Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway

IntroductionSperm damage from oxidative stress is common in semen cryopreservation. Natural antioxidants for frozen semen are largely unexplored. Artesunate (ART), derived from Artemisia annua and used for malaria treatment, shows potential as a frozen semen antioxidant.MethodsWe investigated the ef...

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Main Authors: Yilin Fan, Weibing Lv, Xiaowei Li, Geri Wanma, Jian Li, Xianrong Xiong, Xiaoqiang He, Yanwen Wang, Shi Yin, Wei Fu, Honghong He, Yaqiu Lin, Daoliang Lan, Yan Xiong
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Veterinary Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613506/full
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author Yilin Fan
Yilin Fan
Weibing Lv
Weibing Lv
Xiaowei Li
Geri Wanma
Geri Wanma
Jian Li
Jian Li
Xianrong Xiong
Xianrong Xiong
Xiaoqiang He
Yanwen Wang
Shi Yin
Shi Yin
Wei Fu
Wei Fu
Honghong He
Honghong He
Yaqiu Lin
Yaqiu Lin
Daoliang Lan
Daoliang Lan
Yan Xiong
Yan Xiong
author_facet Yilin Fan
Yilin Fan
Weibing Lv
Weibing Lv
Xiaowei Li
Geri Wanma
Geri Wanma
Jian Li
Jian Li
Xianrong Xiong
Xianrong Xiong
Xiaoqiang He
Yanwen Wang
Shi Yin
Shi Yin
Wei Fu
Wei Fu
Honghong He
Honghong He
Yaqiu Lin
Yaqiu Lin
Daoliang Lan
Daoliang Lan
Yan Xiong
Yan Xiong
author_sort Yilin Fan
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionSperm damage from oxidative stress is common in semen cryopreservation. Natural antioxidants for frozen semen are largely unexplored. Artesunate (ART), derived from Artemisia annua and used for malaria treatment, shows potential as a frozen semen antioxidant.MethodsWe investigated the effects of various ART concentrations (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mM) on yak semen cryopreservation and examined the molecular mechanisms involved.ResultsPost-freezing, sperm quality markedly declined. However, 0.2 mM ART significantly improved sperm motility (both total and progressive) and reduced membrane damage. ART treatment effectively alleviated oxidative stress by reducing ROS levels and MDA content in the sperm while selectively upregulating SOD1 activity and protein levels, which are involved in maintaining DNA integrity and mitochondrial function.ConclusionThese findings support the hypothesis that ART exerts antioxidant effects via a SOD1-mediated mechanism, highlighting its potential to improve frozen semen quality and offering a novel strategy for cryopreserving sperm in other species.
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publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Veterinary Science
spelling doaj-art-84f76db14ba54301bda7764dea81aabc2025-08-20T03:31:53ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Veterinary Science2297-17692025-06-011210.3389/fvets.2025.16135061613506Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathwayYilin Fan0Yilin Fan1Weibing Lv2Weibing Lv3Xiaowei Li4Geri Wanma5Geri Wanma6Jian Li7Jian Li8Xianrong Xiong9Xianrong Xiong10Xiaoqiang He11Yanwen Wang12Shi Yin13Shi Yin14Wei Fu15Wei Fu16Honghong He17Honghong He18Yaqiu Lin19Yaqiu Lin20Daoliang Lan21Daoliang Lan22Yan Xiong23Yan Xiong24Key Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaLongri Breeding Stock Farm of Sichuan Province, Dujiangyan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaLongri Breeding Stock Farm of Sichuan Province, Dujiangyan, ChinaLongri Breeding Stock Farm of Sichuan Province, Dujiangyan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau Animal Genetic Reservation and Utilization, Ministry of Education and Sichuan Province, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Animal Science of National Ethnic Affairs Commission of China, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu, ChinaIntroductionSperm damage from oxidative stress is common in semen cryopreservation. Natural antioxidants for frozen semen are largely unexplored. Artesunate (ART), derived from Artemisia annua and used for malaria treatment, shows potential as a frozen semen antioxidant.MethodsWe investigated the effects of various ART concentrations (0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 mM) on yak semen cryopreservation and examined the molecular mechanisms involved.ResultsPost-freezing, sperm quality markedly declined. However, 0.2 mM ART significantly improved sperm motility (both total and progressive) and reduced membrane damage. ART treatment effectively alleviated oxidative stress by reducing ROS levels and MDA content in the sperm while selectively upregulating SOD1 activity and protein levels, which are involved in maintaining DNA integrity and mitochondrial function.ConclusionThese findings support the hypothesis that ART exerts antioxidant effects via a SOD1-mediated mechanism, highlighting its potential to improve frozen semen quality and offering a novel strategy for cryopreserving sperm in other species.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613506/fullyak spermcryopreservationartesunateSOD1 proteinantioxidant
spellingShingle Yilin Fan
Yilin Fan
Weibing Lv
Weibing Lv
Xiaowei Li
Geri Wanma
Geri Wanma
Jian Li
Jian Li
Xianrong Xiong
Xianrong Xiong
Xiaoqiang He
Yanwen Wang
Shi Yin
Shi Yin
Wei Fu
Wei Fu
Honghong He
Honghong He
Yaqiu Lin
Yaqiu Lin
Daoliang Lan
Daoliang Lan
Yan Xiong
Yan Xiong
Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
Frontiers in Veterinary Science
yak sperm
cryopreservation
artesunate
SOD1 protein
antioxidant
title Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
title_full Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
title_fullStr Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
title_full_unstemmed Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
title_short Artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating SOD1 antioxidant pathway
title_sort artesunate improves cryopreserved yak sperm quality by activating sod1 antioxidant pathway
topic yak sperm
cryopreservation
artesunate
SOD1 protein
antioxidant
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1613506/full
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