Effect of natural astaxanthin on sperm quality and mitochondrial function of breeder rooster semen cryopreservation

Jia-Yu Wu; Huan-Yu Kang; Yong Guo; Xi-Hui Sheng; Xiang-Guo Wang; Kai Xing; Long-Fei Xiao; Xue-Ze Lv; Cheng Long; Xiao-Long Qi

doi:10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104979

Effect of natural astaxanthin on sperm quality and mitochondrial function of breeder rooster semen cryopreservation

Cryobiology. 2024 Oct 23:117:104979. doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104979. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China.
² Department of Livestock and Poultry Products Testing, Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry, Beijing, 100107, China.
³ Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China. Electronic address: cheng.long@bua.edu.cn.
⁴ Animal Science and Technology College, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206, China. Electronic address: buaqxl@126.com.

PMID: 39395582
DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104979

Abstract

Cryopreservation causes higher reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentrations, leading to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation damaging sperm, and using antioxidants can improve semen quality after freeze-thaw. Natural astaxanthin (ASTA) can be inserted into cell membranes and its antioxidant properties are stronger than other antioxidants. We aimed to investigate the effects of ASTA supplementation in the Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) on post-thaw rooster semen quality and to explore the potential mechanism of rooster semen quality change. The qualifying semen ejaculates collected from 30 adult male Jinghong No. 1 laying hen breeder roosters (65 wk old) were pooled, divided into four aliquots, and diluted with BPSE having different levels of ASTA (0, 0.5, 1, or 2 μg/mL). Treated semen was cryopreserved and kept in liquid nitrogen. The entire experiment was replicated three times independently. Sperm viability, motility, curvilinear velocity, amplitude of lateral head displacement, straightness, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity were observed to be highest (P < 0.05) with 1 μg/mL ASTA at freeze-thawing. Higher (P < 0.05) antioxidant enzyme (CAT-like, SOD) activities and free radical (·OH, O2^.-) scavenging ability, less ROS and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations were recorded with the addition of appropriate concentrations of ASTA compared to control. In addition, the levels of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in the 1 μg/mL ASTA group improved compared to the control group, and decreased the amount of AIF protein level but increased the Bcl-2 protein level (P < 0:05). Collectively, these results demonstrate that adding ASTA in the BPSE promoted rooster freeze-thaw sperm quality, which may be related to reducing ROS levels, protecting the antioxidant defense system, preventing lipid peroxidation, improving mitochondrial structural and functional integrity, and inhibiting sperm apoptosis.

Keywords: Antioxidant capacity; Cryopreservation; Mitochondrial; Natural astaxanthin; Rooster sperm; Sperm quality.