Are antioxidants hindering stallion sperm capacitation? A perspective on hidden barriers to equine IVF success

2026/03/12 by Ashlee Jade Medica, Zamira Gibb, José M. Ortiz-Rodríguez +1 · 1 voice
Medicine · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Sperm and Testicular Function #Reproductive Biology and Fertility #Reproductive Physiology in Livestock

paper · pdf · doi:10.1071/rd26009

openalex publication_date 2026/03/12 · openalex created_date 2026/03/13 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/12

Abstract

Heavy use of antioxidants in equine in vitro fertilisation (IVF) media may suppress the reactive oxygen species (ROS) signals stallion sperm need for capacitation, which depends on high mitochondrial activity and a well-maintained endogenous redox homeostasis. A species-specific approach balancing oxidative protection with controlled ROS signalling could improve fertilisation efficiency and reduce prolonged incubation times.

Citations

• The Paradoxical Relationship Between Stallion Fertility and Oxidative Stress1
• Successful in vitro fertilization in the horse: production of blastocysts and birth of foals after prolonged sperm incubation for capacitation
• Equine in vitro fertilization with frozen–thawed semen is associated with shortened pre-incubation time and modified capacitation-related changes
• Incubation of Frozen‐Thawed Semen Under Capacitating Conditions Supports Successful In Vitro Fertilization and Improves Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection‐Results in Horses

Discussions

• 🔬 NEW #RESEARCH ALERT: #IETSPapersOfTheMonth 📊 More antioxidants in equine IVF? Not always better. 🐴🤔 @newcastleuni.bsky.social & University of Bologna show a species-specific approach could boo [bsky, 0 points, 1 comments]