Effect of epidermal growth factor on buffalo frozen spermatozoa biometry and metabolic activity

Abstract

Objective: To assess the effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) on the Egyptian buffalo bull frozen semen, EGF was incorporated at 0 (control), 50, 100, 200 and 400 ng/mL of extender (Bioxcell®).Methods: Semen features, spermatozoa biometry, total liberated amounts of enzymes (aspartate transaminase, alanine aminotransferase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) and lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, malondialdehyde, glutathione peroxidase, nitric oxide, catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)) were determined in the spermatozoa-free extracellular extender.Results: Spermatozoa membrane integrity significantly (P<0.05) increased, but DNA integrity decreased with EGF 200 ng/mL. Spermatozoa head (dimensions, area and perimeter), but not shape, as well as acrosome and midpiece measures substantially differed with regard to EGF. Principle piece length and volume markedly decreased (at 100 and 200 ng/mL), while total tail/flagellum length increased (at 50 ng/mL) after EGF supplementation. EGF 50 ng/mL was associated with the decline of nitric oxide levels and catalase enzyme activity, but EGF 100 ng/mL significantly decreased the total liberated amounts of enzymes (aspartate transaminase, lactate dehydrogenase, acid phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase) as well as lipid peroxidation markers (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances and malondialdehyde).Conclusions: EGF in vitro supplementation would affect the semen characteristics of buffalo bull with 100 ng/mL counteracted the freezing mediated oxidative stress indicated with the lowest enzymes leakage and lipid peroxidation.

Keywords

• Buffalo
• Epidermal growth factor
• Lipid peroxidation
• Seminal enzymes
• Speriogram