Quercetin supplemented casein-based extender improves the post-thaw quality of rooster semen

Effect of Supplementation of a Cryopreservation Extender with Pectoliv30 on Post-Thawing Semen Quality Parameters in Rooster Species

Sperm cryopreservation is a fundamental tool for the conservation of avian genetic resources; however, avian spermatozoa are susceptible to this process. To cope with the high production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the addition of exogenous antioxidants is beneficial. Pectoliv30 is a substance derived from alperujo, and in this study, its effect was analyzed on seminal quality after its addition to the cryopreservation extender of roosters at different concentrations. For this purpose, 16 Utrerana breed roosters were used, and seminal collection was performed in six replicates, creating a pool for each working day with ejaculates of quality. After cryopreservation, one sample per treatment and replicate was thawed, and several seminal quality parameters were evaluated. Statistical analysis revealed numerous correlations between these variables, both positive and negative according to the correlation matrix obtained. Furthermore, the chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree (DT) reported significant differences in the hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) variable between groups. Moreover, results for this parameter were more desirable at high concentrations of Pectoliv30. The application of this substance extracted from the by-product alperujo as an antioxidant allows the improvement of the post-thawing seminal quality in roosters and facilitates optimization of the cryopreservation process as a way to improve the conservation programs of different endangered poultry breeds.

Effects of hydroxytyrosol on post-thaw quality of rooster sperm

Semen cryopreservation is one of the most important reproduction techniques in the livestock and poultry industry. Cryopreservation induces cold stress, generating reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress causing structural and biochemical damages in sperm. In this study, we evaluated the effects of the hydroxytyrosol (HT), as an antioxidant, at the concentrations of 0, 25, 50, and 100 μg/mL on post-thaw semen quality metrics in rooster. Semen samples were collected twice a week from 10 roosters (29 weeks), processed and frozen according to experimental groups. Different quality parameters, including total motility, progressive motility, viability, morphology, membrane integrity, and malondialdehyde were measured after thawing. Results showed that 25 and 50 μg/mL of HT produced the highest percentage of total motility (51.01 ± 2.19 and 50.15 ± 2.19, respectively) and progressive motility (35.74 ± 1.34 and 35.15 ± 1.34, respectively), membrane integrity (48.00 ± 2.18 and 46.75 ± 2.18, respectively) as well as viability (53.00 ± 2.17 and 52.50 ± 2.17, respectively) compared with the other groups (p < .05). The group with 25 μg/mL of HT showed the lowest significant (p < .05) MDA concentration (1.81 ± 0.25). Our results showed that the effect of HT was not dose-dependent and optimum concentration of HT could improve functional parameters of rooster sperm after freezing-thawing. These findings suggest that HT may have protective effects on the rooster sperm during the freezing-thawing process.

Quercetin in semen extender improves frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in crossbred Kamori goats

This study investigated the antioxidant effect of quercetin-treated semen on frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in crossbred Kamori goats. In total, 32 ejaculates from four fertile bucks were diluted in Tris-based egg yolk extender with varying levels of quercetin (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 μM). Qualified semen samples were pooled and frozen in French straws. The results revealed that the addition of quercetin in the semen extender increased (p < 0.05) frozen-thawed sperm total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), rapid velocity (RV), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), and amplitude of lateral head (ALH) displacement in contrast to the control group. Quercetin supplementation had no effect on beat cross frequency (BCF), straightness (STR), and linearity (LIN) (p > 0.05). Quercetin showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and viability (p < 0.05) of spermatozoa in contrast to the control group. Quercetin in the semen extender significantly increased (p < 0.05) superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels while reduced (p < 0.05) the contents of total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were in contrast to the control group. Ultrasound results revealed that 24 out of 30 (80%) goats were found pregnant when semen was treated with 5 μM quercetin while the control group showed 18 out of 30 (60%) animals were pregnant. Thus, the study concluded that 5 μM quercetin-treated semen was found to be efficient, showed increased antioxidant status, and reduced oxidant production, leading to improved spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in goats.

