Abstract

Changes in the plasma membrane lipid composition have been related to a decrease in sperm quality during cryopreservation. Antifreeze proteins (AFPs) have been tested in different species because of their ability to depress the freezing point and their potential interaction with membranes, but controversial effects were reported. In the present study we analyzed separately the lipid composition of two sperm membrane domains, head (HM) and flagellar (FM) membrane, after cryopreservation with an extender containing 5% DMSO either alone or with AFPI or AFPIII (1μg/ml). We used sperm from a teleost, Sparus aurata, because the lack of acrosome avoids changes of lipid profiles due to capacitation process or acrosomal losses during freezing/thawing. Comparing with the control (cryopreservation with 5% DMSO alone) the addition of AFPIII increased the velocity, linearity of movement and the percentage of viable cells. In addition, freezing with DMSO alone increased the phosphatidyl-serine content, as well as the saturated fatty acids and decreased the unsaturated ones (mainly PUFA) both in HM and FM. These changes in the lipid components were highly avoided with the addition of AFPIII. HM had a higher amount of saturated fatty acids than FM and was more affected by cryopreservation without AFPs. The percentage of viable cells was positively correlated with the amount of unsaturated fatty acids in the HM whereas the motility parameters were positively correlated with both FM and HM amount of unsaturated fatty acids. AFPs, especially AFPIII, seem to have interacted with unsaturated fatty acids stabilizing the plasma membrane organization during cryopreservation and contributing to improve sperm quality after thawing.

Autore Pugliese

• Vilella Sebastiano , Zilli Loredana

Tutti gli autori

• Beirão J. , Zilli L. , Vilella S. , Cabrita E. , Schiavone R. , Herráez M.P.

Titolo volume/Rivista

BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION

Anno di pubblicazione

2012

ISSN

0006-3363

ISBN

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Wos

Nessuna citazione

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

Non Disponibile

Numero di citazioni Scopus

28

Ultimo Aggiornamento Citazioni

28/04/2018

Settori ERC

Non Disponibile

Codici ASJC

Non Disponibile