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Journal of Integrative Agriculture  2016, Vol. 15 Issue (10): 2326-2335    DOI: 10.1016/S2095-3119(16)61402-8
Animal Science · Veterinary Science Advanced Online Publication | Current Issue | Archive | Adv Search |
Sperm pretreatment with glutathione improves IVF embryos development through increasing the viability and antioxidative capacity of sex-sorted and unsorted bull semen
HU Ting-xi1, 2, ZHU Hua-bin2, SUN Wei-jun2, HAO Hai-sheng2, ZHAO Xue-ming2, DU Wei-hua2, WANG Zong-li1
1 College of Animal Science and Technology, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, P.R.China
2 Embryo Biotechnology and Reproduction Laboratory, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, P.R.China
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Abstract      The antioxidant of reduced glutathione (GSH) is the most abundant thiol in cells for the maintenance of the intracellular redox balance. The study aimed to assay the effect of sperm treatment with GSH before incubation with oocytes on the development potential of embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization (IVF). Also the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), plasma membrane integrity (viability), DNA fragmentation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) level as indices of lipid peroxidation in sex-sorted and unsorted sperm from three bulls were investigated using flow cytometry and enzyme-labeled instrument individually. The results showed that 2 mmol L–1 GSH increased significantly the cleavage rate (86.68% vs. 82.78%), 4- to 8-cell rate (82.30% vs. 73.43%) and blastocyst rate (43.15% vs. 35.24%) of IVF embryos compared with untreated group. Furthermore, addition of GSH increased significantly the ΔΨm and viability, decreased the ratio of DNA fragmentation in sex-sorted or unsorted semen (P<0.05), except the sex-sorted semen from bull 019. Similarly, activities of SOD, CAT and GPx were increased significantly. However, the contents of MDA were decreased significantly both in sex-sorted and unsorted semen treated with GSH (P<0.05). These results suggest that sperm pretreatment with GSH during IVF can maintain better the viability and fertility of sperm through reducing apoptosis and increasing the antioxidant capacity, which improves the IVF embryos development.
Keywords:  GSH        apoptosis        antioxidant enzymes        unsorted semen       sex-sorted semen  
Received: 22 March 2016   Accepted:
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This work was partially supported by the grants from the National Science and Technology Support Program of China (2012BAD12B01), the Basic Research Fund of Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences (2013ywf-zd-2), the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Program, China (ASTIP-IAS06), and the China Agriculture Research System (CARS-37).

Corresponding Authors:  WANG Zong-li, Tel/Fax: +86-931-7632148, E-mail: Wangzongli@sina.com; DU Wei-hua, Tel: +86-10- 62815892, Fax: +86-10-62815351, E-mail: dwh@iascaas.net.cn   
About author:  HU Ting-xi, Mobile: +86-15300198828, E-mail: htx19871005@126.com

Cite this article: 

HU Ting-xi, ZHU Hua-bin, SUN Wei-jun, HAO Hai-sheng, ZHAO Xue-ming, DU Wei-hua, WANG Zong-li. 2016. Sperm pretreatment with glutathione improves IVF embryos development through increasing the viability and antioxidative capacity of sex-sorted and unsorted bull semen. Journal of Integrative Agriculture, 15(10): 2326-2335.

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