Evaluation of the effect of the addition of an olive oil-derived antioxidant (Pectoliv-80A) in the extender for cryopreservation of rooster sperm through the use of a discriminant statistical tool

During the poultry sperm cryopreservation process, an excess of reactive oxygen species is generated resulting in oxidative stress which harms the quality of avian spermatozoa. To counteract this effect, the addition of exogenous antioxidants, such as Pectoliv-80A (a by-product of olive oil), to the cryopreservation diluent is interesting. For this purpose, 16 roosters belonging to the Utrerana avian breed were used. Six semen pools (from the 6 different replicates) were divided into 4 aliquots corresponding to different concentrations of Pectoliv-80A that were tested (0, 300, 400, and 500 μg/mL), and the cryopreservation process was carried out. To evaluate post-thawing semen quality, different parameters such as motility, membrane functionality, reactive oxygen species production, lipid peroxidation, and acrosome integrity were studied. A discriminant canonical analysis was used to determine both the differences between the Pectoliv-80A concentration groups and the discriminant power of the aforementioned parameter used for semen evaluation. Total motility and membrane functionality were reported to be the most discriminant variables for differentiating the different antioxidant enrichment groups and concluded that concentrations of 300 μg/mL showed the most desirable quality of post-thawing semen. The present study could lead to the optimization of both cryopreservation and quality evaluation techniques of the sperm of rooster species, that support the conservation program of endangered local breeds.

Quercetin induces its chemoprotective effects via hormesis

Quercetin is a polyphenol present in numerous fruits and vegetables and therefore widely consumed by humans with average daily dietary intakes of 10-20 mg/day. It is also a popular dietary supplement of 250-1000 mg/day. However, despite the widespread consumer interest in quercetin, due to its possible chemopreventive properties, the extensively studied quercetin presents a highly diverse and complex array of biological effects. Consequently, the present paper provides the first assessment of quercetin-induced hormetic concentration/dose responses, their quantitative features and mechanistic foundations, and their biological, biomedical, clinical, and public health implications. The findings indicate that quercetin-induced hormetic dose responses are widespread, being independent of biological model, cell type, and endpoint. These findings have the potential to enlighten future experimental studies with quercetin especially with respect to study design parameters and may also affect the appraisal of possible public health benefits and risks associated with highly diverse consumer consumption practices.

Preservation of rooster post-thawed sperm epigenetic modifications, fertility potential and other quality parameters in different extenders using reduced glutathione

Although rooster semen cryopreservation is an efficient procedure to spread qualified semen samples for reproductive goals, some post-thawed qualified semen samples resulted in poor fertility rate that could be related to epigenetic modifications during the cryopreservation process. This research was conducted to investigate the effect of reduced glutathione (GSH) in different cryopreservation extenders (Lake and Beltsville) on preservation of epigenetic modifications, fertility potential and other quality parameters of rooster sperm after thawing. Semen samples were collected and diluted in Lake and Beltsville extenders as follows: L-0: Lake without GSH, L-G: Lake with GSH, B-0: Beltsville without GSH, and B-G: Beltsville with GSH. After freeze-thawing process, sperm motility, membrane functionality, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity, viability, apoptosis status, lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, ROS concentration, epigenetic modifications and fertility potential were evaluated. In results, the type of extender had no effect (P > 0.05) of post-thawed sperm quality. The treatments containing GSH presented higher (P ≤ 0.05) total motility, progressive motility, membrane functionality, mitochondrial activity, acrosome integrity, viability, DNA methylation, fertility as well as lower (P ≤ 0.05) lipid peroxidation, apoptosis, DNA fragmentation and ROS concentration than other treatments. Extender supplementation with GSH had no effect (P > 0.05) on histone methylation, histone acetylation and hatching rate. In conclusion, supplementation of rooster sperm cryopreservation extender with GSH could be an effective strategy to preserve post-thawed sperm DNA methylation, fertility and other quality parameters during reproductive programs.

