In vitro effects of l-carnitine and glutamine on motility, acrosomal abnormality, and plasma membrane integrity of rabbit sperm during liquid-storage.
This study was designed to evaluate the in vitro effects of l-carnitine and glutamine (Gln) on the sperm quality parameters of liquid-stored rabbit semen maintained up to 24 h at 5°C. Pooled and extended ejaculates were divided into two equal portions. l-Carnitine doses of 0.5, 1 and 2mM were added to the first portion, and glutamine was added at the same doses to the second portion. All samples were cooled to 5°C and examined at 0, 6, 12 and 24 h of liquid storage. Supplementation of the semen extender with three different doses of l-carnitine provided significant increases in the percentage of motile sperm at 12 h (P<0.01), and 24h (P<0.001) and enabled significant protection of the sperm plasma membrane (P<0.01) at 12 and 24h of cool-storage, in comparison to the control samples. Only the 2mM dose of l-carnitine significantly (P<0.01) decreased the rate of acrosomal damage when compared to the control group. Furthermore, all doses of Gln caused a significant (P<0.01) decrease in acrosomal damage at 6h, and provided significant improvement (P<0.01) in sperm motility, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrities at 12 and 24h of liquid storage, when compared to the controls. In conclusion, the supplementation of liquid-stored rabbit semen with l-carnitine and Gln provided a protection for sperm against cool storage-induced functional and structural damages.
Erciyes University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Kayseri, Turkey; Genome and Stem Cell Center-GENKOK, Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey. Electronic address: sariozkan75@yahoo.com.
Serpil
S
Sarıözkan
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Kayseri, Turkey.
Saim
S
Ozdamar
Fırat University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Elazığ, Turkey.
Gaffari
G
Türk
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Kayseri, Turkey.
Fazile
F
Cantürk
Erciyes University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Basic Sciences, Kayseri, Turkey.
Arzu
A
Yay
D000818:Animals; D002331:Carnitine / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D005973:Glutamine / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D020011:Protective Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000378:metabolism; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism
D020011:Protective Agents; D005973:Glutamine; D002331:Carnitine
Glutamine; Liquid storage; Rabbit; Spermatological parameters; l-Carnitine