title: Effect of alpha-lipoic acid on boar spermatozoa quality during freezing-thawing.
abstract: Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is known to be a natural antioxidant. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the cryoprotective effect of ALA on the motility of boar spermatozoa and its antioxidant effect on boar spermatozoa during freezing-thawing. Different concentrations (2.0, 4.0, 6.0, 8.0 or 10.0 mg/ml) of ALA were added to the extender used to freeze boar semen, and the effects on the quality and endogenous antioxidant enzyme activities of frozen-thawed spermatozoa were assessed. The results indicated that the addition of ALA to the extender resulted in a higher percentage of motile spermatozoa post-thaw (P < 0.05). The activities of superoxide dismutase, lactate dehydrogenase, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase and catalase improved after adding ALA to the extender (P < 0.05). Artificial insemination results showed that pregnancy rate and litter size were significantly higher at 6.0 mg/ml in the ALA group than in the control group (P < 0.05). In conclusion, ALA conferred a cryoprotective capacity to the extender used for boar semen during the process of freezing-thawing, and the optimal concentration of ALA for the frozen extender was 6.0 mg/ml.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology,Northwest A&F University,Yangling,Shaanxi 712100,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology,Northwest A&F University,Yangling,Shaanxi 712100,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhong-Liang
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Animal Genomics and Improvement Laboratory,Agricultural Research Service,USDA,Beltsville,MD 20705,USA.
authors.forename: Cong-Jun
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology,Northwest A&F University,Yangling,Shaanxi 712100,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xiao-Chen
authors.initials: XC
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science and Technology,Northwest A&F University,Yangling,Shaanxi 712100,People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qing-Wang
authors.initials: QW
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary; D003451:Cryoprotective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D008063:Thioctic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D003451:Cryoprotective Agents; D008063:Thioctic Acid; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase; D002374:Catalase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases
keywords: Alpha-lipoic acid; Antioxidants; Artificial insemination; Boar spermatozoa; Cryopreservation