Synergistic effect of extracellular adenosine triphosphate and quercetin on post-thaw quality and fertilization potential of Lohi ram sperm

This study determined the individual and combined effects of extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and quercetin (QUE) on the quality of post-thawed sperm and the fertilization potential of Lohi rams. In experiment 1, semen samples from four Lohi rams were pooled and extended with different concentrations of ATP or QUE (control; no ATP or QUE, 1 or 2 mM ATP and 10 or 20 μM QUE). In experiment 2, pooled semen samples were extended with various combinations of ATP and QUE (control; no ATP and QUE, 1 mM ATP + 10 μM QUE, 1 mM ATP + 20 μM QUE, 2 mM ATP + 10 μM QUE and 2 mM ATP + 20 μM QUE). All samples in both experiments were cryopreserved and analyzed for post-thawed sperm quality. In experiment 3, the best combination of ATP and QUE from experiment 2 was to extend semen, which was then used for laparoscopic insemination in estrus-synchronized ewes (n = 83). The results of experiment 1 showed that 1 mM ATP and 20 μM QUE treatments resulted in higher total motility, progressive motility, viability, plasma membrane intactness (PMI), and motion kinetics (VCL, VSL, VAP, LIN, and STR) compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the 1 mM ATP +10 μM QUE-treated group exhibited significantly higher total and progressive motility, PMI, and motion kinetics (VSL, VCL, VAP, STR, and BCF) compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In experiment 3, the fertilizing potential of sperms treated with 1 mM ATP +10 μM QUE was greater than that of untreated controls (58.1% vs. 27.5%, respectively, p-value = 0.012). In conclusion, the quality of post-thawed ram semen is enhanced when the extender is supplemented with extracellular 1 mM ATP and 20 μM QUE, whether used separately or in combination with 1 mM ATP and 10 μM QUE. Furthermore, the inclusion of 1 mM ATP and 10 μM QUE together in the extender significantly improves in vivo fertility in Lohi ram.

Improvement of diluted semen from Muscovy (Cairina moschata) drakes by the addition of water-soluble antioxidants

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation in diluted semen from Muscovy drakes after the induction of oxidative stress (OS) on the sperm motility, kinematic parameters and biochemical markers - lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and total glutathione (tGSH) concentration. The pooled semen was distributed equally into three parts, diluted (1:3 v/v) with IMV Canadyl, HIA-1 or AU, and stored at 4°C for 6 h. Later, the semen was equilibrated at 20-25°C for 15 min, and divided in Eppendorf tubes. The sperm samples (final concentration of 50 × 106 sperm cells/mL per sample) were incubated at 37°C for 30 min in the absence (-) or presence (+) of 0.1 mM FeSO4  + 0.5 mM H2 O2 (Fenton system) and the following combinations of antioxidants: ascorbic acid + Trolox (A + T); ascorbic acid + Desferal (A + D); Trolox + Desferal (T + D) and ascorbic acid + Trolox + Desferal (A + T + D), all of them in a final concentration of 0.1 mM. Thus, the total number of samples was 30 and in each one, the sperm motility, velocity parameters, LPO and tGSH were determined. The motility and kinematic parameters of the diluted semen with added antioxidants were restored by up to 20% after inducing OS via the Fenton reaction. Dual combinations of antioxidants (A + T, A + D, and T + D) lowered LPO levels, but not equally across different extenders. After the induction of OS, the tGSH levels in diluted semen with IMV-Canadyl were not affected by the added antioxidants. Whereas antioxidant combinations in diluted semen with HIA-1 or AU had a beneficial effect and partially restored tGSH levels. In conclusion, the results showed that the extender IMV-Canadyl is well balanced and protected the Muscovy semen under OS conditions, while the other two extenders HIA-1 and AU can be improved by adding antioxidants.

