Pre‐treatment of ram semen extender with magnetic nanoparticles on freeze‐thawed spermatozoa

BACKGROUND: Extensive use of different nanoparticles caused significant concerns about their biological safety. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of cryopreservation on ram semen after adding magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) to separate X and Y chromosome‐bearing spermatozoa. METHODS: The experimental ram sperms in this research included treated spermatozoa (50 μg/ml MNPs) and non‐treated spermatozoa. DNA damage of spermatozoa was examined using an acridine orange (AO) assay. Sperm viability, membrane functionality, abnormality and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were also measured. RESULTS: Results indicated that the pre‐treatment of ram semen extender with MNPs did not significantly affect the semen parameters such as viability, membrane functionality, abnormality, as well as lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels and DNA integrity in comparison with the control group (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that pre‐treatment of ram semen extender with MNPs after semen sexing did not have adverse effects on different semen parameters after cryopreservation.