ρ-Coumaric acid-zinc oxide nanoparticles improve post-thaw quality of goat spermatozoa and developmental competence of fertilized oocytes in vitro

Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during cryopreservation and post-thawing affects sperm quality and subsequent fertilizing capacity. Nanoparticles (NPs) with antioxidative properties can improve sperm function and male fertility. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of 100 µM ρ-coumaric acid (ρ-CA), 0.1 µM ρ-CA-NPs (PCNPs), 150 µg/mL zinc chloride (ZnCl₂), 1 µg/mL zinc oxide-NPs (ZnO-NPs), ρ-CA + ZnCl₂, PCNPs + ZnO-NPs, 0.001 µM of ρ-CA loaded on ZnO-NPs (ρ-CA-ZnONPs) on goat sperm parameters and fertilizing ability after cryopreservation. Semen samples from five Saanen goats were used. Various concentrations of treatments were incubated to determine the optimal concentrations for assessing sperm motility and viability. Subsequently, samples were filled with 0.5-mL straws, frozen, and stored in liquid nitrogen (- 196 °C). Evaluations of post-thaw spermatozoa parameters and fertilizing ability were performed. Addition of ρ-CA-ZnONPs and PCNPs + ZnO-NPs significantly increased sperm viability, motility, plasma membrane integrity, blastocyst rate, and blastocyst quality compared with the other treatments. Moreover, using ρ-CA-ZnONPs significantly decreased lipid peroxidation and DNA damage compared with the other treatments. In conclusion, spermatozoa are cryotolerant, resistant to post-thaw conditions, and have fertilizing ability that can be increased by adding ρ-CA-ZnONPs as an antioxidant to goat semen extenders.