Discriminant Analysis and Data Mining CHAID Decision Tree as Tools to Evaluate the Buffering Effect of Hydroxytyrosol on Reactive Oxygen Species in Rooster Sperm Cryopreservation

Sperm cryopreservation is effective in safeguarding genetic biodiversity in avian species. However, during this process, spermatozoa are very susceptible to plasma membrane peroxidation in the presence of high concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS). To mitigate this effect, the addition of exogenous antioxidants, such as hydroxytyrosol (3,4-dihydroxyphenylethanol; HT), an antioxidant derived from olive oil, to the cryopreservation sperm diluent, could be useful. To verify this, a cryopreservation diluent was supplemented with different concentrations (0 μg/mL, 50 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL, and 150 μg/mL) of HT. For this, semen was collected in 10 replicates from 16 roosters of the Utrerana avian breed, and a pool was prepared with the optimum quality ejaculates in each replicate. After cryopreservation, spermatozoa were thawed and different in vitro semen quality parameters were evaluated. A discriminant canonical analysis (DCA) was carried out and revealed that total motility (TM; Lambda = 0.301, F = 26,173), hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST; Lambda = 0.338, F = 22,065), and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, Lambda = 0.442; F = 14,180) were the variables with the highest discriminant power. Finally, a chi-squared automatic interaction detection (CHAID) decision tree (DT) was performed excluding fresh semen samples and ROS was found to be the most valuable variable to discriminate between the different established freezing groups. Samples in the absence of HT or with low concentrations of this antioxidant showed less desirable ROS values in cryopreserved rooster semen. The present study could lead to the improvement of cryopreservation techniques for the genetic material of local poultry breeds and optimize the conservation programs of endangered native avian breeds.

Quercetin: Putative effects on the function of cryopreserved sperms in domestic animals

Quercetin is one of the most used antioxidant flavonoids and largely exists in many fruits and vegetables because of its capability to scavenge the free reactive oxygen species (ROSs) by repressing lipid peroxy radical fusion, metal ion chelating through enzyme inhibition, and adopting the repair mechanisms. It also exhibits various biological actions, including antioxidative, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities. Furthermore, it contributes well to sustaining the endogenous cellular antioxidant defence system. The process of cryopreservation is associated with increased oxidative stress, and some steps are potential sources of ROSs, including the method of semen collection, handling, cryopreservation culture media, and thawing, which result in impaired sperm function. Several antioxidants have been proposed to counteract the harmful impact of ROS during semen cryopreservation. The antioxidant capability of quercetin has been verified in different animal species for providing valuable defence to sperm during the cryopreservation process. The beneficial properties of quercetin on various parameters of fresh and post-thaw sperm in different species are clarified in this review. More in-depth investigations are required to clarify quercetin's mechanism of action in different animal species.

New approaches for long-term conservation of rooster spermatozoa

In contrast to the livestock industry, sperm cryopreservation has not yet been successfully established in the poultry industry. This is because poultry sperm cells have a unique shape and membrane fluidity, differing from those of livestock sperm. The objective of this review is to discuss the cellular and molecular characteristics of rooster spermatozoa as a cause for their generally low freezability. Furthermore, here, we discuss novel developments in the field of semen extenders, cryoprotectants, and freezing processes, all with the purpose of increasing the potential of rooster sperm cryopreservation. Currently, it is very important to improve cryopreservation of rooster sperm on a global scale for the protection of gene resources due to the incidence of epidemics such as avian influenza.

Does Antioxidant Mitoquinone (MitoQ) Ameliorate Oxidative Stress in Frozen-Thawed Rooster Sperm?

In this study, we aimed to determine the benefit of mitoquinone (MitoQ) in rooster semen extenders on sperm quality, motility parameters, antioxidant capacities, and apoptotic changes in post-thawed rooster semen. A total of 85 ejaculates from 18 roosters were collected and then divided into five equal aliquots and cryopreserved in extenders with 1.0% soy lecithin nanoparticles that contained various concentrations of MitoQ (0 nM (M0), 50 nM (M50), 100 nM (M100), 150 nM (M150), and 200 nM (M200)). By using a computer-assisted semen analyzer, sperm motility parameters were assessed after freeze thawing. The M150 group had significantly higher percentages of total motility, progressive motility, viability, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity than the other groups (p < 0.05). Compared to other groups, M100 and M150 groups produced a higher percentage of plasma membrane integrity and ATP contents (p < 0.05). Additionally, the lowest levels of ROS and MDA in spermatozoa were observed in M150 group (p < 0.05), whereas the highest levels of ROS and MDA were observed in sperm in the controls or the M200 group (p < 0.05). Significantly higher values of SOD, GPx, and Cas-3 were found in the M150 group compared to other groups (p < 0.05). Overall, these results demonstrate that MitoQ at 150 nM not only ameliorates post-thawed sperm quality and motility parameters by restoring ATP levels and preventing membrane damage, but also improves redox balance and antiapoptotic activities.

