Curcumin and Vit. E Alleviate Alone or Synergetically Hydrogen Peroxide Induced-Oxidative Stress on Boar Sperm Characteristics during In Vitro Storage

Antioxidants partially ameliorated the detrimental effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on sperm characteristics during in vitro storage. The objective of the present study was to investigate the single or synergetic antioxidative effect of curcumin and Vit. E on the characteristics of fresh boar sperm during in vitro storage. The sperm viability in curcumin, Vit. E supplementation and curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups remained over 85.0% in 3 hr incubation period, but in 6 hr incubation period, curcumin+Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ groups was sharply dropped than those of curcumin and Vit. E group. The membrane intergrity in all evaluated groups except for $H_2O_2$ group did not significantly difference in 3 hr incubation period. The viability in curcumin or Vit. E supplementation were significantly increased than in curcumin+$H_2O_2$ and Vit. $E+H_2O_2$ group in 6 hr incubation period. The percentage of mitochondrial activity and acrosome intergrity obtained similar trends within same incubation periods irrespective of treatment. The lipid peroxidation of spermatozoal plasma membrane ranged from $11.6{\sim}17.5\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ and $14.0{\sim}19.0\;nM/l{\times}10^6$ in 3 hr and 6 hr incubation periods. In conclusion, curcumin or Vit. E surpplementation alone or cooperatively improved sperm viability index (motility, membrane intergrity, viability and survival rates) and fertility index (mitochondria activity, acrosome intergrity and lipid peroxidation) of fresh boar sperm, indicating that curcumin and Vit. E have a antioxidative properties through its scavenging activity against hydrogen peroxide.