PROTECTIVE EFFECTS OF GLUTATHIONE SUPPLEMENTATION AGAINST OXIDATIVE STRESS DURING CRYOPRESERVATION OF HUMAN SPERMATOZOA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Freeze damage is one of the most important factors which impair the membrane and DNA integrity of sperm cells. OBJECTIVE: The present study aims to investigate glutathione (GSH) supplementation on human spermatozoa cryopreservation. We determined sperm motility and viability, sperm lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and the amount of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and superoxide (O(2)(-)). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty pooled semen samples were freeze with 5mM GSH for 10 minute (test) and without GSH as control and stored in liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: After thawing, cryovials supplemented with 5mM GSH led to higher sperm viability compared with control samples (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the addition of 5mM GSH decreased sperm lipid peroxidation, DNA fragmentation, and H(2)O(2) and O(2)(-) content compared with controls (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: GSH can be a good free radical scavenger in the freezing media and can support function of sperm cell after a cycle of freezing and thawing.