Effects of streptozotocin and S-allyl-L-cysteine on motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity of boar spermatozoa.

This study investigated the effects of streptozotocin (STZ) and S-allyl-L-cysteine (SAC) on motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity of the boar sperm. STZ (0, 10, 50, and 100 μM) and SAC (0, 1, 5, 25, and 100 μM) were treated alone and co-treated in the fresh boar semen. The motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity of sperm were analyzed at 3, 6, and 9 h after incubation. Boar semen was collected using the gloved-hand method from ten crossbred male pigs, and age of experimental ten male pigs is 24~27 months. The sperm plasma membrane integrity was analyzed using Live/Dead sperm kit. Mitochondrial activity was analyzed using rhodamine 123 and PI double-staining method. Additionally, sperm motility was evaluated according to standard method. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity were decreased in an STZ concentration-dependent manner (P < 0.05) and also were decreased by 10 μM STZ in all incubation times (P < 0.05). The motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity of the sperm were increased at 5 μM SAC treatment, whereas it was decreased at 100 μM treatment. In addition, sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and mitochondrial activity were increased when co-treated with 50 μM STZ and 5 μM SAC group at 9 h after incubation (P < 0.05). Based on our results, STZ has a deleterious effect on sperm characteristics, and SAC can protect sperm motility, viability, and function of the sperm exposed to STZ.