https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8732-4793
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ABSTRACT
Bacterial contamination in swine semen affects the quality and longevity of sperm and consequently fertility is reduced. Antibiotics have been used to prevent bacterial growth, but the frequency of bacterial resistance to various antibiotics are increasing. Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) of 10–20 nm in size have shown a biocide effect in bacteria and fungi microorganisms without toxicity to certain mammalian cells. The goal of this study was to analyze both, antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and toxicity in swine sperms after 10–20 nm AgNPs treatment. S. aureus proliferation decreased when concentrations from 0.4 to 10 mM AgNPs were assayed. Also, sperm viability measured by mitochondrial metabolism after AgNPs treatment up to a concentration of 10 mM, was viable. In addition, viability determined by membrane integrity of sperms showed that AgNPs treatment up to a concentration of 10 mM was safe. Sperm morphology was evaluated by automated quantification of proximal and distal drops and whiptails. Data indicated that AgNPs treatment up to a concentration of 4 mM were harmless. Finally, sperm capacitation and acrosome reactions were determined by (chlortetracycline) CTC assay. Data showed that no changes in sperm capacitation were observed when sperms were treated with 2 mM of AgNPs, but data showed increased calcium mobilization when treated with 10 mM AgNPs, which suggested sperm capacitation. Finally, there were no significant changes encountered on sperm acrosome reaction for any of the treatments after AgNPs treatment. Taken together, these results show the potential of AgNPs as an alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents that are currently used in extenders to preserve semen required for storage.
Abbreviations
AgNPs: silver nanoparticles; AMK: amikacin; AMP: adenosine monophosphate; AR: acrosome reaction; C: capacitation; CF: cefallotin; CFU: colony-forming unit; CTC: chlortetracycline; CXM: cefuroxime; DMSO: dimethyl sulfoxide; NC: non-capacitation; NOM: Norma Oficial Mexicana; PBS: phosphate buffered saline; RLUs: relative light units; ROS: reactive oxygen species; SQS: Seminal Quality System
KEYWORDS:
Ethics and animal care
All of the procedures followed the Animal Care and Use Program (NIH, USA) and Norma official Mexicana NOM-066-ZOO-1999, which include protocols of handling, care, use and welfare of swine and were approved by the Institutional Research Ethics Committee at IIBQ-UMSNH (Protocol #IIQB-CIBE-05-2017).
Acknowledgments
We are grateful for the technical support and SQS system provided by Servicios de Occidente S.A de C.V., Av. Atotonilco No. 4584-A Col. Benito Juárez, Jalisco, México and ZoitechLab. S.L., Calle Calibre 121, Polígono Industrial P-29, Collado-Villalba, Madrid, España. We thank CIC-UMSNH founding (2018-2019), which made part of this research possible. We thank Proteomic and Cellular Bioengineering Unit, INFR-2015-01 255010 (CONACyT).
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests regarding this study.
Author contributions
Data acquisition, and data interpretation: FP-D, LSA-T, PNS-D, EG-C; reagents: LSA-T, IBO-Z; samples collection and seminal attributes examination: IAT-T, IBO-Z; critical analysis, data interpretation, and critical revision of the article for intellectual content: LSA-T, REN–A; conception and design of the work, data analysis, interpretation, drafting of the article: FP-D, REN-A.