The effectiveness of using lipid- and water-soluble analogues of vitamin E as antioxidant protectors for cryopreservation of sperm of sterlet (Acipenser ruthenus) and Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)

Abstract

The aim of the research was to comparative study the effectiveness of synthetic antioxidants – lipid-soluble (butylated hydroxytoluene, BHT) and water–soluble (trolox) analogues of vitamin E for the cryopreservation of Russian sturgeon and sterlet sperm in the presence of the modified Stein’s medium. The ability of phenolic antioxidants to reduce the level of lipid peroxidation of sturgeon sperm, beneficial effect on the motility of thawed sperm has been shown. The addition of lipid- and water-soluble antioxidants to a basic cryomedim increased the fertilization rate of Russian sturgeon and sterlet sperm cells about 10% compared to the control experiment. The insignificant protective effect of these antioxidants presumably is explained by the use of a cryogenic medium with additive of toxic DMSO, therefore, it is necessary to develop a new composition of the cryo-medium with a minimum concentration of DMSO.