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The effects of sericin on cryopreserved sperm cells and subsequent embryo development in mice
Ghasemi, Mona; Farshad, Abbas; Hajarian, Hadi; Banafshi, Omid; Asadollahi, Vahideh & Fathi, Fardin
Abstract
Background: Sericin, because of its ability to remove free radicals and its
antioxidant properties, has been used to successfully cryopreserve various
mammalian cell types. However, the effects of sericin on cryopreservation of mouse
sperm has not been reported.
Objective: The current study intended to determine the protective role of different
concentrations of sericin (0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75%) on mouse spermatozoa during
cryopreservation, in addition to its effect on in vitro fertilization and subsequent
embryo development.
Materials and Methods: Mouse sperm from epididymides were frozen in
cryoprotective agent with 18% raffinose, 3% skim milk, and different concentrations
of sericin (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75%). Thawed sperm were used for in vitro fertilization.
The obtained embryos were cultured in Ksom medium for 6 days. The post-thawed
motility, viability, fertilizing ability, and subsequent development to the 2-cell
embryo and blastocyst stages were evaluated.
Results: Our findings show that frozen-thawed sperm cells with 5% sericin indicate
significantly (p≤0.0001) percentages of survivability and motility, the best fertilizing
ability, as well as 2-cell embryo and blastocyst development compared to the other
treated groups. There was no significant difference in survivability (p=0.8781),
fertilizing ability (p=0.2458) and development of 2-cell (p=0.5136) and blastocysts
embryos (p=0.0896) between 0.75% sericin and control groups.
Conclusion: Supplementation by 0.5% sericin in cryoprotective agent improved
frozen-thawed mouse epididymal sperm cell quality and resulted in increased
embryo development.
Keywords
Cryopreservation; In vitro fertilization; Mouse; Sericin; Sperm.
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