The effect of L-carnitine on ram epididymal sperm motility parameters during preserving in HTF medium with CASA
Keivan Abdy
1
(Department of Clinical Sciences, Urmia Branch, Islamic Azad University, Urmia, Iran)
Sina Azoon
2
(گروه علوم درمانگاهی دامپزشکی،واحد ارومیه،دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی، ارومیه،ایران)
الکلمات المفتاحية: ", Ram, ", Sperm, ", L-carnitine, ", HTF, ", CASA",
ملخص المقالة :
L-carnitine as an endogenous amino acid is very effective in preventing programmed cell death. Also, as an antioxidant, it protects the DNA structure against reactive oxygen species. L-carnitine also increases the activity and amount of antioxidant enzymes. In this research, immediately after Islamic slaughter, 20 pairs of mature ram testicles were collected from Urmia industrial slaughterhouse. The samples were transferred to the faculty laboratory in a cool box. After cleaning and drying the testes from blood, a cut was made in the areas without capillaries on the tail of the epididymis. The sperms were transferred to microtubes containing HTF (Human Tubal Fluid) culture medium with 10% bovine serum albumin. After preparing a dilution of 30 to 50 million sperm per ml of HTF, 5 levels of L-carnitine (2-4-6-8-10 mM) were added to the medium. Then the samples were kept in the refrigerator at 5 degrees Celsius for up to 36 hours. At 1, 12, 24, and 36 hours, sperm motility pattern was evaluated with CASA. Statistical results showed that the amino acid L-carnitine at the level of 6-8-10 mmol and in 24 and 36 hours caused a clear and significant increase in the motility indices of ram epididymal sperm compared to the control (p<0.05).
