title: Preventive effect of Desferal on sperm motility and morphology.
abstract: Transition metal ions, mainly iron, are involved in the generation of highly reactive hydroxyl radicals, which are the most powerful inducers of oxidative damage to all biomolecules. The lipids in sperm membranes are highly susceptible to oxidation. Sperm lipid peroxidation (LPO) leads to decrease of motility and reduction of likelihood for sperm-oocyte fusion. The excess radical production may affect also the spermatozoa morphology. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Desferal on the LPO, motility, and morphology of boar sperm subjected to oxidative stress. After collection, the ejaculates were equally separated and diluted in a commercial semen extender (experiment 1) or in physiological saline (experiment 2). The ejaculates of the 2 experiments were divided into aliquots, which were incubated with one of the following agents: FeSO4 (0.1mM), H2 O2 (0.5mM), or FeSO4  + H2 O2 (Fenton system), in the presence or absence of Desferal. The application of Desferal in the incubation medium had a protective effect against FeSO4  + H2 O2 -induced sperm damage, namely, decrease of LPO; decrease the quantity of immotile spermatozoa and decrease the number of morphological abnormalities, regardless of the used medium. In experiment 2, the presence of FeSO4 in the incubation medium induced LPO in the same range as the combination FeSO4  + H2 O2 , in which the effect was reduced by Desferal. Thus, the supplement of Desferal to media used for sperm storage and processing could be a useful tool for diminishing oxidative injury and improving the quality of the semen.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Free Radical Processes, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Galina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nenkova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Rossen
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stefanov
authors.affiliation: Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Mihail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chervenkov
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Free Radical Processes, Institute of Neurobiology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: Albena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alexandrova
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D048430:Cell Shape / Q000187:drug effects*; D003676:Deferoxamine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005290:Ferric Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D034421:Sus scrofa
chemical_list: D005290:Ferric Compounds; C024823:ferric sulfate; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D003676:Deferoxamine
keywords: Desferal; lipid peroxidation; oxidative stress; sperm morphology; sperm motility