Protective effect of rosiglitazone on microscopic and oxidative stress parameters of ram sperm after freeze-thawing

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of rosiglitazone on ram semen after cryopreservation on the quality of thawed sperm. Sperm motility (CASA), membrane integrity (HOS test), viability, total abnormality, PSA, mitochondrial activity (Rhodamine 123), reactive oxygen species production, ATP content and apoptotic features (Annexin V/Propidium iodide) were assessed after thawing. Rosiglitazone at concentration of 60 µM resulted in the highest (P < 0.05) total motility, progressive motility and VSL. The percentage of VAP and VCL was greater in the 60 µM group. Different concentrations of rosiglitazone did not have significant effects on ALH, LIN and STR. The highest amount of membrane functionality and mitochondrial activity after freeze-thawing were observed in groups containing 60 µM. The lowest ROS concentration was recorded in 60 µM rosiglitazone group (P<0.05). The percentage of viable sperm was significantly the highest in 60 µM rosiglitazone (P < 0.05). The group containing 60 µM rosiglitazone also produced the lowest significant percentage of apoptosis-like changes and dead sperm. A greater (P ≤ 0.05) percentage of acrosome integrity in frozen-thawed spermatozoa was observed in the 60 µM rosiglitazone group. The result showed that supplementation in ram semen extender with rosiglitazone had a positive role in the regulation of ram sperm motility and had strong protective effect on the sperm membrane and acrosome integrity