Arquivo Brasileiro de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia ()

Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 and Antipain preserve acrosome integrity of bovine spermatozoa during cryopreservation

  • M.A. Castelo Branco,
  • Y.N.T.C. Castelo Branco,
  • F.J. Moraes Junior,
  • F.N. Barros,
  • F.P.S. Barçante,
  • G.M.C. Carvalho,
  • L.S. Melo Evangelista,
  • A.L. Abreu-Silva,
  • M.A. Sousa Filho,
  • J.A.T. Souza

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/1678-4162-9252
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 69, no. 5
pp. 1114 – 1124

Abstract

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ABSTRACT Seminal plasma contains serine proteases and serine protease inhibitor, which are involved in mammalian fertilization, and the inhibitors can be applied to prevent cold-induced sperm capacitation. The effects of different concentrations of two serine protease inhibitors were analyzed, Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 - PAI-1 (70ƞg, 140ƞg and 210 ƞg) and Antipain (10µg, 50µg and 100µg) as supplementation to bovine semen cryopreservation extender. The effects of the inhibitors on the sperm parameters (sperm kinetics - CASA, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, sperm defects and acrosome reaction rate) were evaluated in the post-thaw semen. Cryopreservation of sperm with Antipain decreased post-thaw kinetic parameters of MP, VSL, LIN, SRT and the percentage of hyper-activated sperm while PAI-1 (210 ƞg) decreased VSL and LIN. Antipain and PAI-1 had no effect on the integrity parameters of the plasma membrane, mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm defects. Sperm cryopreserved in the presence of Antipain and PAI-1 (70 and 140 ƞg) preserved acrosome integrity, as they were able to complete the in vitro acrosome reaction. In conclusion, the serine protease inhibitors, Antipain and PAI-1 (70 and 140ƞg) are able to preserve the acrosome integrity of cryopreserved bovine sperm.

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