Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 University of Tabriz

2 Department of Animal Science

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of different levels of zinc sulfate on improving the quality of ram semen during freeze-thawing process outside of the reproductive season. Semen samples were collected from five Ghezel ram twice a week using the artificial vagina. Sperm samples were assigned to four treatment groups including: control, 17.5, 35 and 52.5 μm zinc sulfate, and then the freezing process was performed. After thawing motility, morphology and malondialdehyde levels of sperm were studied. Total and progressive motility of sperm containing the 17.5 µmol/ml zinc sulfate were significantly higher than control group (P <0.05). There was a significant difference in sperm morphology in the group receiving 52.5 μmol of zinc sulfate compared to the control group, which caused 52.5% increase in abnormal sperm (P <0.05). Adding 17.5 μmol of zinc sulfate increased unsignificantly the viability of sperms compared to the control group, but adding 35 and 52.5 μmol decreased significantly (P <0.05). The level of malondialdehyde production in the 35 µmol was lower than the other treatment groups and the control group and there was a significant difference between the groups 17.5 and 35 in comparison with the control group (P <0.05). Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of 17.5 and 35 µmol Zinc sulfate in Ghezel ram diluent semen improves some of the parameters of the sperm after the freeze-thawing process.

Keywords

صادقپور، س، قاسم‌زاده، ع، نوری، م، دانایی، ش، نژادبرنجی، ح ق.، 1393. بررسی تأثیر درمان‌های آنتی‌اکسیداتیو بر رویDNAفراگمانتاسیون اسپرم و نتایج بارداری در IUI.مجله پزشکی ارومیه 25، 1050-1059.
فرهادی، ف، توحیدی، ا، شاکری، م. 1393. اثرافزودن سطوح متفاوت سولفات روی به رقیق‌کنندة منی بر کیفیت اسپرم گاو پس از انجماد-ذوب. علوم دامی ایران 45، 335-342.
Agarwal, A., Gupta, S., Sikka, S. (2006). The role of free radicals and antioxidants in reproduction. Curr. Opin. Obstet. Gynecol. 18: 325-332.
Aitken, R.J. (1995). Free radicals, lipid peroxidation and sperm function. Reproduction, Fertility and Development. 7: 659-668.
Alavi-Shoushtari, S., Rezai, S.A., Kh Ansari, M., Khaki, A. (2009). Effects of the seminal plasma zinc content and catalase activity on the semen quality of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) bulls. Pak. J. Biol. Sci. 12: 134-139.
Arabi, M. (2005). Antioxidant effect of manganese on human spermatosoa treated in the different conditions comparision with zinc, nickle, and trolox. Iranian Journal of Biology. 17: 316-332.
Bansal, A.K., Bilaspuri, G. (2011). Impacts of oxidative stress and antioxidants on semen functions. Vet. Med. Int. 2011.
Barratt, C.L., Aitken, R.J., Björndahl, L., Carrell, D.T., de Boer, P., Kvist, U., Lewis, S.E., Perreault, S.D., Perry, M.J., Ramos, L. (2010). Sperm DNA: organization, protection and vulnerability: from basic science to clinical applications—a position report. Hum. Reprod. 25: 824-838.
Bedwal, R., Bahuguna, A. (1994). Zinc, copper and selenium in reproduction. Experientia. 50: 626-640.
Calamera, J., Fernandez, P., Buffone, M., Acosta, A., Doncel, G. (2001). Effects of longterm in vitro incubation of human spermatozoa: functional parameters and catalase effect. Andrologia. 33: 79-86.
Carpino, A., Siciliano, L., Petroni, M., De Stefano, C., Aquila, S., Ando, S., Petrone, M. (1998). Low seminal zinc bound to high molecular weight proteins in asthenozoospermic patients: evidence of increased sperm zinc content in oligoasthenozoospermic patients. Human reproduction (Oxford, England). 13: 111-114.
Dissanayake, D., Wijesinghe, P., Ratnasooriya, W., Wilmalasena, S., Palihawadana, T. (2008). Effects of different Zinc levels in the sperm culture medium on sperm recovery and quality of sperms in the swim up procedure for sperm processing. Ceylon J Med Sci. 49.
Ebisch, I., Thomas, C., Peters, W., Braat, D., Steegers-Theunissen, R. (2006). The importance of folate, zinc and antioxidants in the pathogenesis and prevention of subfertility. Human reproduction update. 13: 163-174.
Egwurugwu, J., Ifedi, C., Uchefuna, R., Ezeokafor, E., Alagwu, E. (2013). Effects of zinc on male sex hormones and semen quality in rats. Niger. J. Physiol. Sci. 28: 17-22.
