Inclusion of Free-Oxygen Radical Scavengers within the Plastic Matrix of the Collection Vessel Appears to Positively Impact Sperm Biochemical Processes

Semen collection has been a mainstay in both human and animal-assisted reproduction for well over half a century. However, until quite recently, little care or concern has been raised about the conditions of the collection environment and their potential effects, not only on sperm quality, but on cycle outcomes as well. Within the last few years, it has become recognized that the abnormal environment of a collection container can lead to membrane disruption, organelle dysfunction, and DNA damage, all of which may limit or totally prevent positive outcomes. Nowhere is this more apparent than in humans and the equine, where intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become the procedure of choice for fertilization during assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. Previous work from this laboratory has described a species-specific device for improved semen collection (DISC) that possesses several properties that help maintain sperm quality, including antioxidant scavengers within the plastic matrix. Using an equine model, the objective of the present study was to determine the effectiveness of the original scavenger formulation (DISC) and a modified formulation (DISC+) in mitigating loss of biochemical function in sperm collected and maintained in a non-optimal environment, compared with the traditional collection device, the standard baby bottle.