Effect of the addition of butylated hydroxytoluene into cooling and freezing extenders on the viability of equine sperm

The process of cryopreservation brings out oxidative stress to spermatic cell and the addition antioxidant of into cooling and freezing semen extenders could assist in protection of spermatozoa against the damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), including irreversible loss in motility, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, interfering with the fertilizing capacity of sperm. Among different antioxidants, the butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) is a synthetic analogue of vitamin E, whose protective effect is attributed to two mechanisms: the increase in sperm membrane fluidity after the addition of antioxidant, and the lipid peroxidation cascade for converting peroxy radicals into lipid hydroperoxides. BHT was tested in different species and the results include improvement in motility, spermatic membrane integrity and sperm viability. However, the addition of BHT in horse semen extenders for cryopreservation purposes demands further research. Thereby, the aims of this study were (1) to evaluate the influence of BHT on equine spermatic cells submitted to cryopreservation and (2) the capacity of BHT to contain the lipid peroxidation and the production of reactive species of oxygen when sperm cells were submitted to stress. (AU)