A comprehensive meta-analysis on the efficacy of growth factor enriched cryo-agents in enhancing post-thaw quality of mammalian semen.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the impact of growth factors (GFs) in semen extenders on the quality of post-thaw mammalian sperm using a meta-analysis approach. The primary objective was to determine whether the addition of GFs could enhance semen quality following cryopreservation.

Methods: A meta-analysis of various in vitro experiments using mammalian semen was conducted. Data were collected from multiple studies assessing the effects of GFs on sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity, and other key semen quality parameters. The analysis included a range of mammalian species, with specific GFs added to semen extenders during cryopreservation. Sperm quality was evaluated through parameters such as motility, viability, acrosome integrity, PMI, DNA integrity, HOST, MDA, and CASA. Statistical analyses, including standardized mean differences (SMD), were performed to compare the effects of GF additives versus control treatments.

Results: The addition of GFs to semen extenders significantly improved semen quality across multiple parameters, including motility, viability, acrosome integrity, DNA integrity, and others. Specifically, SMDs for motility, viability, acrosome integrity, PMI, DNA integrity, HOST, MDA, and CASA parameters were significantly higher in the GF-treated groups compared to the controls, with values such as 2.56±0.303, 3.53±0.423, 1.22±0.351, 1.82±0.362, 8.73±2.514, 2.02±0.426, and 6.30±2.87, respectively. Notably, the addition of GFs maintained semen quality in most mammalian species (p < 0.05, SMD >0.5), with the exception of boar semen.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the addition of GFs to semen extenders significantly preserves semen quality during cryopreservation in most mammalian species. This improvement is likely attributed to the antioxidants and repair factors present in the GFs. Each GF appeared to exert a distinct effect on sperm, thereby enhancing sperm viability post-thaw. These findings have important implications for improving reproductive technologies in mammalian species, particularly in cryopreservation and artificial insemination protocols.