Flaxseed oil ameliorates aging in d-galactose induced rats via altering gut microbiota and mitigating oxidative damage

BACKGROUND

Aging causes decreased antioxidant capacity and chronic inflammation and may even elevate cancer risks. Previous studies reported that flaxseed oil (FO) can alleviate age-related diseases, including improving alcoholic liver disease, atherosclerosis and diabetes. However, whether the intestinal microbiota accountable for this alleviation is still unknown. This study aims to study the antioxidant effects of FO in an aging rat model and the underlying mechanism between the intestinal microbiota and aging.

RESULTS

Our results presented that serum and liver antioxidant capacities in FO group were up-regulated, and liver inflammation in FO group was reduced. The 16S rDNA sequencing showed that FO regulated the microbial community, including up-regulation of four families of Lactobacillus and six families of Clostridium. In addition, FO had also adjusted the relative abundance of several genera such as Ruminococcaceae_UCG-005 and Prevotella_9, which may be the key bacteria associated with the aging process. Colonic transcriptome analysis showed that there were 1679 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the Model group and the FO group (134 up-regulated and 1545 down-regulated). Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed FO down-regulates the expression of the upstream genes Ptprc, Lck, Zap70, Lat and Lcp2 in the T cell receptor signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, FO improved antioxidant capacity and reduced intestinal microbial disturbances caused by aging damage, indicating that dietary FO has the potential to fight aging damage. This study provides a more comprehensive view of dietary intervention to improve aging. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Utilization of Physiologically Active Molecular Components of Grape Seeds and Grape Marc

Nutritional interventions may highly contribute to the maintenance or restoration of human health. Grapes (Vitis vinifera) are one of the oldest known beneficial nutritional components of the human diet. Their high polyphenol content has been proven to enhance human health beyond doubt in statistics-based public health studies, especially in the prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. The current review concentrates on presenting and classifying polyphenol bioactive molecules (resveratrol, quercetin, catechin/epicatechin, etc.) available in high quantities in Vitis vinifera grapes or their byproducts. The molecular pathways and cellular signaling cascades involved in the effects of these polyphenol molecules are also presented in this review, which summarizes currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on their biological activities mostly in easily accessible tabular form. New molecules for different therapeutic purposes can also be synthesized based on existing polyphenol compound classes available in high quantities in grape, wine, and grape marc. Therefore an overview of these molecular structures is provided. Novel possibilities as dendrimer nanobioconjugates are reviewed, too. Currently available in vitro and in vivo experimental literature data on polyphenol biological activities are presented in easily accessible tabular form. The scope of the review details the antidiabetic, anticarcinogenic, antiviral, vasoprotective, and neuroprotective roles of grape-origin flavonoids. The novelty of the study lies in the description of the processing of agricultural by-products (grape seeds and skins) of industrial relevance, and the detailed description of the molecular mechanisms of action. In addition, the review of the clinical therapeutic applications of polyphenols is unique as no summary study has yet been done.

Modulatory effects of pioglitazone as a ligand for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor on semen quality and fertility potential of broiler breeder roosters

