Effect of Platelet-rich Plasma (PRP) on the Quality of Donor Semen During Cryopreservation

Sperm cryopreservation allows the preservation of sperm biological function for long periods of time for later use in assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, the freezing and thawing process causes structural and functional damage to sperm, leading to decreased motility and vitality, a loss of plasma membrane integrity and even DNA damage.

In recent years, various strategies have been studied to protect sperm from cryodamage, including the optimization of freezing processes, the design of freezing devices, and improved freezing media.

One possible measure to mitigate the cryodamage suffered by sperm is the addition of PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, to the freezing medium. In previous studies, PRP components have been shown to have positive effects on semen quality, improving motility, viability, and plasma membrane integrity after cryopreservation. In light of these positive results, this study will evaluate the possibility of incorporating PRP into sperm cryopreservation media and its potential future benefits for patients and clinical outcomes. To this end, each semen sample after a previous spermiogram will be aliquoted, and 0%, 1%, 2%, and 5% PRP will be added to the cryopreservation medium according to the sperm group to which the belong. A spermiogram will be performed after cryopreservation to assess various semen quality parameters, including sperm count, motility, morphology, vitality, and chromatin dispersion. The data must be processed through statistical analysis to obtain results that allow determining, primarily, whether there is a beneficial effect on sperm quality after sperm motility and sperm during cryopreservation with the addition of PRP.