LOW TAURINE CONCENTRATIONS POSSITIVELY AFFECT RABBIT SPERMATOZOA PROPERTIES IN LATER TIME INTERVALS

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determinate the effect of various taurine concentrations on rabbit spermatozoa in in vitro conditions with the potential use in routine artificial insemination. Taurine, amino acid distinguished by its strong antioxidant properties, has been widely tested on spermatozoa of all kinds of farm animals except for the rabbits. This study investigated differences in rabbit spermatozoa motility and viability between the control sample and samples enriched with taurine solutions: TAU3 (3.125 mM), TAU6 (6.250 mM) and TAU12 (12.5 mM). Ejaculates of nine adult rabbits were subjected to this study and observed at time intervals 0, 90, 180 and 270 minutes while cultivated at 39°C. For detection of viability the MTT test was used and motility parameters were carried out using CASA analysis. Experimental samples were compared against the control. Assessment of the mitochondrial toxicity revealed that the addition of taurine ensured the higher viability in supplemented samples however with no statistical significance. Monitored motility parameters (motility, progressive motility and velocity curved line of spermatozoa) showed that taurine treated spermatozoa have lower activity at the beginning of the study but along with increasing time the positive effect of taurine was induced. Significant (P<0.05) values were observed in velocity curved line in time intervals 0 (TAU3 – negative effect: 110.6±26.85 μm.s-1) and 180 (TAU6 – positive effect: 105.8±28.36 μm.s-1). Results indicate that taurine antioxidant properties maintain the spermatozoa viability and activity. In spite of the fact that taurine supplemented spermatozoa had lower activity in inceptive time intervals, taurine may find its use as additive with ROS protective properties during long-term storage.