1.The protective effect of zinc oxide and selenium oxide nanoparticles on the functional parameters of rat sperm during vitrification
Nafiseh Tavakolpoor SALEH ; Zohreh HOSSEINZADEH ; Narges Gholami BANADKUKI ; Maryam Salehi NOVIN ; Sanaz Saljooghi ZAMAN ; Tohid Moradi GARDESHI
Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine 2024;51(1):20-27
Objective:
While sperm freezing (cryopreservation) is an effective method for preserving fertility, it can potentially harm the structure and function of sperm due to an increase in the production of reactive oxygen species. This study aimed to assess the impact of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs) and selenium oxide nanoparticles (SeONPs) on various sperm functional parameters, including motility, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acrosome membrane integrity (ACi), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels.
Methods:
Semen samples were collected from 20 Albino Wistar rats. These samples were then divided into six groups: fresh, cryopreservation control, and groups supplemented with SeONPs (1, 2, 5 μg/mL) and ZnONPs (0.1, 1, 10 μg/mL).
Results:
Statistical analysis revealed that all concentrations of SeONPs increased total motility and progressive reduction of MDA levels compared to the cryopreservation control group (p<0.05). However, supplementation with ZnONPs did not affect these parameters (p>0.05). Conversely, supplements of 1 and 2 μg/mL SeONPs and 1 μg/mL ZnONPs contributed to the improvement of PMI and ACi (p<0.05). Yet, no significant change was observed in MMP with any concentration of SeONPs and ZnONPs compared to the cryopreservation control group (p>0.05).
Conclusion
The findings suggest that optimal concentrations of SeONPs may enhance sperm parameters during the freezing process.