Fertility potential in roosters is a crucial topic in broiler breeder reproduction which is thought to be associated with age. This study aims to investigate effects of 2 levels of pioglitazone (PIO) supplementation on peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPAR-γ) expression, semen quality, and fertility parameters of aged broiler breeder roosters. The efficacy of PIO was divided into 2 sections: receptor-dependent and receptor-independent. Expression of PPAR-γ mRNA and protein was assessed in sperm to monitor receptor-dependent actions. Sperm motility, velocity parameters, viability, mitochondrial activity, and apoptosis were assessed for the receptor-independent actions. Broiler breeder roosters were randomly assigned to 3 groups: 1) control received a basal diet (CTRL); 2) PIO-5 received a basal diet supplemented with 5 mg PIO/bird/day, and 3) PIO-10 received a basal diet supplemented with 10 mg PIO/bird/day. In addition, semen samples were collected from 24 Ross broiler breeder roosters at 30, 43, and 53 wk of age. Effects of PIO were significant in terms of total motility, straight-line velocity, mitochondrial activity, and apoptosis (P ≤ 0.05). Total motility, straight-line velocity and mitochondrial activity improved in both PIO groups (P ≤ 0.05) along with a significant reduction in early and late apoptosis in the PIO groups (P ≤ 0.05). Pioglitazone addition affected total motility, mitochondrial activity, early apoptosis and late apoptosis in a linearly and quadratically manner (P < 0.05). PPAR-γ mRNA and protein expression were not significantly upregulated by the different doses of PIO (P > 0.05). Similarly, fertility performance was not significantly changed in the PIO groups (P > 0.05). Moreover, PIO improved mitochondrial activity and decreased the apoptosis rate in the sperm of aged broiler breeder roosters. These improvements were associated with the receptor-independent actions of PIO and the mechanism of action of PIO did not appear to be affected by the PPAR-γ receptor in broiler breeder roosters.

Mediterranean Diet as a Shield against Male Infertility and Cancer Risk Induced by Environmental Pollutants: A Focus on Flavonoids

The role of environmental factors in influencing health status is well documented. Heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, pesticides, ultrafine particles, produced by human activities put a strain on the body’s entire defense system. Therefore, together with public health measures, evidence-based individual resilience measures are necessary to mitigate cancer risk under environmental stress and to prevent reproductive dysfunction and non-communicable diseases; this is especially relevant for workers occupationally exposed to pollutants and/or populations residing in highly polluted areas. The Mediterranean diet is characterized by a high intake of fruits and vegetables rich in flavonoids, that can promote the elimination of pollutants in tissues and fluids and/or mitigate their effects through different mechanisms. In this review, we collected evidence from pre-clinical and clinical studies showing that the impairment of male fertility and gonadal development, as well as cancers of reproductive system, due to the exposure of organic and inorganic pollutants, may be counteracted by flavonoids.

Supplementation of Avian Semen Extenders with Antioxidants to Improve Semen Quality-Is It an Effective Strategy?

Oxidative stress in sperm is a phenomenon related to the increasing rate of oxidation of cellular components and the excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in bird sperm cell membranes renders these cells particularly susceptible to lipid peroxidation (LPO). Therefore, to ensure the proper functioning of cells, it is necessary to have a balance between the formation of ROS and the protective action of the antioxidant system. This review aims firstly to briefly introduce the antioxidant system characteristics of avian semen. Secondly, we summarize the recent knowledge regarding progress in extender supplementation using antioxidants and other compounds to improve avian semen quality parameters and fertility rates. The review focuses on enzymes, vitamins, amino acids, proteins, some plant extracts, and other compounds that can be used to supplement the extenders to reduce the formation of oxidants in poultry semen and maintain its quality and enhance its fertility.

Supplementation of Beltsville extender with quercetin improves the quality of frozen-thawed rooster semen

1. Excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during the sperm freeze-thawing process leads to membrane lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and motility loss.2. This study examined the effect of supplementation of Beltsville poultry semen extender with different concentrations of quercetin (and antioxidants) on the cryopreservation of rooster sperm.3. Semen samples were collected from six Ross broiler breeders via abdominal massage twice a week for 4 weeks (eight replicates), and were divided into five equal aliquots to be diluted in Beltsville extenders that contained different concentrations of quercetin: 0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 mM. Motility, membrane functionality, abnormal morphology, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial activity, viability, apoptosis status, and fertility potential were assessed post thaw.4. The addition of 10 and 15 mM quercetin to the semen extender significantly increased the total motility, straight-line velocity (VSL), and sperm membrane functionality compared with the other groups (P ≤ 0.05). Moreover, 10 mM quercetin caused higher progressive motility (34.86 ± 3.80%), curvilinear velocity (VCL; 175.11 ± 3.20 µm/s), average path velocity (VAP; 44.35 ± 11.06 µm/s), viability (59.14 ± 1.36%), mitochondrial activity (80.14 ± 2.07%), lower abnormal morphology (19.21 ± 0.45%), and lower lipid peroxidation (2.7 ± 0.13 nmol/ml) compared with the other groups (P < 0.05). The rate of fertility and hatchability after artificial insemination was not affected by experimental groups.5. In conclusion, supplementation of Beltsville extender with 10 mM quercetin could be a suitable method to improve post-thawed rooster sperm quality resulting in better freeze/thaw characteristics.

