Effects of resveratrol supplementation on cryopreservation medium of human semen

Objective: To analyze oxidative stress markers and seminal standard parameters after using resveratrol (0.1, 1.0, and 10.0 mM), an important antioxidant, in the cryopreservation of human semen. Design: In vitro prospective study. Setting: Institutional study. Patient(s): Infertile and fertile men. Intervention(s): None. Main Outcome Measure(s): Levels of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities and spermatozoa concentration, motility, and morphology. Result(s): Increased TBARS levels were observed in the post-thawing semen in both fertile and infertile men. Infertile men had lower CAT and SOD activities in prefreezing and post-thawing samples when compared with fertile men. The addition of resveratrol in all the concentrations assayed was able to prevent post-thawing lipoperoxidation in both fertile and infertile men. However, this effect was not dose dependent. The cryopreservation process was not able to change sperm concentration or morphology. However, a decrease in sperm motility was observed in both the fertile and infertile men. The addition of resveratrol was not able to prevent this effect. Conclusion(s): Resveratrol avoids oxidative damages induced by the cryopreservation of human semen, but it is not able to restore the decrease in sperm motility. (Fertil Steril (R) 2010; 94: 2118-21. (C) 2010 by American Society for Reproductive Medicine.)