Trehalose as a Cryoprotective Agent for the Sperm Cells: A Mini Review

Year 2012, Volume: 1 Issue: 2, 123 - 129, 01.06.2012

Ejaz Ahmad Melih Aksoy

Abstract

Although many protocols have been developed for semen cryopreservation, sperm cryosurvival rate is still not optimum in most of the species. Factors responsible for low cryosurvival rate are; changes in temperature, ice formation, lipid peroxidation, alterations in sperm membrane, toxicity of cryoprotectants and osmotic stress. Moreover, cell dehydration during freezing process is one of the factors altering the structural and functional integrity of the plasma membrane. Sugars have several functions in sperm extender, including providing energy substrate for the sperm cell during incubation, maintaining the osmotic pressure of the diluents, and acting as a cryoprotectant. Trehalose, α-D-glucopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside a non-permeable sugar, has a significant role to prevent deleterious effect of cell dehydration on plasma membrane. Recent reports have shown encouraging data regarding the use of trehalose for the cryopreservation of sperm cells. Therefore, in this review, information is presented related to the use of trehalose for cryopreserving sperm from different species.

Keywords

Cryoprotective agent, Sperm cell, Trehalose

Spermatozoon Dondurulmasında Koruyucu Bir Madde Trehalose: Kısa Derleme

Abstract

Spermanın dondurularak saklanmasına yönelik bir çok yöntemin geliştirilmiş olmasına rağmen, bir çok hayvan türünde çözüm sonu yaşama oranları henüz istenen düzeye ulaşmamıştır. Sıcaklık değişimleri, buz oluşumu, lipidoksidasyonları, membran yapısındaki değişiklikler, kriyoprotektanların toksik etkileri ve ozmotik stres bu düşük yaşama oranlarına yol açan temel faktörlerdir. Bunların yanı sıra dondurma sırasında hücrenin su kaybetmesi de plazma membranının yapısal ve fonksiyonel bütünlüğünü bozan bir faktördür. Sperma sulandırıcılarına eklenen şekerler spermatozoonlar için enerji kaynağı oluşturmanın ötesinde ozmotik basıncı ayarlar ve kriyoprotektan olarak etki gösterirler. Non-permeable bir şeker olan trehaloz α-D-glucopyranosyl-α-D-glucopyranoside su kaybı sırasında hücre membranında oluşan olumsuz etkilerin önlenmesinde önemli bir etkiye sahiptir. Son yıllarda yapılan çalışmalar spermanın dondurularak saklanması sırasında trehaloz kullanmayı teşvik eden bulgular sunmaktadır. Bu nedenle, bu derlemede çeşitli hayvan türlerinde sperma dondurma işlemleri sırasında trehaloz kullanımına ilişkin bilgiler sunulmuştur.

Keywords

Kriyoprotektan maddeler, Spermatozoon, Trehaloz

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