title: Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase from the fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 improves ram spermatozoa functions in vitro.
abstract: In this study we determined the effect of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation during incubation in media at 39 degrees C on ram spermatozoa and the protection by exogenously added antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase (SOD). A novel Cu/Zn-SOD, isolated from the fungal strain Humicola lutea 103 (HLSOD), was used. Our results point out that the levels of both, superoxide anion radicals (*O2-) and H2O2, increase approximately 8-10- and 2-3-fold, respectively, during incubation of spermatozoa. Enhanced ROS generation coincided with reduction of motility, independently of the type of diluted medium. Addition of HLSOD (30, 60 and 120 U ml(-1) sperm) improved sperm functions, maintaining almost initial percentages of motile spermatozoa and increasing the values of mean cytochemical coefficient. At the same time, a significant diminution of *O2- and H2O2 content in the presence of antioxidant enzyme was established. The results suggest that HLSOD is an effective *O2- scavenger in semen that leads to protection of sperm functions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria. rossenstefanov@yahoo.com
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stefanov
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Angelova
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Stefanova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Subev
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dolashka
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Voelter
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zachariev
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001203:Ascomycota / Q000201:enzymology*; D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D012756:Sheep; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016166:Free Radical Scavengers; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase