title: Effects of the utilization of homeopathic elements in commercial diluent on swine sperm viability.
abstract: It has been speculated that the homeopathic treatment of sperm cells in order to improve semen quality could be promising. However, few data is available and its use in spermatozoa requires investigation. It is well established that mitochondrial membrane potential is an important viability parameter of spermatozoa and it is intimately related to reproductive efficiency. In this manner, new technologies in order to improve the activity of sperm cells and, finally, the fecundity of swine herds are of extremely importance. Due to the lack of knowledge of homeopathic treatment effect on spermatozoa, the aim of the present study was to verify the effect of three different homeopathic treatments on viability of boar sperm cells. Three homeopathic treatments composed by Pulsatila CH6, Pulsatila and Avena CH6, Avena CH6 and one control treatment (sucrose) were added to diluted boar semen, which were cooled for 24 or 48 h. Interestingly, no positive effect of homeopathic treatments was observed over semen viability. However, it was demonstrated that the 24 h of cooling storage provided more viable sperm cells when compared to the 48-h period. This effect of storage period on sperm viability was assessed by intact plasmatic membrane, intact acrosome and mitochondrial membrane potential evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Center for Sanitary Surveillance and Zoonoses Control Tereza Rodrigues de Camargo, Estrada da Vargem do Salto- Km 4,5- Bairro dos Paes, 18150-000 Ibiúna, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Francisco Rafael Martins
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: Soto
authors.forename: Erlete Rosalina
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Vuaden
authors.forename: Cideli
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: de Paula Coelho
authors.forename: Leoni Villano
authors.initials: LV
authors.lastname: Bonamin
authors.forename: Sérgio Santos
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: de Azevedo
authors.forename: Nilson Roberti
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Benites
authors.forename: Flavia Regina Oliveira
authors.initials: FR
authors.lastname: de Barros
authors.forename: Marcelo Demarchi
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Goissis
authors.forename: Mayra Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ortiz D'Ávila Assumpção
authors.forename: José Antônio
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Visintin
authors.forename: Mariana Groke
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Marques
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002470:Cell Survival; D006705:Homeopathy; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013552:Swine