Post-Thaw Storage Temperature Influenced Boar Sperm Quality and Lifespan through Apoptosis and Lipid Peroxidation

Li, JW; Li, JC; Wang, SB; Ju, HM; Chen, SF; Basioura, A; Ferreira-Dias, G; Liu, ZP; Zhu, JQ

Abstract

Simple Summary Frozen-thawed boar semen has not been widely used due to the deleterious effects of freezing on sperm quality and fertility. Extensive attempts have been made to improve post-thaw sperm quality because the short lifespan of frozen and thawed boar sperm impedes its application in field. The present study aimed to find the best post-thaw storage method (storage time and temperature) to extend sperm survival time without affecting the quality. The results showed that post-thaw storage time and temperature influenced boar sperm survival. Storage of thawed boar semen at 17 degrees C preserved sperm quality better and maintained sperm quality for up to 6 h. This demonstrated an improvement in the preservation of frozen-thawed boar semen before their use for artificial insemination because it provided enough time to prepare the doses and the transport them from the laboratory to the farm. These findings will help to promote the application of frozen-thawed boar semen doses for artificial insemination in the swine industry.Abstract Cryopreservation deteriorates boar sperm quality and lifespan, which restricts the use of artificial insemination with frozen-thawed boar semen in field conditions. The objective of this study was to test the effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature on boar sperm survival. Semen ejaculates from five Landrace boars (one ejaculate per boar) were collected and frozen following a 0.5 mL-straw protocol. Straws from the five boars were thawed and diluted 1:1 (v:v) in BTS. The frozen-thawed semen samples were aliquoted into three parts and respectively stored at 5 degrees C, 17 degrees C, and 37 degrees C for up to 6 h. At 0.5, 2, and 6 h of storage, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptotic changes were measured. Antioxidant and oxidant levels were tested in boar sperm (SPZ) and their surrounding environment (SN) at each timepoint. The results showed significant effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature and an impact on boar sperm quality (total and progressive motility, VCL, viability, acrosome integrity), early and late sperm apoptotic changes, and changes in MDA levels in SPZ and SN. Compared to storage at 5 degrees C and 37 degrees C, frozen-thawed semen samples stored at 17 degrees C displayed better sperm quality, less apoptotic levels, and lower levels of SPZ MDA and SN MDA. Notably, post-thaw storage at 17 degrees C extended boar sperm lifespan up to 6 h without obvious reduction in sperm quality. In conclusion, storage of frozen-thawed boar semen at 17 degrees C preserves sperm quality for up to 6 h, which facilitates the use of cryopreserved boar semen for field artificial insemination.

Citation

Li, J., Li, J., Wang, S., Ju, H., Chen, S., Basioura, A., Ferreira-Dias, G., Liu, Z., & Zhu, J. (2024). Post-Thaw Storage Temperature Influenced Boar Sperm Quality and Lifespan through Apoptosis and Lipid Peroxidation. Animals, 14(1), https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010087

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 22, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Dec 26, 2023
• Publication Date: 2024
• Deposit Date: Jan 16, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jan 16, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2076-2615
• Electronic ISSN: 2076-2615
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 14
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010087
• Keywords: boar semen cryopreservation; post-thaw storage; sperm survival; apoptosis; oxidative stress; SEMINAL PLASMA; SEMEN; FERTILITY; FREEZABILITY; CRYOPRESERVATION; SUPPLEMENTATION; SPERMATOZOA; EXTENDER; MOTILITY; FLUIDITY