title: Effect of Relaxin on Fertility Parameters of Frozen-Thawed Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Sperm.
abstract: The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of relaxin on fertility parameters of buffalo frozen/thawed sperm. Sperm were incubated in the absence of capacitating agents (negative control), with a known capacitating agent such as heparin (positive control) and with 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin for 2 and 4 h. Sperm viability, motility, capacitation and the effect of relaxin on the fertilizing ability after heterologous IVF were evaluated. Although viability was not affected, relaxin increased (p < 0.05) sperm motility compared to the negative and positive controls both after 2 h (60.0 ± 2.0, 60.0 ± 3.1, 68.3 ± 1.7 and 69.4 ± 2.7, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and 4 h (55.0 ± 2.5, 53.3 ± 3.0, 62.2 ± 3.0 and 65.0 ± 3.2, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin) incubation. When sperm were incubated with both 100 ng/ml relaxin and heparin, a decrease (p < 0.01) of pattern A, that is low capacitation level, was observed compared to the negative control both after 2 h (54.4, 34.3 and 36.4%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and 4 h (51.9, 35.0 and 34.3%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin). Moreover, an increase (p < 0.01) of pattern EA, that is high capacitation level, was recorded with 100 ng/ml relaxin and heparin compared to the negative control both after 2 h (44.1, 59.3 and 57.7%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin) and after 4 h (43.0, 54.4 and 56.0%, respectively, in negative control, positive control and 100 ng/ml relaxin). Finally, relaxin increased (p < 0.01) cleavage rate compared to the negative control (57.1 ± 4.4, 72.5 ± 6.0, 71.4 ± 5.5 and 73.6 ± 2.9, respectively, in negative control, positive control, 50 and 100 ng/ml relaxin). In conclusion, relaxin has a beneficial effect on motility, capacitation and fertilizing ability of frozen-thawed buffalo sperm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Elkhawagah
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Longobardi
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Neglia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salzano
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zullo
authors.affiliation: Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor - Toukh, Egypt.
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Sosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Campanile
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Production, Federico II University, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gasparrini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro / Q000187:drug effects; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008297:Male; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D019000:Phosphotyrosine / Q000032:analysis*; D012065:Relaxin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D013075:Sperm Capacitation / Q000187:drug effects; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D010750:Phosphoproteins; D019000:Phosphotyrosine; D012065:Relaxin