Cryopreservation of rabbit spermatozoa with freezing media supplemented with reduced and oxidised glutathione

This study researches the effects of supplementation with reduced glutathione (GSH, 0.5 mM) and oxidised glutathione (GSSG, 0.5 mM) freezing extenders on different semen parameters after equilibration with DMSO preservation solution (45 min at 5 degrees C) and post-thawing. The main findings that emerged from this study are that (i) addition of GSH and GSSG to the freezing media did not result in any improvement in functional sperm tests after equilibrium phase. (ii) No differences were observed after cryopreservation in functional sperm tests and embryo recovery rate. In conclusion, the addition of 0.5 mM GSH or GSSG appears not to play an important role in sperm antioxidant defence during cooling and freezing in rabbit spermatozoa.