Quercetin in equine frozen semen.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Supplementation of sperm diluents to reduce the damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle is broadly used in equine semen cryopreservation. Objective: The present study aimed at determining the most appropriate quercetin supplementation in equine freezing extender. Methods: Quercetin at four different concentrations (0.25, 0.5, 0.75 or 1 mM) was added in the sperm freezing diluent before the freeze-thaw cycle. The spermatozoa population was analyzed by flow cytometry and a statistical analysis was conducted to detect significant differences between control and treated samples. Results: The statistical analysis did not reveal any significant modification of seminal parameters. Conclusions: Within the concentrations tested, quercetin supplementation in equine freezing extender did not affect progressive motility, mitochondrial functionality, acrosome reaction, membrane integrity or DNA fragmentation index in post-thaw equine semen.
Publication Date: 2018-05-08 PubMed ID: 29734431
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
The research article investigates the potential benefits of supplementing quercetin in horse sperm freezing solutions. However, the study found that, within the tested concentrations, quercetin had no significant impacts on various aspects such as sperm movement, mitochondrial function, or DNA structure.
Research Methods
- The research team investigated the effects of quercetin, a plant pigment (flavonoid) commonly used in supplements, on horse sperm during cryopreservation – the process of freezing and preserving sperm. The motive behind the study was to explore ways to minimize damage caused by the freeze-thaw cycle.
- Researchers added quercetin at four different concentrations – 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1 mM – to the sperm freezing extender before exposing it to the freeze-thaw cycle.
- A flow cytometer was used to analyze the spermatozoa population. This device allows scientists to detect and measure physical and chemical characteristics of cells or particles.
- They then conducted a statistical analysis to identify any significant differences between control samples (samples with no quercetin supplementation) and treated samples (samples with quercetin supplementation).
Research Findings
- The analysis did not reveal any significant modification of seminal parameters. This means the quercetin supplementation did not considerably affect essential aspects of the sperm, such as motility, mitochondrial functionality, acrosome reaction, membrane integrity or DNA fragmentation index.
- The research stipulated that these findings are within the tested concentrations of quercetin. Hence, the influence of higher or lower concentrations was not part of this study.
Conclusion
- The study concludes that quercetin supplementation, within the tested concentrations, in equine freezing extender did not have any significant effect on post-thaw equine semen. However, it is crucial to note that this does not rule out the potential for other substances or different concentrations of quercetin to have an effect.
Cite This Article
APA
Filho JS, Corcini CD, Santos FCC, Anciuti AN, Gatti NLS, Anastacio E, Mielke R, Nogueira CEW, Curcio BR, Varela AS.
(2018).
Quercetin in equine frozen semen.
Cryo Letters, 38(4), 299-304.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Pos-Graduacao em Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Departamento de Clinicas Veterinarias, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitario, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Pos-Graduacao em Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Pos-Graduacao em Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Pos-Graduacao em Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitário, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Departamento de Patologia Animal, Laboratorio de Reproduco Animal, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitario, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Departamento de Patologia Animal, Laboratorio de Reproduco Animal, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitario, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Departamento de Clinicas Veterinarias, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitario, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Departamento de Clinicas Veterinarias, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Campus Universitario, Pelotas, Brasil.
- Reproducao Animal Comparada, Instituto de Ciencia Biologicas, Universidade Federal de Rio Grande, Rio Grande, Brasil. antoniovarela@furg.br.
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome Reaction / drug effects
- Animals
- Cell Membrane / drug effects
- Cell Membrane / metabolism
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology
- DNA Fragmentation / drug effects
- Flow Cytometry
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Mitochondria / drug effects
- Mitochondria / metabolism
- Quercetin / pharmacology
- Semen / drug effects
- Semen Analysis / veterinary
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Sperm Motility / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Boni R, Ruggiero R, De Luca F, Preziosi G, Ferrara MA, Ostuni A, Guerriero S, Gallo A, Murano C, Cecchini Gualandi S. Enhancing Stallion Semen Cryopreservation: Selected Antioxidant Extracts and Sperm Freezability. Antioxidants (Basel) 2025 Nov 16;14(11).
- Susilowati S, Mustofa I, Rosyada ZNA, Suprayogi TW, Hernawati T, Akintunde AO, Oktanella Y, Khairullah AR, Handayani UF, Ahmad RZ, Anggraini L, Pratama BP, Nugraha CD, Latifah L. Reduction of post-thawed sperm quality of Kacang goat using the addition of epigallocatechin-3-gallate into the skim milk-egg yolk extender. Open Vet J 2025;15(8):3703-3710.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
