicular fluid as capacitation and acrosome reaction inducers, respectively. Routine quality parameters were significantly improved by Sephadex selection (MOT: 54 vs. 39 and 37%, for C-SF, VE-SW and C-SW, respectively; MI: 55 vs. 39 and 30%, for C-SF, VE-SW and C-SW, respectively; AI: 47 vs. 40 and 30%, for C-SF, VE-SW and C-SW, respectively). In vitro capacitation response was significantly higher in C-SF samples. Our results demonstrated that the quality of cryopreserved porcine sperm can be improved by the utilization of these processing techniques.