Endometriosis and infertility are commonly associated. This study investigated the role of accelerated lipid peroxidation of spermatozoa by the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis as a cause for this association. It proposes that the increased iron concentration present in the fluid of these patients acts as a catalyst for the process. Peritoneal fluid from 25 patients with endometriosis and 25 matched controls was obtained at laparoscopy. Spermatozoa were incubated in the fluid from both groups and the subsequent acrosome reaction rates analysed. The relationship between these results and iron concentration in the fluid was examined. A significant decrease in the acrosome reaction rate was seen in the endometriotic group (P = 0.034). Overall, a decrease in the acrosome reaction rate was associated with an increased iron concentration in the fluid (18 of the 25 pairs). In mild disease, (six of 11 pairs), the relationship was not as marked as that in severe disease (12 of 14 pairs). These results suggest that the peritoneal fluid in patients with endometriosis has a detrimental action on the acrosome reaction of spermatozoa in vitro.
The present study was conducted to determine the effects of supplementing α-linolenic acid (ALA) into BioXcell(®) extender on post-cooling, post-thawed bovine spermatozoa and post thawed fatty acid composition. Twenty-four semen samples were collected from three bulls using an electro-ejaculator. Fresh semen samples were evaluated for general motility using computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA) whereas morphology and viability with eosin-nigrosin stain. Semen samples extended into BioXcell(®) were divided into five groups to which 0, 3, 5, 10 and 15 ng/ml of ALA were added, respectively. The treated samples were incubated at 37°C for 15 min for ALA uptake by sperm cells before being cooled for 2 h at 5°C. After evaluation, the cooled samples were packed into 0.25 ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen for 24 h before thawing and evaluation for semen quality. Evaluation of cooled and frozen-thawed semen showed that the percentages of all the sperm parameters improved with 5 ng/ml ALA supplement. ALA was higher in all treated groups than control groups than control group. In conclusion, 5 ng/ml ALA supplemented into BioXcell(®) extender improved the cooled and frozen-thawed quality of bull spermatozoa.
In order to improve Boer goat semen quality during cryopreservation process, the influence of sugar supplementation on semen characteristics of sperm were investigated. Three experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of (a) addition of two monosaccharides (fructose and glucose) and two disaccharides sugars (trehalose and sucrose) (b) sugar combination (fructose and trehalose, sucrose and trehalose, glucose and trehalose), and control (glucose without trehalose) (c) different concentrations of trehalose on cryopreservation using Tris based extender. The total motility, forward motility, viability, normal spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity were assessed subjectively. Differences were not detected among monosaccharides, but glucose increased (P<0.05) sperm forward motility in post-thaw goat semen compared to trehalose or sucrose supplementation. Semen quality did not differ (P>0.05) among disaccharide sugar supplementation. Combination of glucose and trehalose significantly improved the characteristics of Boer spermatozoa after cryopreservation (P<0.05). Supplementation of trehalose (198.24mM) into the glucose extender significantly increased total motility, forward motility, live spermatozoa, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity following cryopreservation (P<0.05). In conclusion, glucose had the better ability to support Boer sperm motility and movement patterns. Combination of monosaccharide (glucose) and disaccharide (trehalose) improved semen quality following cryopreservation. Trehalose supplementation at the concentration of 198.24mM to the glucose extender conferred the greater improvement of semen quality for Boer semen cryopreservation.