Efeito do resveratrol na criopreservação do sêmen bovino

Abstract

Despite the wide application of frozen semen in livestock, cryopreservation yet results in decrease in viability and fertility of sperm. Several factors are responsible for this loss as injuries caused on sperm by oxidative stress. The aim of the study was to evaluate the antioxidant effect of resveratrol on cryopreservation of bovine sperm. We used eight Holstein bulls selected previously by andrological exam. Semen was diluted in Tris-yolk-glycerol extender and distributed in groups: R0 (control - no antioxidant), R1 (50 μM resveratrol), R2 (100 μM resveratrol) and R3 (1000 μM resveratrol). Motility and vigorous thawed bull sperm were evaluated by phase contrast microscopy and kinetics parameters by an automated system (CASA). Plasmatic and acrosomal membrane integrity, mitochondrial function, and in vitro fertilization were also evaluated in thawed sperm. The data were analyzed by ANOVA and averages were compared by Tukey-Krammer and Student-Newman-Keuls tests by the Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute, Cay, NC, USA) and Graph Pad Prism versão 5 (Graph Pad Software, California, Estados Unidos). The level of 5% was considered significant. With optical microscopy was observed higher sperm motility in treatment R1 than R3, and they were not different (P>0.05) to control and R2. However, the results of progressive motility analysis by CASA showed that treatment with 50 μM resveratrol had better (P <0.05) results than control and other treatments. The data of the kinetic parameters of CASA also revealed greater (P <0.05) number of spermatozoa with linear trajectory in R1 treatment. There is also more (P <0.05) cells with plasma membrane intact in R1 compared to the control. In mitochondrial function analysis and in vitro embryo production no difference was found between treatment and control (P>0.05). We conclude that the resveratrol 50 μM concentration protects the sperm cell plasmatic membrane and improves kinetic parameters without affect fertilization potential of spermatozoa.