High taurine concentrations negatively effect stallion spermatozoa parameters in vitro

Article Details: Received: 2020-09-29 | Accepted: 2020-11-27 | Available online: 2021-01-31 https://doi.org/10.15414/afz.2021.24.mi-prap.15-19 Over the past decades natural substances are widely used in the maintaining of spermatozoa viability. The target of present study was to evaluate the effect of various taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa during 37°C cultivation. Fresh semen was collected from 10 breeding stallions. The experimental groups were supplemented with six different concentration of taurine (in mg/ml): A – 2.5, B – 5, C – 7.5, D – 10, E – 15, F – 20 and compared to control (CON – 0). Spermatozoa motility was assessed using the Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system in 6 time periods (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 hours). The MTT test was used for detection of viability. For measuring antioxidant activity FRAP and TOS methods were used. Significantly negative effect was observed in the samples with the highest concentration of taurine (20 mg/ml). Spermatozoa viability was not significantly affected in analysed concentrations of taurine. Significant higher antioxidant activity was detected in the sample with the highest taurine concentration. Data clearly showed negative effects of high taurine concentrations on stallion spermatozoa. Keywords: taurine, CASA, antioxidant activity, spermatozoa, stallion References Benzie, I. F. and Strain, J. J. (1996). The ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) as a measure of “antioxidant power”: The FRAP assay. Analytical Biochemistry , 239 (1), 70-76. https://doi.org/10.1006/abio.1996.0292 Bucak, M. N. et al. (2007). The influence of trehalose, taurine, cysteamine and hyaluronan on ram semen: Microscopic and oxidative stress parameters after freeze–thawing process. Theriogenology , 67 (5), 1060-1067. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2006.12.004 Erel, O. (2005). A new automated colorimetric method for measuring total oxidant status. Clinical Biochemistry , 38 (12), 1103-1111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2005.08.008 Halo, M. and Tirpak, F. (2018) Stallion fertility - the basis of successful reproduction. Svet koni . 18. Halo Jr., M. et al. (2019) Time and dose-dependent effects of Viscum album quercus on rabbit spermatozoa motility and viability in vitro. Physiological Research, 68 (6), 955-972. https://doi.org/10.33549/physiolres.934223 Ijaz, A. and Ducharme, R. (1995). Effect of various extenders and taurine on survival of stallion sperm cooled to 5 C. Theriogenology , 44 (7), 1039-1050. https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(95)00290-o Jambor, T. et al. (2017) In vitro effect of 4-nonylphenol on human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) stimulated hormone secretion, cell viability and reactive oxygen species generation in mice Leydig cells. Environmental Pollution , 222, 219–225. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2016.12.053 O'flaherty, L. et al. (1997) Intestinal taurine transport: a review. European Journal of Clinical Investigation , 27 (11), 873-880. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2362.1997.2000747.x Reddy, N. S. S. et al. (2010). Effects of adding taurine and trehalose to a tris-based egg yolk extender on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sperm quality following cryopreservation. Animal Reproduction Science , 119 (3-4), 183-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.01.012 Slanina, T. et al. (2018) Effect of taurine on turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) spermatozoa viability and motility. Czech Journal of Animal Science , 63 (4),127-135. https://doi.org/10.17221/79/2017-CJAS Stephens, T. D. et al. (2013) Effects of pentoxifylline, caffeine, and taurine on post-thaw motility and longevity of equine frozen semen. Journal of Equine Veterinary Science , 33 (8), 615-621. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2012.10.004 Tirpak, F. et al. (2017) Low taurine concentrations possitively affect rabbit spermatozoa properties in later time intervals. Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology and Food Sciences , 7, 128-131. https://doi.org/10.15414/jmbfs.2017.7.2.128-131