Rooster semen cryopreservation is a useful method to utilize semen samples for artificial insemination in commercial flocks, but with use of the freezing-thawing process there is a reduction in the quality and fertilization capacity of rooster spermatozoa post-thawing. The aim of the current study was to investigate the efficacy of the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO on rooster sperm quality and fertilization capacity after conducting the freezing-thawing processes. Semen samples were diluted and there were five equal aliquots supplemented with 0, 0.5, 5, 50 and 500 μM Mito-TEMPO. Semen samples were subsequently cryopreserved in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, sperm motility, lipid peroxidation, membrane functionality, normal morphology, mitochondria active potential, acrosome integrity, viability, apoptotic-like changes, DNA fragmentation, hydrogen peroxide concentration and fertilizing capacity were evaluated. Supplementation of Lake medium with 5 and 50 μM Mito-TEMPO resulted in greater (P ≤ 0.05) total sperm motility, progressive motility, average path velocity, membrane functionality, mitochondria active potential, acrosome integrity and viability compared with semen of the other groups. Lipid peroxidation, late apoptotic-like changes, DNA fragmentation and hydrogen peroxide content, however, were less (P ≤0.05) in semen samples supplemented with 5 and 50 μM Mito-TEMPO compared to other groups. Furthermore, fertility percentages were greater when there was supplementation with 5 and 50 μM Mito-TEMPO compared to the control group. Mitochondria-targeted antioxidant Mito-TEMPO could be included in semen extender before cryopreservation to improve quality and fertilization capacity of rooster semen after thawing of cryopreserved samples.

公鸡精液冷冻保存是一种利用精液样本对商业鸡群进行人工授精的有用方法，但使用冻融过程会降低解冻后公鸡精子的质量和受精能力。本研究的目的是研究线粒体靶向抗氧化剂 Mito-TEMPO 在进行冻融过程后对公鸡精子质量和受精能力的影响。精液样品被稀释，并且有五个等分试样，分别添加了 0、0.5、5、50 和 500 μM Mito-TEMPO。随后将精液样本冷冻保存在液氮中。解冻后，精子活力、脂质过氧化、膜功能、正常形态、线粒体活性电位、顶体完整性、活力、凋亡样变化，评估了 DNA 断裂、过氧化氢浓度和受精能力。用 5 和 50 μM Mito-TEMPO 补充 Lake 培养基导致更大的（P  ≤ 0.05) 与其他组的精液相比，总精子活力、进行性运动、平均路径速度、膜功能、线粒体活性电位、顶体完整性和活力。然而，与其他组相比，在补充了 5 和 50 μM Mito-TEMPO 的精液样品中，脂质过氧化、晚期凋亡样变化、DNA 断裂和过氧化氢含量较少（P ≤0.05）。此外，与对照组相比，当补充 5 和 50 μM Mito-TEMPO 时，生育率更高。可以在冷冻保存前将线粒体靶向抗氧化剂 Mito-TEMPO 加入精液稀释剂中，以提高冷冻保存样品解冻后公鸡精液的质量和受精能力。