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Background and Aim: Sperm cryopreservation is an important assisted reproductive technique. However, due to increased production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative stress, it can impair sperm function and reduce quality of fertility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of nicotinic acid and folic acid on maintenance of sperm function during cryopreservation by evaluation of sperm parameters and chromatin concentration. Material and Methods: Thirty samples were collected from normozoospermic men and examined for chromatin quality, viability, membrane integrity, morphology and motility. The samples were frozen and placed in 4 groups: control, folic acid (50 nM), nicotinic acid (10 mM) and a combination of both. After cryopreservation, the four groups were compared with one another in regard to the sperm parameters. Also the sperm parameters were compared before and after freezing in every group. We assessed chromatin quality by TB staining, viability by eosin-nigrosin staining, membrane integrity by hypo osmotic swelling test, and morphology and movement by CASA software. Results: Before cryopreservation chromatin quality, membrane integrity, normal morphology, sperm motility were lower and immotile sperms were higher in all groups compared to those after cryopreservation (p

Background and aim: Cryopreservation is one of the common techniques in the management of infertility, which can damage the sperm cell and its function by producing reactive oxygen species. To determine health and fertility of cryopreserved sperm, we evaluated different markers in infertile men. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of biotin and folic acid on motility, viablity, shape, chromatin density and membrane integrity of cryopreserved and thawed sperm in normozoospermic men. Material and Method: In this experimental study, 30 samples were collected from normozoospermic men. Every sample included fresh pre-cryopreservation group, cryopreserved control groups, biotin (10 mM), folic acid (50 nM), and combination of biotin (10 mM) and folic acid (50 nM) groups. Sperms were frozen for two weeks using the usual freezing technique at -196 ° C and then thawed. Samples were evaluated for motility before and after freezing using computer-aided sperm analysis software. We assessed sperm viability by eosin-negrosin staining, chromatin density by toluidine blue staining and membrane integrity by hypo osmotic swelling test. Results: Before cryopreservation, motility, viability, chromatin density, sperm membrane integrity were higher and the number of immotile sperms were lower in all groups (p

Background: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are of the most important detrimental factors on sperm quality during freezing process, which increases the lipid peroxidation (LPO) of cell membranes. In this study, the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in semen of men with oligospermia before and after cryopreservation process was measured to evaluate the effect of folic acid and nicotinic acid on the MDA concentration after freezing. Methods: In this experimental study, semen fluid sample was collected from 25 men with oligospermia in age range of 25-45 years. Each sample was divided into 5 groups: Fresh group, Freeze group without antioxidants (control), Freeze group with nicotinic acid (10 mM), Freeze group with folic acid (50 nM), and Freeze group with a combination of nicotinic acid (10 mm) + folic acid (50 nM). The concentration of MDA in nmol/ml was measured in each group with spectrophotometer at 535 nm. Findings: The mean concentration of MDA in semen increased after freezing (1.73 ± 0.12) compared to before freezing (0.45 ± 0.02) (P < 0.001). Mean concentration of MDA in the group of folic acid + nicotinic acid (0.68 ± 0.06) was lower compared to other groups after freezing (P ± 0.001). Conclusion: The combination of folic acid and nicotinic acid antioxidants with sperm freezing medium reduces the level of MDA and LPO of sperm membrane during freezing process, and thereby maintains the fertility potential in men with oligospermia.