5-aminolevulinic acid improves drake post-thaw sperm quality via enhancing mitochondrial function

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Cryopreservation is vital for poultry genetic resources, but drake sperm quality declines post-thaw due to cryoinjury.
• Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress are key factors reducing sperm viability and fertilizing capacity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the protective effects of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) on drake sperm during cryopreservation.
• To determine the optimal concentration of 5-ALA for improving post-thaw sperm parameters.

Main Methods:

• Drake semen was cryopreserved with varying concentrations of 5-ALA (0, 100, 250, 500, 1000 μM).
• Post-thaw sperm quality was assessed by evaluating motility, acrosome integrity, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and lipid peroxidation (LPO).

Main Results:

• Supplementation with 500 μM 5-ALA significantly improved post-thaw sperm motility, acrosome integrity, and viability.
• 5-ALA treatment enhanced mitochondrial complex IV activity, MMP, and ATP levels, indicating improved energy metabolism.
• 5-ALA significantly reduced ROS, LPO, apoptosis, and DNA fragmentation, mitigating oxidative stress damage.

Conclusions:

• 5-ALA effectively protects drake sperm from cryopreservation damage by supporting mitochondrial function and reducing oxidative stress.
• Optimized 5-ALA supplementation enhances sperm viability and motility, improving cryopreservation efficiency for poultry genetic resources.