Lycopene and resveratrol improve post-thaw bull sperm parameters: sperm motility, mitochondrial activity and DNA integrity

Abstract

We focussed on evaluating the protective effect of lycopene and resveratrol on post-thaw bull sperm and oxidative stress parameters. Nine ejaculates for each bull were used in the study. Each ejaculate, splitted into three equal aliquots and diluted at 37 degrees C with base extenders containing lycopene (1x10(-3)gml(-1)) and resveratrol (1mm), and no antioxidant (control), was cooled to 5 degrees C and then frozen. Frozen straws were thawed in a water bath for evaluation. The supplementation of the semen extender with lycopene and resveratrol increased the percentages of post-thawed computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) motility (55.8 +/- 3.8 and 61.9 +/- 4.0%) and progressive motility (38 +/- 2.4 and 37 +/- 8.8), compared with the controls (50.7 +/- 2.65 and 33.3 +/- 3.74%, respectively, P<0.05). Resveratrol provided a higher ALH (4.3 +/- 0.1), in comparison with the control (3.9 +/- 0.3, P<0.05). The supplementation of the semen extender with lycopene and resveratrol produced a higher mitochondrial activity (24.6 +/- 2.9 and 30.1 +/- 6.5% respectively), compared with that of the control (11.8 +/- 9.5%, P<0.05). It was determined that both antioxidants resulted in a lower percentage of sperm with damaged DNA than that of the control (P<0.05). Sperm motion characteristics except for ALH, acrosome integrity, sperm viability and oxidative stress parameters were not affected by the adding of lycopene and resveratrol.