Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs

Abstract This study aimed to assess differences in fresh semen quality between mature and senile dogs, focusing on oxidative stress markers, including spermatozoa lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa from these age groups to bin...

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Main Authors: Kenneth Owoicho Abah, Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk, Agnieszka Partyka, Sylwia Prochowska, Alain Fontbonne, Wojciech Niżański
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-08-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16410-w
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author Kenneth Owoicho Abah
Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk
Agnieszka Partyka
Sylwia Prochowska
Alain Fontbonne
Wojciech Niżański
author_facet Kenneth Owoicho Abah
Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk
Agnieszka Partyka
Sylwia Prochowska
Alain Fontbonne
Wojciech Niżański
author_sort Kenneth Owoicho Abah
collection DOAJ
description Abstract This study aimed to assess differences in fresh semen quality between mature and senile dogs, focusing on oxidative stress markers, including spermatozoa lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa from these age groups to bind to the zona pellucida was investigated. Forty clinically healthy dogs were categorized into two groups: mature (3 ± 0.2 years; n = 20) and senile (10 ± 0.2 years; n = 20). A total of 107 semen samples (2–3 ejaculates per dog) were analyzed for motilities and kinetic parameters, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), acrosome and membrane integrity, morphological defects, DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation, and the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in spermatozoa and seminal plasma. A zona-binding assay was performed using frozen-thawed semen from mature (n = 10) and senile (n = 10) dogs. Mature dogs exhibited significantly higher total motility, sperm concentration, TSC, membrane integrity, and zona binding capacity compared to senile dogs (P < 0.05). Conversely, senile dogs had significantly higher proportions of proximal cytoplasmic droplets and tail defects (P < 0.05). However, lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activities, and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly between the groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the observed decline in fresh semen quality with age in dogs does not appear to be associated with increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Furthermore, frozen-thawed spermatozoa from mature dogs exhibited superior zona binding capacity, likely due to a greater proportion of progressively motile sperm.
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spelling doaj-art-9611552a5be9451d8a4bd8651b71b4302025-08-24T11:29:39ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-08-0115111110.1038/s41598-025-16410-wExploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogsKenneth Owoicho Abah0Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk1Agnieszka Partyka2Sylwia Prochowska3Alain Fontbonne4Wojciech Niżański5Department of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life SciencesDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life SciencesDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life SciencesDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life SciencesÉcole Nationale Vétérinaire d’AlfortDepartment of Reproduction and Clinic of Farm Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life SciencesAbstract This study aimed to assess differences in fresh semen quality between mature and senile dogs, focusing on oxidative stress markers, including spermatozoa lipid peroxidation and enzymatic antioxidant activity. Furthermore, the ability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa from these age groups to bind to the zona pellucida was investigated. Forty clinically healthy dogs were categorized into two groups: mature (3 ± 0.2 years; n = 20) and senile (10 ± 0.2 years; n = 20). A total of 107 semen samples (2–3 ejaculates per dog) were analyzed for motilities and kinetic parameters, sperm concentration, total sperm count (TSC), acrosome and membrane integrity, morphological defects, DNA fragmentation, lipid peroxidation, and the enzymatic activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in spermatozoa and seminal plasma. A zona-binding assay was performed using frozen-thawed semen from mature (n = 10) and senile (n = 10) dogs. Mature dogs exhibited significantly higher total motility, sperm concentration, TSC, membrane integrity, and zona binding capacity compared to senile dogs (P < 0.05). Conversely, senile dogs had significantly higher proportions of proximal cytoplasmic droplets and tail defects (P < 0.05). However, lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activities, and acrosome integrity did not differ significantly between the groups (P > 0.05). In conclusion, the observed decline in fresh semen quality with age in dogs does not appear to be associated with increased susceptibility to oxidative stress. Furthermore, frozen-thawed spermatozoa from mature dogs exhibited superior zona binding capacity, likely due to a greater proportion of progressively motile sperm.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16410-wOxidative stressCanine semenZona binding assayAging
spellingShingle Kenneth Owoicho Abah
Zuzanna Ligocka-Kowalczyk
Agnieszka Partyka
Sylwia Prochowska
Alain Fontbonne
Wojciech Niżański
Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
Scientific Reports
Oxidative stress
Canine semen
Zona binding assay
Aging
title Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
title_full Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
title_fullStr Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
title_short Exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation, enzymatic antioxidant activity, and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
title_sort exploring the characters of sperm lipid peroxidation enzymatic antioxidant activity and spermatozoa zona binding capacity with aging in dogs
topic Oxidative stress
Canine semen
Zona binding assay
Aging
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-16410-w
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