The Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Sperm Cryobiology and Post-Thaw Quality of Sperm in Livestock Species
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam
- 2Department of Animal Reproduction, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan
- 3Department of Poultry Science, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Sciences, Sindh Agriculture University Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan
- 4Department of Veterinary Pharmacology, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan.
- 5Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Sindh, Pakistan.
Abstract
The cryopreservation of semen is a prerequisite for artificial insemination, germplasm banking and the global distribution of elite livestock breeding. However, spermatozoa are particularly sensitive to cooling and freezing/thawing processes due to the presence of large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their plasma membranes and limited cytoplasmic antioxidant stores. An increase in reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, acrosomal injury and DNA fragmentation occurs due to stress associated with cryopreservation, which results in the lowering of motility as well as viability and post-thaw low quality of sperm. Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural disulfide compound that acts as a redox-active antioxidant and mitochondrial metabolic cofactor. Its reduced form known as dihydrolipoic acid possesses antioxidant actions by scavenging free radicals, regenerating endogenous antioxidants, promoting mitochondrial energy metabolism and preventing oxidative damage. This review synthesizes direct ALA evidence across buffalo, cattle bulls, goats/bucks, rams, boars, poultry and common carp, with additional comparative evidence from honeybee drone semen. Across these species, protective effects are dose- and formulation-dependent: optimized ALA generally improves sperm motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function and antioxidant status, whereas excessive concentrations or prolonged post-thaw exposure can be neutral or detrimental. Therefore, ALA should be optimized for each species, extender and preservation protocol rather than treated as a common semen additive.
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BibTeX
@article{malak2026effect,
title = {{The Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Sperm Cryobiology and Post-Thaw Quality of Sperm in Livestock Species}},
author = {Kashif Ali Malak and Nazar Ali Korejo and Hira Sajjad Talpur and Asmatullah Kaka and Atif Ali Malak and Muhammad Aqeel and Rasool Bux},
journal = {Journal of Bioresource Management},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.35691/jbm.6202.0048},
url = {https://doi.org/10.35691/jbm.6202.0048},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - The Effect of Alpha-Lipoic Acid on Sperm Cryobiology and Post-Thaw Quality of Sperm in Livestock Species
AU - Kashif Ali Malak
AU - Nazar Ali Korejo
AU - Hira Sajjad Talpur
AU - Asmatullah Kaka
AU - Atif Ali Malak
AU - Muhammad Aqeel
AU - Rasool Bux
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/01
JO - Journal of Bioresource Management
DO - 10.35691/jbm.6202.0048
UR - https://doi.org/10.35691/jbm.6202.0048
AB - The cryopreservation of semen is a prerequisite for artificial insemination, germplasm banking and the global distribution of elite livestock breeding. However, spermatozoa are particularly sensitive to cooling and freezing/thawing processes due to the presence of large amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their plasma membranes and limited cytoplasmic antioxidant stores. An increase in reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, mitochondrial dysfunction, acrosomal injury and DNA fragmentation occurs due to stress associated with cryopreservation, which results in the lowering of motility as well as viability and post-thaw low quality of sperm. Alpha-lipoic acid is a natural disulfide compound that acts as a redox-active antioxidant and mitochondrial metabolic cofactor. Its reduced form known as dihydrolipoic acid possesses antioxidant actions by scavenging free radicals, regenerating endogenous antioxidants, promoting mitochondrial energy metabolism and preventing oxidative damage. This review synthesizes direct ALA evidence across buffalo, cattle bulls, goats/bucks, rams, boars, poultry and common carp, with additional comparative evidence from honeybee drone semen. Across these species, protective effects are dose- and formulation-dependent: optimized ALA generally improves sperm motility, viability, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function and antioxidant status, whereas excessive concentrations or prolonged post-thaw exposure can be neutral or detrimental. Therefore, ALA should be optimized for each species, extender and preservation protocol rather than treated as a common semen additive.
SN - 2309-3854
ER -