Institute of Applied Biology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976, Nitra, Slovak Republic.
Department of Chemistry and Food Toxicology, Institute of Food Technology and Nutrition, University of Rzeszów, Ćwiklińskiej 1a St., 35-601, Rzeszów, Poland.
In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim. 2024 Jun;60(6):596-608. doi: 10.1007/s11626-024-00918-y. Epub 2024 May 21.
Bee drone brood is a beehive by-product with high hormonal activity used in natural medicine to treat male infertility. The aim of the study was to assess the effect of drone brood on stallion spermatozoa during a short-term incubation for its potential use in the equine semen extenders. Three different forms of fixed drone brood (frozen (FR), freeze-dried (FD), and dried extract (DE)) were used. Solutions of drone brood were compared in terms of testosterone, protein, total phenolic content, and antioxidant activity. The stallion semen was diluted with prepared drone brood solutions. The computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) method was employed to evaluate the movement characteristics of the diluted ejaculate. To determine spermatozoa viability, the mitochondrial toxicity test (MTT) and Alamar Blue test were performed. In terms of testosterone content and antioxidant activity, a close likeness between FR and FD was found whereas DE's composition differed notably. FR had a positive effect mainly on progressive motility, but also on sperm distance and speed parameters after 2 and 3 h of incubation. On the contrary, FD and DE acted negatively, depending on increasing dose and time. For the first time, a positive dose-dependent effect of fixed drone brood on spermatozoa survival in vitro was demonstrated.
雄蜂幼虫是蜂房中一种具有高激素活性的副产物，在天然药物中用于治疗男性不育。本研究的目的是评估在短期孵化过程中雄蜂幼虫对种马精子的影响，以期将其用于马精液稀释液。使用了三种不同形式的固定雄蜂幼虫（冷冻（FR）、冷冻干燥（FD）和干提取物（DE））。比较了雄蜂幼虫溶液的睾酮、蛋白质、总酚含量和抗氧化活性。用制备的雄蜂幼虫溶液稀释种马精液。采用计算机辅助精液分析（CASA）方法评估稀释精液的运动特征。为了确定精子活力，进行了线粒体毒性试验（MTT）和 Alamar Blue 试验。就睾酮含量和抗氧化活性而言，发现 FR 和 FD 非常相似，而 DE 的组成则明显不同。FR 主要对精子的运动能力、运动距离和速度参数具有积极作用，在孵育 2 和 3 小时后效果明显。相反，FD 和 DE 的作用则是负面的，取决于剂量和时间的增加。这是首次证明固定雄蜂幼虫对体外精子存活具有正向剂量依赖性作用。
