L-carnitine Supplemented Extender Improves Cryopreserved-thawed Cat Epididymal Sperm Motility

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Cryobiology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Cryopreservation of epididymal sperm is vital for preserving genetic material in felids.
• Cryopreservation can cause sperm damage, including oxidative stress and physical injury.
• L-carnitine, an antioxidant, shows promise for improving sperm quality in various species.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of L-carnitine supplementation on cat epididymal sperm quality after cryopreservation and thawing.
• To determine the optimal concentration of L-carnitine for improving sperm parameters.

Main Methods:

• Epididymal sperm were collected from 60 cat testes and pooled into 16 replicates.
• Sperm samples were divided into four groups: 0 mM, 12.5 mM, 25 mM, and 50 mM L-carnitine.
• Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, and acrosome integrity were evaluated post-thawing.

Main Results:

• A concentration of 25 mM L-carnitine significantly improved sperm motility compared to the control group (p<0.05).
• No significant differences in sperm quality were observed at other L-carnitine concentrations.
• Further research is needed to examine L-carnitine's effects on oxidative stress during cryopreservation.

Conclusions:

• Supplementation with 25 mM L-carnitine in the freezing extender enhances the motility of cryopreserved epididymal cat spermatozoa.
• L-carnitine shows potential as a cryoprotective agent for felid sperm preservation.