Effect of hydrogen peroxide on thawed ovine sperm motility

ABSTRACT

Oxidative stress, resulting from excessive levels of ROS in semen, has a negative impact on functional parameters and sperm fertility. In this study we examined the influence of the oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) in ovine sperm motility after thawing and catalase (CAT) ability to preserve sperm motility. Semen was incubated at 37 °C with 100 μM H 2 O 2 , 1 U catalase + 100 μM H 2 O 2 or no treatment, for 30 min. Immediately after adding treatments, sperm motility was determined by computer - assisted semen analysis (CASA). Incubation with H 2 O 2 led to a significant (P < 0.05) decrease in motility parameters whereas catalase prevented a decline in motility secondary to oxidative stress. After 30 min of incubation with H 2 O 2 , total motility (12.0% v s . control 73.0%, H 2 O 2 +CAT 70.0%), progressive motility (0.0% vs . control 19.0%, H 2 O 2 +CAT 19.0%) and rapid motility (1.0% v s . control 43.0%, H 2 O 2 +CAT 40.0%) decreased significantly ( P < 0. 05 ), whereas percentage of static cells increased (84.0% v s . control 18.0%, H 2 O 2 +CAT 20.0%). We conclude that H 2 O 2 causes damage to ovine sperm motility and that catalase is able to avoid detrimental effect of H 2 O 2 on sperm motility.