Aquaporin expression in cryopreserved human sperm: exploring the capabilities of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADEs).

BACKGROUND: Aquaporins (AQPs) are essential proteins that facilitate the rapid movement of water and cryoprotective agents (CPAs) during the cryopreservation process, and ensure the cryo-tolerance of sperm cells. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the preservation of aquaporin levels in human sperm after undergoing freezing using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) as CPAs for cryoprotection. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From June 2021 to October 2022, 35 semen samples with normal sperm parameters were acquired from the Mehr Infertility Treatment Institute in Rasht, Iran. The samples were divided into several groups for analysis: control group (not frozen), group frozen with SpermFreeze Solution, and groups frozen with different NADESs, including ChS, ChX, ChU, ChG, GlyP, and EtP. After thawing, various aspects for each group were assessed, including the integrity and condensation of sperm chromatin, viability, motility, integrity of acrosome, and the expression of AQP1, AQP3, AQP7, AQP8, and AQP9 genes. RESULTS: The analysis of gene expression revealed that freezing with ChS and GlyP preserved the expression of the AQP1 and AQP3 genes compared to the control group. Regarding AQP7 and AQP8, significant differences were not observed in expression levels between certain NADES groups (e.g., ChS, ChU, and GlyP) and the control group. Additionally, samples frozen with specific NADESs, such as ChS, ChG, EtP, and GlyP, exhibited preserved levels of AQP9 expression when compared to the control group. CONCLUSION: These findings emphasize the importance of NADES in preserving the expression of aquaporins in cryopreserved human sperm and their important fertility parameters. Doi.org/10.54680/fr24310110512.

Caudal epidural injection of lidocaine, tramadol, and lidocaine-tramadol for epidural anesthesia in cattle.

Caudal epidural anesthesia is commonly utilized in veterinary medicine to allow diagnostic, obstetrical, and surgical intervention, in the perineal region of large animal. The aim of this study is to directly compare the time of onset and duration of analgesia produced by a tramadol and lidocaine-tramadol combination with that produced by lidocaine administration in the epidural space of Cattle. Five healthy adult Holstein dairy cows were selected to this study. Epidural anesthesia was produced in all cows by lidocaine, with 2 weeks intervals repeated by a combination of lidocaine-tramadol and tramadol. Time to onset and duration of analgesia were recorded. Heart rate, respiratory rate and body temperature were recorded at 0 min and at 5, 10, 15, 30, 60, and 75 min after the epidural administrations of each treatments. The tramadol produced a significant (P < 0.05) longer duration of analgesia (306.8 ± 8.58 min) than lidocaine (69.40 ± 8.96 min) alone and lidocaine-tramadol combination (174 ± 4.84 min). Also, lidocaine-tramadol combination produced a significant (P < 0.05) longer duration of analgesia than lidocaine alone. Complete analgesia began at 14.10 ± 1.57 min in the tramadol treatment, being more delayed than in the treatments with lidocaine-tramadol (4.84 ± 0.68 min) and lidocaine (3.90 ± 0.89 min). Body temperatures, heart rates, and respiratory rates were not significantly different in comparison with baseline values throughout the study in the all treatments. The combination of lidocaine-tramadol produced anesthesia of longer duration than lidocaine and the onset time was approximately same as for the lidocaine group. Utilizing this combination, long duration of anesthesia could commence relatively soon after epidural injection and might be used without re-administration of anesthetic agent in long-duration obstetrical and surgical procedures.