EFFECT OF Α-TOCOPHEROL ON SPERMATOZOA OF RAT SEMEN AFTER THE FREEZE-THAWING PROCESS

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, induced by the cryopreservation process, can be responsible for mammalian sperm damage. a-tocopherol is known as an effective antioxidant against oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant effects of a-tocopherol on count, motility, viability, TAC capacity, and DNA integrity rat spermatozoa during semen freezing process. Collected sperm from 10 adult rats were divided into 3 groups: fresh sperm, control and a-tocopherol (200 μM). After freezing-thawing, the number of spermatozoa, motility, viability, TAC capacity of the sperm was analyzed. DNA integrity was assessed by nuclear staining using acridine orange. After freezing-thawing, there was a significant increase in the motility, viability and sperm DNA integrity in a-tocopherol group compared to the control (p<0.05). Following cryopreservation, no significant differences were found in morphology and sperm count between groups. Based on our results, it is concluded that addition of a-tocopherol during freezing resulted in positive effects on sperm parameters after thawing in adult rats.