Selenium nanoparticles improve fish sperm quality by enhancing glucose uptake capacity via AMPK activation

Appropriate additives can provide a suitable physiological environment for storage of fish sperm and facilitate the large-scale breeding of endangered species and commercial fish. Suitable additives for fish sperm storage in vitro are required for artificial insemination. This study evaluate the effects of 0.1, 0.5, 1.5, and 4.5 mg/L selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) on the quality of Schizothorax prenanti and Onychos-toma macrolepis sperm storage in vitro at 4 & DEG;C for 72 h. We found that 0.5 mg/L SeNPs was a suitable concentration for maintaining the normal physiological state of O. macrolepis sperm during storage at 4 & DEG;C (p < 0.05). Higher adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content of O. macrolepis sperm before and after activation was present at that concentration. To further explore the potential mechanism of action of SeNPs on O. macrolepis sperm, western blotting and glucose uptake analyses were performed. The results implied that after 24 h of in vitro preservation, 0.5 mg/L SeNPs significantly improved p-AMPK levels and glucose uptake capacity of O. macrolepis sperm, while compound C (CC), the inhibitor of activated AMP -activated protein kinase (p-AMPK), significantly restricted the function of SeNPs on stored sperm. Similar effects of 0.5 mg/L SeNPs were found on Schizothorax prenanti sperm. Our study demonstrates that SeNPs maintained ATP content and O. macrolepis and Schizothorax pre-nanti sperm function during storage in vitro for 72 h, possibly because SeNPs enhanced the glucose uptake capacity of sperm by maintaining the level of p-AMPK. & COPY; 2023 Published by Elsevier Inc.

Automated summary

Appropriate additives can provide a suitable physiological environment for fish sperm storage and promote large-scale breeding. This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of selenium nanoparticles on the quality of fish sperm during in vitro storage. Results showed that 0.5 mg/L selenium nanoparticles maintained the normal physiological state of fish sperm and enhanced glucose uptake capacity, thereby preserving sperm function.