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Abstract
The sperm quality and several parameters associated with oxidative stress were evaluated in ram (Ovis aries) spermatozoa suspensions incubated with 0, 50 or 500 ng/mL Pb during 0, 1, 3 or 6 h. The presence of Pb during incubation, reduced the integrity of the acrosome, % sperm motility and integrity, and the functionality of membrane. On the contrary, % polyunsaturated fatty acids and the activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase in the spermatozoa suspensions were not affected by Pb. Moreover, glutathione peroxidase activity was decreased and the fatty acid composition changed due to the relative increase in % stearic acid during the incubation time independently on Pb presence. Data showed that several effects of Pb on sperm quality usually observed in vivo also occurred in vitro, but without any relationship with oxidative stress biomarkers.
Acknowledgements
The authors thank P. Camarero, A. García, M. Martínez-Haro, S. Sánchez-Maroto and R. Sobrino for their technical assistance. This work was supported with a grant (PCC-05-004-2) from the Department of Education and Science of the Autonomous Government of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain) and a grant of the University of Castilla-La Mancha.