Supplementation of sperm media with zinc, D-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10 protects bull sperm against exogenous oxidative stress and improves their ability to support embryo development

Abstract

High levels of reactive oxygen species in the semen of infertile patients or spontaneously generated during in vitro sperm handling may impair sperm quality, fertilization and embryo developmental competence. We recently reported that zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10, contained in the dietary supplement Genadis® (Merck Serono), have protective effects on human and bull sperm motility, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation in vitro; furthermore, in bovine, treated spermatozoa had an improved ability to support embryo development. However, only a few studies have investigated the protective role of antioxidants during in vitro sperm handling in the presence of an exogenous oxidative stress. Herein, to simulate such conditions in an animal model, we induced exogenous oxidative stress on spermatozoa through the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system and investigated its effects on sperm function and subsequent embryo developmental competence in the presence of zinc, d-Asp and CoQ10 protection. The main results showed that exogenous oxidative stress decreased sperm motility, increased sperm DNA fragmentation, and reduced fertilization and blastocyst rates and quality. Pre-treatment with zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10 before exogenous oxidative stress was able to prevent these effects. Supplementation of sperm culture media with zinc, d-aspartate and co-enzyme Q10 could protect sperm from oxidative stress damage during in vitro handling in assisted reproductive technologies.

Supplementation of Nigella sativa Oil and Honey Prolong the Survival Rate of Fresh and Post-Thawed Goat Sperms

“…The quality of semen is often reduced after semen collection and cryopreservation due to oxidative stress. Impact of oxidative stress in reducing sperm quality has been reported in human (Saleh et al, 2003), rat (Chitra et al, 2003) horse (Ball et al, 2008), and bovine (Barbato et al, 2017). These results show that the basic components in semen extender is not sufficient to protect sperms from oxidative damage.…”

The Relationship between Sperm Oxidative Stress Alterations and IVF/ICSI Outcomes: A Systematic Review from Nonhuman Mammals

“…Over the last decade, different studies have aimed at determining the clinical effects of low sperm quality upon ART outcomes, both in humans [16][17][18] and animals [19,20]. This research has demonstrated that low sperm motility and high sperm DNA fragmentation have a detrimental impact on natural fertility, reducing pregnancy achievement and increasing pregnancy loss [16,21,22]. Despite this clear consensus about the negative effects of sperm quality on natural fertility, studies analyzing the male factor influence on IVF and ICSI outcomes in humans have reported conflicting results.…”

Oxidative Stress in Male Infertility: Causes, Effects in Assisted Reproductive Techniques, and Protective Support of Antioxidants

“…Although it is difficult to establish which percentages of infertile patients have an underlying mechanism of oxidative stress, it is known that it could be present as a factor in asthenozoospermic, teratozospermic, and oligozoospermic patients who present reproductive issues [77,78]. All these parameters have been associated in different studies with a reduction in natural pregnancy, both in animal [79,80] and human studies [76,81,82], supporting the evidence that oxidative stress leads to a reduction in natural fertility rates [77,83].…”