Effects of trehalose and resveratrol on sperm cell parameters after cryopreservation

Abstract

Background: Freezing human semen is considered an effective technique in assisted reproductive techniques (ART). During cryopreservation, sperm cells are exposed to chemical and physical stress, resulting in damage to the axonum, increased morphological deficits in the middle segment, and decreased sperm motility. In this study, the effects of trehalose and resveratrol antioxidants on sperm parameters during freezing and thawing processes were evaluated. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed on 40 normal semen samples divided into 7 groups. The effects of these antioxidants on sperm parameters were investigated by computer analysis (CASA) and sperm chromatin (SCD) evaluation. It should be noted that P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Group 3 (freezing and treating with 100 mM trehalose) showed the highest percentage of motility, acrosome membrane integrity, and plasma membrane integrity compared to the control group and had healthier DNA after thawing and fewer survival of sperm. Conclusion: According to the results, it can be concluded that trehalose samples in general improve the quality of semen and even after thawing it is involved in maintaining sperm motility. Resveratrol causes toxicity at high concentrations and causes undesirable changes in osmotic pressure, but at low concentrations it has beneficial effects on sperm survival and inhibits ROS as a potent antioxidant.

Keywords

• cryopreservation
• sperm
• antioxidant
• trehalose
• resveratrol