Jeonnam National University Professor Team Discovers Method to Inhibit Apoptosis in Frozen Abalone Sperm Cells

[Asia Economy Honam Reporting Headquarters, Reporter Yoon Jamin] Professor Ko Kanghee's research team from the Department of Aquaculture Biology, College of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences, Chonnam National University, has discovered a method to increase genes that inhibit apoptosis in the frozen sperm of northern abalone.

This is expected to have a groundbreaking impact on future lifespan extension research.

Apoptosis is a form of programmed cell death controlled by genes, distinct from necrosis, which is pathological cell death or cell injury.

The research results were published in the latest online edition of Antioxidant (IF 7.675), a journal ranked within the top 5% in the fields of chemistry and medicine according to JCR.

It has been known that cells experience damage to their antioxidant defense systems, leading to increased reactive oxygen species production and lipid oxidation, which ultimately accelerates apoptosis.

Accordingly, the research team improved the cryopreservation technology of northern abalone sperm using sugars to prevent apoptosis.

In fact, frozen sperm treated with sugars showed increased activity of three antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione), and mRNA expression of five major antioxidant genes (CAT, Cu/Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, GPx, GR) increased, alleviating apoptosis.

Notably, in frozen sperm treated with sugars, the expression of apoptosis-inhibiting genes (BCL-2, HSP70, and HSP90) significantly increased, while the expression of apoptosis-promoting genes (Bax, Caspase-3) decreased.

This research was conducted with funding from the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries and supported by the Fisheries Commercialization Technology Development Project of the Korea Institute of Marine Science and Technology Promotion. The team consisted of Professor Ko (corresponding author), Shahariar Hossain (first author, doctoral candidate), and Cho Yushin (co-author, doctoral candidate), among others.

On the 3rd, Professor Ko stated, “I hope the results of this study will greatly contribute to the seed industry of aquatic animals and plants in aquaculture and the advancement of cryobiology.”

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