Coenzyme Q10 and α-Tocopherol Prevent the Lipid Peroxidation of Cooled Equine Semen.

This research investigates how adding coenzyme Q10 and α-tocopherol to the cooling process of equine semen can improve sperm parameters and prevent lipid oxidation. It shows that these additions enhance the total motility of the sperm, making the biotechnological application more effective.

Research Methodology

• The study began with ten adult stallions that had proven fertility. Each stallion provided two ejaculates utilized in various treatments.
• Each batch was subjected to different treatment concentrations: α-tocopherol at 2mm, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) at 40 μg/ml, and a combination of both (CoQ10 + α-TOH) at 40 μg/ml + 2mm.
• A control group (C) had no antioxidant additions, while a vehicle control (EtOH) incorporated 100 μl ethanol.
• The cooling process for all samples was set at 5°C for 72 hours.

Research Findings

• It was found that the group treated with CoQ10 resulted in higher total motility (69.1 ± 16.2%) compared to the control (62.1 ± 16.2%) and EtOH (58.1 ± 18.6%) groups.
• Both CoQ10 + α-TOH and α-TOH treatment groups showed higher effectiveness in preventing lipid peroxidation (LPO) compared to controls. Their measurements were 1765.9 ± 695.9 and 1890.8 ± 749.5 ng malondialdehyde/10(8) sptz, respectively, versus 2506.2 ± 769.4 ng in the control batches.

Conclusion

• The study concludes that CoQ10 and α-TOH can be effective additions during the cooling process of equine semen.
• They provide increased levels of total motility and lower LPO, which ultimately has potential implications for the effectiveness and success rate of equine artificial insemination procedures.