title: Effect of antioxidant supplementation on function and fertility of sex-sorted boar spermatozoa.
abstract: The goal of this study was to investigate the effects of antioxidant supplementation on the quality of flow cytometrically-sorted boar spermatozoa. The effects of ascorbic acid-2-glucoside (AA-2G) on the sex-sorting process were evaluated using a variety of concentrations. The effects of different antioxidants (AA-2G, l-glutathione, and vitamin E) on the viability and lifespan of boar spermatozoa were also compared during sorting. Furthermore, the effect of AA-2G on acrosome intactness, the capacitation ability of sorted boar spermatozoa and pregnancy efficiency after artificial insemination (AI) at different sorting-to-insemination intervals were examined. Greater (P<0.05) percentages of motile spermatozoa and acrosome intactness and longer storage time periods were observed in the AA-2G-supplemented group when compared with the other antioxidant-supplemented or control groups. At an AA-2G concentration of 0.068 mg/mL, the motility characteristics (i.e., straightness (STR), velocity according to the average path (VAP), and amplitude of the sperm head lateral displacement (ALH)) of the sex-sorted boar spermatozoa were greater (P<0.05) than in those treated with other AA-2G concentrations. The capacitation rate of boar spermatozoa in the AA-2G-supplemented group was less (P<0.05) than that in the control group. After sorting-to-insemination interval of 10h, the pregnancy rates after AI with boar spermatozoa for the AA-2G-supplemented group were 59.25%, while the control group remains no sufficient quality semen. This study demonstrates that AA-2G supplementation can improve the quality of flow cytometrically sorted boar spermatozoa and that the optimal concentration of AA-2G for sorting is 0.068 mg/mL.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Agriculture, College of Animal Sciences and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, PR China.
authors.forename: Chunmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: An
authors.forename: Xihe
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhonghong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Jiaxing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Zhuqing
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianhui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tian
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012662:Semen Preservation; D012743:Sex Preselection / Q000662:veterinary*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; C065378:ascorbic acid 2-O-glucoside; D001205:Ascorbic Acid