Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain
Porcine artificial insemination primarily utilizes liquid-preserved (17 °C) semen; however, the quality of sperm diminishes progressively with extended preservation time. Ergothioneine (EGT) is a mitochondria-targeting antioxidant. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of various concent...
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| author | Qing Guo Xue Liu Yang Li Ye Cheng Jingchun Li |
| author_facet | Qing Guo Xue Liu Yang Li Ye Cheng Jingchun Li |
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| description | Porcine artificial insemination primarily utilizes liquid-preserved (17 °C) semen; however, the quality of sperm diminishes progressively with extended preservation time. Ergothioneine (EGT) is a mitochondria-targeting antioxidant. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of various concentrations of EGT (0, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mM) on the quality of boar sperm during <i>in vitro</i> liquid preservation and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the mitochondrial electron respiratory chain inhibitor ROT. The results demonstrated that the addition of 0.3 mM EGT to the modified Modena extender significantly improved sperm motility and kinetic parameters, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), antioxidant capacity, and the integrity of both the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome. Additionally, ROT significantly inhibited sperm motility, kinetic parameters, MMP, ATP levels, antioxidant capacity, and sperm integrity of the plasma membrane and acrosome. However, these adverse effects could be partially mitigated by the addition of 0.3 mM EGT. In conclusion, the novel findings of this study indicated that EGT plays a crucial role in protecting sperm from oxidative damage by regulating the mitochondrial electron respiratory chain, suggesting that the use of EGT is a promising approach for enhancing the <i>in vitro</i> liquid preservation efficiency of boar semen at 17 °C. |
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| spelling | doaj-art-7bd0ce8d91c74d7783532e6d9eb3f7ab2025-08-20T01:56:55ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152025-05-011510145010.3390/ani15101450Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory ChainQing Guo0Xue Liu1Yang Li2Ye Cheng3Jingchun Li4College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing 163319, ChinaPorcine artificial insemination primarily utilizes liquid-preserved (17 °C) semen; however, the quality of sperm diminishes progressively with extended preservation time. Ergothioneine (EGT) is a mitochondria-targeting antioxidant. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the effect of various concentrations of EGT (0, 0.15, 0.3, and 0.6 mM) on the quality of boar sperm during <i>in vitro</i> liquid preservation and elucidate the underlying mechanisms of the mitochondrial electron respiratory chain inhibitor ROT. The results demonstrated that the addition of 0.3 mM EGT to the modified Modena extender significantly improved sperm motility and kinetic parameters, as well as mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), adenosine triphosphate (ATP), antioxidant capacity, and the integrity of both the sperm plasma membrane and acrosome. Additionally, ROT significantly inhibited sperm motility, kinetic parameters, MMP, ATP levels, antioxidant capacity, and sperm integrity of the plasma membrane and acrosome. However, these adverse effects could be partially mitigated by the addition of 0.3 mM EGT. In conclusion, the novel findings of this study indicated that EGT plays a crucial role in protecting sperm from oxidative damage by regulating the mitochondrial electron respiratory chain, suggesting that the use of EGT is a promising approach for enhancing the <i>in vitro</i> liquid preservation efficiency of boar semen at 17 °C.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1450boar semen liquid preservationsperm qualityergothioneinemitochondrial electron respiratory chainrotenone |
| spellingShingle | Qing Guo Xue Liu Yang Li Ye Cheng Jingchun Li Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain Animals boar semen liquid preservation sperm quality ergothioneine mitochondrial electron respiratory chain rotenone |
| title | Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain |
| title_full | Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain |
| title_fullStr | Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain |
| title_short | Ergothioneine Improves the Quality of Boar Sperm During <i>In Vitro</i> Liquid Preservation by Regulating Mitochondrial Respiratory Chain |
| title_sort | ergothioneine improves the quality of boar sperm during i in vitro i liquid preservation by regulating mitochondrial respiratory chain |
| topic | boar semen liquid preservation sperm quality ergothioneine mitochondrial electron respiratory chain rotenone |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/15/10/1450 |
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