Effect of antioxidant supplementation of cryopreservation medium on post-thaw integrity of human spermatozoa.
This study examined whether the addition of an antioxidant to cryopreservation medium could improve the post-thaw integrity of cryopreserved human spermatozoa, particularly from men with abnormal semen parameters. Semen samples were collected by masturbation and assessed following WHO standards. Normal (n = 23) and abnormal (n = 20) samples were divided into three aliquots prior to cryopreservation. The first aliquot remained untreated and was mixed with cryopreservation medium (in-house 1:1). The second and third aliquots were mixed with cryopreservation medium containing either 100 micromol or 200 micromol vitamin E analogue. Samples were frozen at -10 degrees C per minute to -80 degrees C, then plunged into liquid nitrogen. Thawed samples were assessed for motility, vitality and DNA integrity. Split-plot repeated-measures ANOVA was used to assess within-subject (dose) and between-group (normal/abnormal) differences in post-thaw motility index, vitality staining and DNA fragmentation. Vitamin E dose was significantly associated with post-thaw motility (P = 0.041) and the pattern of response across doses was similar for normal and abnormal groups. Post-thaw motility was significantly improved by the addition of 200 micromol vitamin E (P = 0.006), but neither vitality nor sperm DNA fragmentation were altered. These results suggest that the addition of vitamin E to cryopreservation medium improves post-thaw motility.
Taylor
Katrina
K
Concept Fertility Centre, King Edward Memorial Hospital, 374 Bagot Rd, Subiaco, Western Australia, Australia.
Roberts
Peter
P
Sanders
Kathy
K
Burton
Peter
P
D000328:Adult; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000494:pharmacology
D000975:Antioxidants; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D014810:Vitamin E