Effect of the addition of six antioxidants on sperm motility, membrane integrity and mitochondrial function in red seabream (Pagrus major) sperm cryopreservation

The present study was to evaluate the effects of six antioxidants on frozen-thawed sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrial function in red seabream (Pagrus major) by computer-assisted sperm analysis system and flow cytometry, respectively. All the parameters tested in this study were determined using one-way ANOVA and identified using the SNK test (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated that on the first day, the highest motility and longevity occurred in 100 mM trehalose (78.34 +/- 3.41 %, 29 +/- 4.00 days) and 50 mM taurine (77.46 +/- 1.54 %, 29.33 +/- 4.04 days), followed by 25 mM vitamin C (79.03 +/- 5.37 %, 17 +/- 1.00 days), 25 mM vitamin E (69.64 +/- 1.64 %, 27.67 +/- 1.53 days) and 25 mM vitamin A (78.89 +/- 2.81 %, 9.33 +/- 1.53 days), which were all higher than frozen-thawed sperm without antioxidant (control) (66.80 +/- 5.55, 5.67 +/- 1.15 days). Especially, the percentages of class A sperm with the addition of 100 mM trehalose (40.39 +/- 5.20 %) and 50 mM taurine (37.78 +/- 3.22 %) were significantly improved compared to the control (19.63 +/- 5.44 %). The viability of all groups on the third and sixth day showed a similar trend. Moreover, during the 4 degrees C storage process, the decrease of frozen-thawed sperm motility was closely associated with the decrease in membrane integrity and mitochondrial function. In conclusion, the present study indicated that antioxidant (100 mM trehalose and 50 mM taurine) provided the most pronounced protective effect in improving frozen-thawed quality of red seabream sperm. The addition of antioxidant may be capable of scavenging the ROS generated during the cryopreservation process and 4 degrees C storage.