Influence of resveratrol on the quality and fertility of boar semen processed and stored (15-17°C) to intrauterine artificial insemination

Abstract

This project aims to verify whether the addition of the antioxidant resveratrol generates positive changes in cellular parameters related to the quality of boar semen cooled at 15-17°C (experiment 1), furthermore, we will verify whether resveratrol improves fertility rates in Intrauterine Artificial Insemination (IUAI) (experiment 2). Experiment 1: Six ejaculates from six boars (n = 30) will be collected. After semen analyses, the raw semen, will be extended (medium BTS) and added of resveratrol. The following treatments will be performed: Control (CON) BTS without resveratrol, T1 (BTS + RVT 0.1 mM), T2 (BTS + RVT 1.0 mM) and T3 (BTS + RVT 10 mM). Treatments will be cooled and assessed to the characteristics of the motility, integrity of plasma and acrossomal membranes, plasma membrane fluidity (capacitation) and peroxidation of membrane and cytoplasmic sperm in the intervals of 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours. The semen analysis will consist in the computerized assessment of the characteristics of motility (CASA) and flow cytometry analysis for the other parameters. Experiment 2: Fertility test will be conduced in thirty gilts comparing the control treatment (CON) (n = 15) and Resveratrol (RESV) (n = 15) using the resveratrol concentration that show better results in experiment 1. These gilts will be submitted to a hormonal protocol to perform the IUAIs in fixed time. After 5 days of inseminated, the gilts will be forwarded to the slaughterhouse, where they will be euthanized to remove the uterus and ovaries for collection and counting of embryos. The variables will be submitted to analysis of variance (PROC GLM) and means will be compared by Tukey test. Fertility and birth rate will be analyzed by Chi-Square non-parametric test for P<0.05. (AU)