Effect of fatty acids bound to bovine serum albumin‐V on acrosome reaction and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa

Aim: The present study has been designed with the objective of determining if fatty acids bound to bovine serum albumin‐V (BSA‐V) can improve motility, viability, and increase acrosome reaction (AR) and utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa. Methods: Boar spermatozoa were washed, swum‐up and incubated at 37°C for 6 h in TALP medium supplemented with fatty acids bound to bovine serum albumin fraction V (BSA‐V), fatty acid free BSA (BSA‐FAF), polyvinyl alcohol + main fatty acids bound to BSA‐V (PVA + FA) and PVA. Sperm motility, viability, AR, and the incorporation and oxidation of 14C‐glucose were evaluated during 6 h of incubation. Results: The results show that the BSA‐V was superior to BSA‐FAF and PVA in improving motility and AR. Viability was significantly increased (P < 0.05) by only BSA‐V compared with PVA. When the main fatty acids compound of BSA‐V were added to PVA, the sperm motility, viability and AR became almost the same as with BSA‐V. The rate of incorporation and oxidation of 14C‐glucose were significantly increased (P < 0.05) by BSA‐V compared with BSA‐FAF and PVA. Fatty acids bound to BSA‐V are important for improvement of sperm functions. Conclusions: The present study postulates that fatty acids bound to BSA‐V are important to acrosome reaction and the utilization of glucose in boar spermatozoa.