Biological Signals of Sperm Membrane Resistance to Cryoinjury in Boars

Abstract

Despite the great progress achieved in the cryopreservation of boar semen, it has not been possible to effectively counteract the negative effects on fertility and prolificacy. The boar sperm membrane (SpM) has a particular composition of phospholipids, cholesterol, and proteins that make it highly sensitive to freezing. Just at the beginning and during the freezing protocol, the sperm are exposed to factors that destabilize the membrane and increase the sensitivity to cholesterol efflux and lipid peroxidation. This is a series of events similar to physiological capacitation; they are commonly called cryocapacitation. All the molecules reported as freezability marker and those considered potential mark ers are directly or indirectly related to the physiology of the SpM. The above gives rise to intensify studies tending to assess their importance as facilitators of the boar semen freezing. synthase a