Figure 5.

The localization of quercetin in cold-stored sperm. Cauda epididymides were taken from sacrificed male mice and stored in Lifor or Lifor-DMSO-Q at 4°C for 7 days. After storage, sperm were transferred in BSA-free Toyoda Yokoyama Hoshi medium and observed via fluorescence microscopy. Nonstained (A, B) or quercetin-stained sperm (C, D) were quantified on the basis of the fluorescence intensity of quercetin by fluorescence-activated cell sorting. The amount of quercetin (%) was calculated as follows: (mean fluorescent intensity [MFI] of each experimental group/MFI of sperm cold-stored in Lifor) × 100. Values are given as the mean ±SD (n = 4). ^aP < 0.05 compared between Lifor and Lifor-DMSO or Lifor-DMSO-Q. ^bP < 0.05 compared between Lifor-DMSO and Lifor-DMSO-Q. The bars indicate 10 μm. DMSO, dimethyl sulfoxide. Q, quercetin.