Effects of canthaxanthin on sperm parameters during human sperm freeze-thaw process

Background: Sperm cryopreservation has detrimental effects on sperm parameters. In order to reduce these adverse effects, various strategies have been proposed including the use of antioxidant during cryopreservation.Objective: The main goal was to evaluate the effect of canthaxanthin on preservation of sperm motility, viability, morphology, acrosome reaction, sperm chromatin packaging, and DNA integrity during freeze-thaw process.Materials and Methods: Twenty-five normozoospermic semen samples were collected. After initial evaluation, samples were processed by direct swim-up. Before cryopreservation, all sperm parameters including motility, viability (eosin-nigrosin), morphology (Papanicolau), chromatin packaging (aniline blue and toluidine blue) and DNA denaturation (acridine orange) and fragmentation (sperm chromatin dispersion test) were evaluated. Then, each sample was divided into five groups including 0, 0.1μM, 1μM, 10μM and 25μM of canthaxanthin. Samples were frozen by rapid freezing technique. The spermatozoa were thawed and all sperm parameters were re-examined.Results: All sperm parameters after freeze-thaw process significantly decreased compared to before freezing. But, despite this reduction, antioxidant supplementation has been able to improve sperm parameters. 25μM group could significantly improve the progressive and total motility, viability, normal morphology, chromatin packaging, acrosome integrity and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. 10μM group significantly improved total motility, viability, normal morphology, chromatin packaging, acrosome integrity and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. Whereas, in 1μM group there were significantly differences only in improvement of acrosome integrity, chromatin packaging (toluidine blue) and DNA denaturation and fragmentation. But, in 0.1μM group, there was no significant differences in any of measured parameters.Conclusion: It seems canthaxanthin can protect the sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, normal morphology, and DNA integrity during cryopreservation.

Keywords:

Cryopreservation , Sperm , Antioxidant , Canthaxanthin