EFFECT OF CALCIUM CHANNEL BLOCKER ON QUALITY OF EGYPTIAN BUFFALO LIQUID SEMEN (ROLE OF CALCIUM ON SPERM APOPTOSIS)

Document Type : Research article

Authors

Abstract

The effect of calcium (Ca2+) blocker upon the buffalo-bull liquid semen was studied through increasing the life-span of sperm during
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Assiut Vet. Med. J. Vol. 38 No. 75, October 1997
storage with keeping the penetrating ability and decreasing the acrosomal and membrane integrity. Semen was diluted and mixed with 0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15.0 20.0 and 30.0 ug Ca2+ blocker/100 x 10R sperm. The samples were stored at 4°C for 6 days and examined daily. The obtained results revealed that, sperm motility, alive sperm percentages and sperm penetrating ability were improved and increased significantly with the concentrations of Ca-* blocker especially higher concentrations (20 and 30 ug). In addition, significant decrease in sperm abnormalities and acrosomal integrity percentages were observed after adding Ca' blocker. LDH and lipid peroxide levels were decreased significantly with the higher concentrations of Ca2+ blocker. Moreover, the ultrastructure of treated sperm head showed that, the high concentration of Ca2+ blocker had a better protective effect against membrane integrity. The effect of Ca2+ blocker on sperm cells may be through blockage of Cat uptake with subsequent protection from damage (apoptosis) and indirect through preventing more cell damage during storage which in turn decreased free radical oxygen that had a dangerous effect upon sperm.

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