The Beneficial Effects of Pterostilbene on Post-Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa.

Simple Summary: The present study was designed to investigate the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound found in fruits and red wine, on bovine sperm quality characteristics. The spermatozoon was safely handled in the laboratory before subjecting it to Assisted Reproductive Techniques, such as in vitro fertilization, which generates free radicals that might negatively affect structural integrity and fertilizing capacity. An approved approach to protect spermatozoa is the supplementation of the media with exogenous antioxidants. The multiple benefits and pleiotropic actions of antioxidants make them scientifically interesting and popular. In this study, the effect of two different concentrations (10 μΜ and 25 μΜ) of pterostilbene have been tested during two incubation periods, 60 min and 240 min, after thawing. The addition of 25 μM pterostilbene in the bovine sperm preparation media had advantageous effects on motility, viability, intracellular superoxide anion concentration, and acrosomal status of spermatozoa. Thus, the role of pterostilbene seems potentially beneficial for spermatozoa and should be further investigated. Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), primarily produced by cellular metabolism, are highly reactive molecules that modify cellular compounds. During sperm preparation in Assisted Reproductive Techniques (ARTs), intrinsic and extrinsic sources of ROS can impact spermatozoa's oxidative status. The modification of the media with compounds that enhance sperm quality characteristics is of great significance. The current study investigated the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound, on bovine sperm quality. Cryopreserved spermatozoa from six bulls were thawed, supplemented with pterostilbene (0, 10 μΜ, 25 μΜ) and incubated for 60 min and 240 min. Spermatozoa were analyzed in terms of motility, viability, acrosomal status and intracellular concentration of superoxide anion in each time point. The incubation of spermatozoa with 25 μΜ pterostilbene resulted in the preservation of quality parameters through superoxide anion mitigation, while its presence in capacitating conditions resulted in higher percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa. The results of the present study indicate that the addition of pterostilbene prevents oxidative insult to spermatozoa and preserves the sperm quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]