Supplementation of sperm cryopreservation media with cell permeable superoxide dismutase mimetic agent (MnTE) improves goat blastocyst formation

The aim of this study was to assess whether a cell permeable superoxide dismutase agent such as MnTE, can further improve the quality of frozen/thawed semen sample using a commercially optimized sperm cryopreservation media (Bioxcell). Bioxcell was supplemented with different concentration of MnTE. Sperm membrane integrity, motility, viability and acrosomal status were assessed after freezing. Optimized concentration of MnTE was defined and used to assess fertilization and developmental potential. 0.1 μM MnTE significantly improved membrane integrity while 0.01 μM MnTE significantly improved acrosomal integrity post thawing. Addition of 0.01 μM MnTE also improved blastocyst formation rate. Supplementation of commercially optimized cryopreservation media with MnTE further improves the quality of goat frozen semen sample and may have important consequence of future embryo development. This effect may be attributed to cell permeable behavior of this antioxidant which may protect sperm genome from ROS-induced DNA damage.