Effects of ascorbic acid and ferrous sulfate on in-vitro fertility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in porcine Nam, H.S., C.K. Park, H.T. Cheong, S.C. Lee, J.H. Kim, B.K. Yang and C.I. Kim​ 

J. Animal Reprod. 23(3):229-237, 1999

Effects of Ascorbic Acid and Ferrous Sulfate on In-Vitro Fertility of 

Frozen-Thawed Spermatozoa in Porcine

Nam, H.S1., C.K. Park*, H.T. Cheong, S.C. Lee2, J.H. Kim2,

B.K. Yang and C.I. Kim

College of Animal Resources Science, Kangwon National University

ABSTRACT

The influence of ascorbic acid (Asc) and ferrous sulfate (Fe2+) on 

capacitation, acrosome reaction and fertility in vitro was investigated in 

boar frozen-thawed spermatozoa with or without preincubation. The addition 

of 0∼1.0 mM Fe2+ to sperm suspensions during preincubation increase 

acrosome reaction (p<0.05) and oocyte penetration. These increase are also 

associated with addition of 0∼0.5 mM Asc, but the penetration rates were 

higher in those without than with sperm preincubation. The addition of 0.1 

mM Asc than 0.5 mM in medium with Fe2+ were significantly(p<0.05) higher 

on acrosome reaction at 2h after sperm preincubation. No significant 

differences, however, were observed in penetration rates among the 

concentrations of Asc. On the other hand, when preincubation medium 

containing the Asc was supplemented with 0.1 mM Fe2+, the percentage of 

spermatozoa acrosome-reacted were significantly(p<0.05) higher than in 

medium without Fe2+, on the contrary, the penetration rate was 

significantly(p<0.05) low during in-vitro fertilization. These findings 

indicate some apparent effects of Fe2+ or Asc addition on acrosome 

reaction and the fetilizing potential by sperm preincubation.

key words: Ascorbic acid, Acrosome reaction, Capacitation, Ferrous 

sulfate, Porcine