Trehalose exerts cryoprotective effects on piglet testicular tissue

The cryopreservation of testicular tissue is crucial for maintaining male fertility; However, its efficacy is often compromised by oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. Trehalose, a natural cryoprotectant, demonstrates significant potential, yet its specific mechanisms, particularly in mitochondrial regulation, remain insufficiently characterized. This study aimed to investigate the cryoprotective effects of trehalose on testicular tissue from 18-21-day-old piglets, with a focus on mitochondrial metabolism. Samples were cryopreserved via a slow-freezing protocol in a modified standard solution containing 200 mmol/L trehalose. The protective effect was evaluated by measuring testosterone synthesis, blood testis barrier (BTB) and spermatogenesis. Additionally, protective outcomes were assessed by measuring cell viability, tissue morphology, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, apoptosis rates, and testosterone secretion following freeze-thaw cycles. Transcriptomic sequencing and bioinformatics analyses were conducted to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism. Cryopreservation led to reduced testosterone synthesis and secretion, decreased levels of BTB-binding proteins, and impaired spermatogenesis. Results indicated that 200 mmol/L trehalose significantly improved cell survival, decreased apoptosis and ROS levels, and enhanced testosterone secretion. 200 mmol/L trehalose partially increased the expression of StAR and CYP11A1 genes associated with testosterone synthesis while it protected the tight junction proteins Claudin-11, ZO-1 and the gap junction protein Cx43. Consequently, it exerted a reproductive protective effect by increasing the expression of key spermatogenic regulators DDX25, HMGB2, acrosomal protein DYP19L2, and sperm tail proteins AKAP4 and CFAP44. Transcriptomic profiling demonstrated that trehalose predominantly restored the transcriptional expression of genes involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain and oxidative phosphorylation pathways, including ND2, COX2, ATP8, ATP6, ND5, ND6 and CYTB. These findings indicate that trehalose primarily protects piglet testicular tissue during cryopreservation by enhancing mitochondrial function, thereby providing a molecular basis for optimizing cryopreservation protocols.