Antioxidant Effect of a Polyphenol-Rich Murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz.) Extract and Its Effect on the Regulation of Metabolism in Refrigerated Boar Sperm

Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2019 Jun 3:2019:2917513. doi: 10.1155/2019/2917513. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in boar spermatozoa increases in refrigeration; this can have an impact on sperm quality and fertilization capacity. We evaluated the effect of polyphenol-rich aqueous extract of murtilla (Ugni molinae Turcz) on boar sperm stored at 17°C in order to reduce oxidative stress and improve sperm quality in the long term. Five experiments were performed: first, characterization of the polyphenol content from five genotypes of murtilla; second, determination of the genotype with the best antioxidant effect (MT-Ex); third, the antioxidant capacity on O2 - and lipid peroxidation; fourth, the influence of MT-Ex on motility, calcium movement, cAMP, and metabolic parameters; and fifth, analysis of long-term refrigeration. The average phenolic content was 344 ppm; gallic acid, catechin, quercetin, myricetin, and kaempferol were detected. All extracts evaluated presented a concentration-dependent antioxidant effect. MT-Ex reduces intracellular O2 -/peroxides but low lipid peroxidation. MT-Ex in nonstimulated ROS conditions reduces sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential, cAMP, and ATP, but the succinate dehydrogenase activity remained normal; also, we observed a reduction in calcium movement in in vitro sperm capacitation. The long-term analyses showed that MT-Ex improved sperm motility decay and reduced membrane damage and ROS at 168 h. Based on this study, we propose MT-Ex as a supplement in semen extenders.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antioxidants
  • Cryopreservation
  • Fruit / chemistry*
  • Male
  • Myrtaceae / chemistry*
  • Plant Extracts / pharmacology
  • Plant Extracts / therapeutic use*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Spermatozoa / drug effects*
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism
  • Swine

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Plant Extracts
  • Reactive Oxygen Species