Effect of L-carnitine on sperm quality during liquid storage of boar semen

• Published in: Asian-australasian journal of animal sciences Vol. 33; no. 11; pp. 1763 - 1769
• Main Authors: Yang, Kang, Wang, Na, Guo, Hai-Tao, Wang, Jing-Ran, Sun, Huan-Huan, Sun, Liang-Zhen, Yue, Shun-Li, Zhou, Jia-Bo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: Korean
• Published: 2020
• Subjects: Boar; Sperm; Antioxidant Capacity; Liquid Storage; L-carnitine
• ISSN: 1011-2367; 1976-5517

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the pig semen characteristics during storage. Methods: Spermatozoa samples were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 5 groups: 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM L-carnitine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and antioxidant parameters (total reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) were evaluated after 0, 3, 5, and 10 day cooled-storage at 17℃. Moreover, ATP content, mitochondria activity as well as sperm-binding and in vitro fertilizing ability of preserved boar sperm were also investigated. Results: Supplementation with 50 mM L-carnitine could effectively maintain boar sperm quality parameters such as sperm motility and membrane integrity. Besides, we found that L-carnitine had positive effects on boar sperm quality mainly through improving antioxidant capacities and enhancing ATP content and mitochondria activity. Interestingly, by assessing the effect of L-carnitine on sperm fertility and developmental potential, we discovered that the extender containing L-carnitine could improve sperm quality and increase the number of sperms bounding to zona pellucida, without improving in vitro fertility and development potential. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the proper addition of L-carnitine to the semen extender improved boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17℃.