The Antibacterial and Antioxidant Roles of Buckwheat Honey (BH) in Liquid Preservation of Boar Semen

In the present study, we hypothesized that buckwheat honey (BH) should be regarded as a potential alternative to antibacterial and antioxidant agent in liquid storage of boar semen. To this end, boar semen was firstly studied for in vitro dose tolerability to BH by measuring sperm progressive motility. The optimum progressive motility of boar spermatozoa was observed in extender with 0.5% and 0.6% BH addition. Afterward, sperm quality parameters, bacterial profile and composition, total antioxidant (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels of control, BH supplementation, antibiotics supplementation, and incorporated supplementation were compared during liquid storage period, to further investigate antibacterial and antioxidant properties of BH. The results showed that BH supplementation significantly improved sperm motility, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, inhibited opportunistic bacterial growth, and altered microbial compositions at the end of preservation. Additionally, T-AOC, SOD, and CAT levels were significantly higher in the BH supplementation group than those in the control and antibiotic supplementation group, whereas MDA level exhibited opposite change pattern. Importantly, BH addition to the extender was able to exert a synergistic effect in combination of antibiotic use. Our findings suggested that the appropriate concentrations (0.5% and 0.6%) of BH were added to the extender could act antibacterial and antioxidant roles in liquid preservation of boar semen.

Poloxamer 188 and hydroxyethyl starch have a cryoprotective synergic effect improving post-thawing quality and fertility of rooster spermatozoa

Poloxamer and hydroxyethyl starch have cytoprotective effects. In the present study, effectiveness was evaluated of these compounds as a cryoprotectant for rooster semen. In Experiment 1 (E1), poloxamer 188 (1%, P188), poloxamer 407 (1%, P407), and control groups were compared after sperm cryopreservation. Experiment 2 (E2) was conducted with 3%, 5%, and 7% of hydroxyethyl starch (H3, H5, H7), also combined with P188 (H3P188, H5P188, H7P188), based on results from E1. Sperm motility was assessed using CASA, abnormal forms and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) were evaluated using microscopy, and viability, apoptotic-like changes, and mitochondrial activity were determined using flow cytometry. In E2, there were assessments of fertility and hatching capacity. Results from E1 indicated total and progressive motility, velocity, membrane functionality, viability, and mitochondrial activity were greater with inclusion of P188 in semen extender, with less apoptotic-like changes (P < 0.05). In E2, HES inclusion in semen extender improved total motility, membrane functionality, and mitochondrial activity (P < 0.05), especially H5, which also markedly increased sperm viability and decreased apoptotic-like changes. The combination of P188 with HES increased sperm quality overall, with inclusion of H5P188 resulting in increases of progressive motility and VSL (P < 0.05). The H5 inclusion also increased proportion of fertilized eggs (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the combination of HES and P188 increased proportions of fertilized and hatched eggs compared with the control, with inclusion of H5P188 having the greatest effects. In conclusion, supplementation of semen extender with H5P188 increases post-thawing quality and fertility of rooster sperm, being a safe and effective method for the poultry industry.

