Reproductive and Developmental Biology

The Korean Society of Animal Reproduction (한국동물번식학회)
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Effects of L-Carnitine during the Storage of Fresh Semen in Miniature Pigs

  • Lee, Yeon-Ju (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Lee, Sang-Hee (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Lee, Eunsong (College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Lee, Seung Tae (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Cheong, Hee-Tae (College of Veterinary Medicine, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Yang, Boo-Keun (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Lee, Seunghyung (Institute of Animal Resources, Kangwon National University) ;
  • Park, Choon-Keun (College of Animal Life Science, Kangwon National University)
  • Received : 2014.12.09
  • Accepted : 2014.12.15
  • Published : 2014.12.31
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Abstract

L-Carnitine is an antioxidant for the transport of fatty acids in mitochondria and breakdown of lipids for metabolic energy. Some studies have suggested that carnitine improves sperm motility in mammals. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the characteristics in fresh semen of miniature pigs. The collected fresh semen was stored in modena B medium with L-carnitine (0, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 mg/ml) for 10 days at $18^{\circ}C$. The semen quality of viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondria integrity was analyzed on 0, 3, 7, and 10 day of semen storage. The percentages of live and dying sperm were not different among treatment groups with different concentrations of L-carnitine during the storage period. In acrosome reaction analysis, when the sperm stored for 7 day, the percentages of live sperm with acrosome reaction were significantly (p<0.05) lower in 1 ($9.0{\pm}0.9%$), 2 ($7.6{\pm}0.2%$) or 4 mg/ml ($7.9{\pm}0.8%$) L-carnitine-treated groups than the control group (0 mg/ml L-carnitine) ($11.12{\pm}0.2%$). However, there were no difference in percentages of live sperm with acrosome reaction for 3 and 10 days of storage with each concentrations of L-carnitine. When sperm was stored for 3 and 10 days, the percentages of live sperm with mitochondria integrity were significantly higher in 2 mg/ml of L-carnitine-treated group than control group (p<0.05). In conclusion, the L-carnitine has a positive effect on acrosome reaction and mitochondria integrity in liquid state of fresh semen in miniature pigs.

Keywords

References

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