biostudies-literatureHuang XKey Realm R&amp;D Program of GuangDong ProvinceState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry research projectNational Natural Science Foundation of ChinaNational Key Research and Development Program of ChinaKey Realm R&D Program of GuangDong Province105https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12908368biostudies-literatureUnknown22(1)<h4>Background</h4>In vitro semen preservation is a crucial technique for conserving genetic material from male dogs. However, during the storage, oxidative damage can compromise key sperm structures, resulting in the decline of sperm viability, affecting their recognition of oocytes, and even causing sperm death. Therefore, the addition of exogenous antioxidants to alleviate the oxidative damage to sperm has become an important strategy to improve the effect of sperm storage in vitro. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a kind of water soluble heteropolysaccharide with high-efficiency antioxidant activity, but its effect and mechanism in the preservation of canine semen remain to be studied. Thus, the present was designed to investigate the effects of APS on canine sperm after chilled storBMC veterinary researchAstragalus polysaccharide improves canine sperm quality after chilled storage via promoting AMPK phosphorylation.PMC12908368322728732022B0202110002ZQQZ-102022YFF0710700Wang RHuang XHuang MHu MLiu RWei HZhang SZhao ZLi LfalseAstragalus polysaccharide improves canine sperm quality after chilled storage via promoting AMPK phosphorylation.<h4>Background</h4>In vitro semen preservation is a crucial technique for conserving genetic material from male dogs. However, during the storage, oxidative damage can compromise key sperm structures, resulting in the decline of sperm viability, affecting their recognition of oocytes, and even causing sperm death. Therefore, the addition of exogenous antioxidants to alleviate the oxidative damage to sperm has become an important strategy to improve the effect of sperm storage in vitro. Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) is a kind of water soluble heteropolysaccharide with high-efficiency antioxidant activity, but its effect and mechanism in the preservation of canine semen remain to be studied. Thus, the present was designed to investigate the effects of APS on canine sperm after chilled stor2026-01-01T00:00:00Z2026 Jan2026-07-09T10:23:15.653Z2026-07-09T10:14:11.777ZS-EPMC129083684150801710.1186/s12917-025-05254-1