The Beneficial Effects of Pterostilbene on Post-Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa
Vasiliki Sapanidou,
Maria Tsantarliotou,
Sophia Lavrentiadou,
Elena Tzekaki,
Ioannis Efraimidis,
Theodoros Lialiaris,
Byron Asimakopoulos
Affiliations
Vasiliki Sapanidou
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Maria Tsantarliotou
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Sophia Lavrentiadou
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Elena Tzekaki
Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Ioannis Efraimidis
Laboratory of Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, University Campus, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Theodoros Lialiaris
Laboratory of Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Science, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus-Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Byron Asimakopoulos
Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Science, Democritus University of Thrace, University Campus-Dragana, 68100 Alexandroupolis, Greece
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), primarily produced by cellular metabolism, are highly reactive molecules that modify cellular compounds. During sperm preparation in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs), intrinsic and extrinsic sources of ROS can impact spermatozoa’s oxidative status. The modification of the media with compounds that enhance sperm quality characteristics is of great significance. The current study investigated the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound, on bovine sperm quality. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from six bulls were thawed, supplemented with pterostilbene (0, 10 μΜ, 25 μΜ) and incubated for 60 min and 240 min. Spermatozoa were analyzed in terms of motility, viability, acrosomal status and intracellular concentration of superoxide anion in each time point. The incubation of spermatozoa with 25 μΜ pterostilbene resulted in the preservation of quality parameters through superoxide anion mitigation, while its presence in capacitating conditions resulted in higher percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. The results of the present study indicate that the addition of pterostilbene prevents oxidative insult to spermatozoa and preserves the sperm quality parameters.
