Melatonin affects membrane integrity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, caspase3 activity and AKT phosphorylation in frozen thawed human sperm.

Cryopreservation is known to induce oxidative stress in spermatozoa. Although melatonin has powerful antioxidant properties, little is known about its effects on human sperm quality during cryopreservation. The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of melatonin treatment on human sperm parameters essential for fertilization.