Effect of 2, 4 dinitrophenol as a targeted antioxidant on Ghezel ram sperm on functional quality performance after freeze-thawing process of semen on non-breeding season

Mitochondria as sperm energy supplier motors have unique properties including antioxidant non-permeability, so the ROS concentration in this organelle is 5 to 10 times more than that of the plasma membrane. Therefore, the researchers have designed an antioxidant which can cross the mitochondrial membrane and is able to inhibit ROS in this organelle to minimize the oxidative damage. Targeted antioxidant 4, 2-dinitrophenol has the ability to cross the mitochondrial membrane. The purpose of this study was to add different levels of targeted antioxidant to semen to purify mitochondria from reactive oxygen species to reduce oxidative damage and improve sperm motility and viability. In this study, 8 Ghezel rams (2 years old) were used for semen collection by artificial vagina in early spring. After initial evaluation, the samples with normal properties were pooled and after dilution process, 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 nM 4, 2-dinitrophenol were added to the samples and frozen after 2 hours of cooling. After one month, samples were thawed and evaluated for motility parameters, viability, membrane health, sperm abnormality and lipid peroxidation. Results showed that addition of 0.5 nM of the antioxidant significantly increased motility parameters and decreased abnormal sperm (P <0.05). Also suplimentation of 0.5, 0.75 nM 4, 2-dinitrophenol significantly increased viability and membrane integrity and reduced the amount of lipid peroxidation (P <0.05).