Antioxidant enrichment of rooster semen extenders - A systematic review

The purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the potential benefits of antioxidant enrichment of semen extenders. These substances are used to combat oxidative stress during processing and conservation of rooster semen. A literature search was performed in June 2020 using the keywords rooster AND (semen OR spermatozoa OR sperm OR ejaculate OR ejaculation). This report followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. The PICO (population intervention comparison outcome) question was defined to compare roosters (Population) which had added antioxidants in the semen (Intervention) compared to the no-antioxidant group (Control); the outcome was semen quality (Outcome). Only articles investigating rooster cooled or frozen enriched semen with antioxidant extenders (Gallus Gallus domesticus) were selected by reading the title and abstract, totalizing 38 articles. After full text reading, we found that only 13 studies carried out sperm characteristics and fertility assays. To assess article quality, 15 items related to rooster breeding conditions, seminal collection methodology, and analyzed variables (seminal characteristics and fertility test) were established. There were positive effects of antioxidants on the preservation of seminal characteristics (motility, viability, membrane integrity, antioxidant activity, and lipid peroxidation) and on semen fertility after the conservation process. We conclude that the antioxidants reduce the oxidative stress and improve fertilizing capacity. The most used substances for cooled semen are glutathione, CoQ10, and l-carnitine; whereas for frozen semen, resveratrol, lycopene, and quercitin are most frequently used.

Interplay between male reproductive system dysfunction and the therapeutic effect of flavonoids

Male infertility has affected many families around the world. However, due to the mechanism underlying male reproductive system dysfunction are not completely elucidated, the use of drugs for male reproductive system dysfunction treatment only insignificant higher pregnancy outcomes, low-quality evidence suggests that clinical pregnancy rates may increase. Therefore, the focus in the future will be on developing more viable treatment options to prevent or treatment of male reproductive system dysfunction and achieve the purpose of improving fertility. Interestingly, natural products, as the potential inhibitors for the treatment of male reproductive system dysfunction, have shown a good therapeutic effect. Among many natural products, flavonoids have been extensively investigated for the treatment of male reproductive system dysfunction, such as testicular structural disruption, spermatogenesis disturbance and sperm quality decline. Flavonoids have been reported to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune stimulating, anti-apoptotic, anticarcinogenic, anti-allergic and antiviral activities, investigating for the treatment of male reproductive system dysfunction. In this review, we evaluate the therapeutic effects of flavonoids on male reproductive system dysfunction under different cellular scenarios and summarize the therapeutic strategies of flavonoids based on the aforementioned retrospective analysis. In the end, we describe some perspective research areas relevant to the application of flavonoids in the treatment of male reproductive system dysfunction.

Effect of bioactive peptide on ram semen cryopreservation

This present study investigated the effect of bioactive peptide (BAPT) (BAPT) on the quality of ram semen during cryopreservation. Ram ejaculates were extended with Tris buffer supplemented with no antioxidants (as control group), 20 μg/mL BAPT (as BAPT20 group), 40 μg/mL BAPT (as BAPT40 group) and 60 μg/mL BAPT (as BAPT60 group). After cryopreservation, sperm quality including motility, vitality, the percentage of hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST)-positive spermatozoa and the percentage of intact acrosomes was assessed. Furthermore, the malondialdehyde (MDA) in seminal plasma and spermatozoa were analyzed, followed by the measurement of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione-peroxidase (GSH-Px) levels in seminal plasma. After in vitro fertilization, the embryonic cleavage rates and development rates of different groups were analyzed to compare the developmental abilities of spermatozoa. The results showed that the post-thaw sperm motility was significantly higher in the BAPT60 group compared to those in the BAPT20, BAPT40 and control groups (P < 0.05). The percentage of live sperms significantly increased from 48.12 ± 2.35% for the BAPT20 group, 55.43 ± 2.16% for the BAPT40 group to 57.53 ± 3.15% for the BAPT60 group. The percentage of HOST-positive spermatozoa was significantly higher in the BAPT60 group than those in BAPT20, BAPT40 and control groups (P < 0.05). The MDA levels in seminal plasma and spermatozoa were significantly reduced with BAPT supplement (P < 0.05). Additionally, the SOD, CAT and GSH-Px levels in the BAPT experimental groups were significantly higher than those of the control group, which further indicated that BAPT significantly inhibit the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production during the cryopreservation of ram semen. Furthermore, the embryonic cleavage rates and development rates of the BAPT40 and BAPT60 groups were significantly increased in comparison with the BAPT20 and control groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, BAPT improved the ram sperm quality via inhibiting the ROS production during cryopreservation, and could be applied as a promising supplement for ram semen cryopreservation.