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Oxidative profile and protease regulator potential to predict sperm functionality in donkey (Equus asinus).
Stefano Cecchini Gualandi1, Brunella Giangaspero2, Tommaso Di Palma1
1Department of Sciences, University of Basilicata, Campus Macchia Romana, 85100, Potenza, Italy.
Scientific Reports
|October 16, 2021
Summary
Donkey seminal plasma
Area of Science:
- Reproductive biology
- Biochemistry
- Animal science
Background:
- Seminal plasma (SP) contains biomarkers crucial for evaluating sperm quality.
- Oxidative stress and protease activity in SP can impact male fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between oxidative stress markers, protease/protease inhibitor activity, and sperm quality in donkey stallions.
- To assess the utility of these parameters in diagnosing fertility issues, including azoospermia.
Main Methods:
- Collected SP from nine normospermic and one azoospermic donkey stallion.
- Assessed oxidative stress parameters: free radical scavenging activity (FRSA), ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total thiol level (TTL), and nitrate/nitrite concentration (NOx).
- Evaluated protease and protease inhibitor activities.
Main Results:
- FRSA, FRAP, TAC, and TTL correlated highly with each other and protease inhibitor activity.
- FRAP, TAC, and NOx significantly correlated with sperm concentration, production, and kinetics.
- Protease inhibitor activity correlated with sperm concentration and production but not kinetics.
- The azoospermic stallion exhibited lower SP antioxidant activity (FRAP, TAC, TTL), higher NOx, and lower protease inhibitor activity.
Conclusions:
- SP oxidative profile (FRAP, TAC, NOx) reliably indicates donkey sperm quality.
- Protease inhibitor activity may serve as a marker for sperm concentration in donkeys.