Eickhoff, R., Baldauf, C., Koyro, H.-W., Wennemuth, G., Suga, Y., Seitz, J., Henkel, R., Meinhardt, A. (2004). Influence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) on the zinc content and redox state of protein-bound sulphydryl groups in rat sperm: indications for a new role of MIF in sperm maturation. Mol. Hum. Reprod. 10: 605-611.
Hida, H., Coudray, C., Calop, J., Favier, A. (1995). Effect of antioxidants on adriamycin-induced microsomal lipid peroxidation. Biol. Trace Elem. Res. 47: 111-116.
Hidiroglou, M., Knipfel, J. (1984). Zinc in Mammalian Sperm: A Review1. J. Dairy Sci. 67: 1147-1156.
Kendall, N., McMullen, S., Green, A., Rodway, R. (2000). The effect of a zinc, cobalt and selenium soluble glass bolus on trace element status and semen quality of ram lambs. Anim. Reprod. Sci. 62: 277-283.
Kotdawala, A.P., Kumar, S., Salian, S.R., Thankachan, P., Govindraj, K., Kumar, P., Kalthur, G., Adiga, S.K. (2012). Addition of zinc to human ejaculate prior to cryopreservation prevents freeze-thaw-induced DNA damage and preserves sperm function. J. Assist. Reprod. Genet. 29: 1447-1453.
Kumar, N., Verma, R.P., Singh, L.P., Varshney, V.P., Dass, R.S. (2006). Effect of different levels and sources of zinc supplementation on quantitative and qualitative semen attributes and serum testosterone level in crossbred cattle (Bos indicus Bos taurus) bulls. Reprod. Nutr. Dev. 46: 663-675.
Kumar, P., Yadav, B., Yadav, S. (2014). Effect of zinc and selenium supplementation on semen quality of Barbari bucks. Indian J Anim Res. 48: 366-369.
KVIST, U., BJÖRNDAHL, L. (1985). Zinc preserves an inherent capacity for human sperm chromatin decondensation. Acta physiologica. 124: 195-200.
Mehdipour, M., Kia, H.D., Najafi, A., Dodaran, H.V., Garcia-Alvarez, O. (2016). Effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) extract and pre-freezing equilibration time on the post-thawing quality of ram semen cryopreserved in a soybean lecithin-based extender. Cryobiology. 73: 297-303.
Mehdipour, M., Kia, H.D., Nazari, M., Najafi, A. (2017). Effect of lecithin nanoliposome or soybean lecithin supplemented by pomegranate extract on post-thaw flow cytometric, microscopic and oxidative parameters in ram semen. Cryobiology.
Najafi, A., Daghigh-Kia, H., Dodaran, H.V., Mehdipour, M., Alvarez-Rodriguez, M. (2017). Ethylene glycol, but not DMSO, could replace glycerol inclusion in soybean lecithin-based extenders in ram sperm cryopreservation. Animal reproduction science. 177: 35-41.
Najafi, A., Zhandi, M., Towhidi, A., Sharafi, M., Akbari Sharif, A., Khodaei Motlagh, M., Martinez-Pastor, F. (2013). Trehalose and glycerol have a dose-dependent synergistic effect on the post-thawing quality of ram semen cryopreserved in a soybean lecithin-based extender. Cryobiology. 66: 275-282.
Ohkawa, H., Ohishi, N., Yagi, K. (1979). Assay for lipid peroxides in animal tissues by thiobarbituric acid reaction. Anal. Biochem. 95: 351-358.
Omu, A., Al-Azemi, M., Kehinde, E., Anim, J., Oriowo, M., Mathew, T. (2008). Indications of the mechanisms involved in improved sperm parameters by zinc therapy. Med. Princ. Pract. 17: 108-116.
Prasad, A.S. (1995). Zinc: an overview. Nutrition (Burbank, Los Angeles County, Calif.). 11: 93-99.
Riffo, M., Leiva, S., Astudillo, J. (1992). Effect of zinc on human sperm motility and the acrosome reaction. Int. J. Androl. 15: 229-237.
Tharwat, E., 1998. The use of zinc sulfate to improve semen characteristics and fertility of New Zealand white rabbit bucks during hot season, Proceeding of the Seventh Conference of Agricultural.
Wong, W.Y., Flik, G., Groenen, P.M., Swinkels, D.W., Thomas, C.M., Copius-Peereboom, J.H., Merkus, H.M., Steegers-Theunissen, R.P. (2001). The impact of calcium, magnesium, zinc, and copper in blood and seminal plasma on semen parameters in men. Reprod. Toxicol. 15: 131-136.
Zago, M.P., Oteiza, P.I. (2001). The antioxidant properties of zinc: interactions with iron and antioxidants. Free Radic. Biol. Med. 31: 266-274.
Zhang, X.-D., Chen, M.-Y., Gao, Y., Han, W., Liu, D.-Y., Huang, G.-N. (2011). The effects of different sperm preparation methods and incubation time on the sperm DNA fragmentation. Hum. Fertil. 14: 187-191.