The effects of Mito-TEMPO, a mitochondria targeted antioxidant, on frozen human sperm parameters

Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the efficiency of Mito-TEMPO, which is a mitochondrial targeted antioxidant, in improving the quality of frozen human sperm. Material-Method: Normospermic 25 human semen samples were frozen and stored in solutions including different concentrations (0, 5, 10 and 50 µM) of Mito-TEMPO. After thawing, they were evaluated in terms of sperm motility, viability, morphology, chromatin integrity and apoptosis. Result: Sperm morphology was not found to change after cryopreservation. Viability was found to be significantly preserved in groups that were added Mito-TEMPO (p<0.01). When the sperms were compared in terms of post-cryopreservation motility, while no significant difference was found between the group that was added 1µM Mito-TEMPO and the group that was not added Mito-TEMPO, the group with the highest number of motile sperms was the group that was added 50µM Mito-TEMPO (p<0.05). In addition, chromatin decondensation and apoptosis rate decreased significantly in groups that were added Mito-TEMPO (p<0.01). Conclusion: Mitochondria targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO improves sperm quality that decreases after thawing.