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Comparison of three containers used for the transport of cooled stallion semen.
Abstract: Three containers commonly used to transport cooled equine semen (Equitainer, ExpectaFoal and a Swedish-designed semen-transport container, previously called the Salsbro Box and now called Equine Express) were compared, using four ejaculates from each of three stallions. Each ejaculate was diluted to a spermatozoal concentration of 25 x 10(6)/ml with a nonfat dry milk-glucose extender containing amikacin sulfate (1 mg/ml) and potassium penicillin G (1000 units/ml). Extended semen was divided into three 40-ml aliquots for placement in each of the three semen-transport containers. The extended semen was stored in the containers for 24 h prior to analysis. Stored semen was warmed for 15 min at 37 degrees C, then video records of sperm motility were obtained for evaluation using a Hamilton-Thorne motility analyzer equipped with a stage warmer set at 37 degrees C. The temperature of 40-ml aliquots of semen extender stored in each container was also measured for 60 h using a copper-constantan thermocouple placed in the center of the stored samples. Intervals from onset of storage until sample temperature exceeded 10 degrees C during the warming phase were 27.5, 33.5 and 53 h, for the Expecta-Foal, Equine Express and Equitainer, respectively. Semen extender stored in the Equitainer compared most favorably to ideal cooling rates and storage temperatures published previously. Following a 24-h storage period, the mean percentages of motile, progressively motile, and rapidly motile spermatozoa, as well as the mean spermatozoal curvilinear velocity were similar (P > 0.05) among the three containers.
Publication Date: 2006-05-27 PubMed ID: 16728197DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00341-5Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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The research compared the effectiveness of three different containers for transporting cooled horse semen: Equitainer, ExpectaFoal, and Equine Express. The researchers found all three containers maintained similar levels of horse sperm mobility, but the Equitainer maintained the most ideal cooling rates and storage temperatures.
Methodology
- The researchers used four ejaculates from each of three horses. Each sample was diluted with a nonfat dry milk-glucose extender that also contained amikacin sulfate and potassium penicillin G.
- The extended semen was divided into three 40-ml aliquots for placement in each of the three semen-transport containers.
- This extended semen was stored in these containers for 24 hours before analysis.
- Before evaluating the semen, it was warmed for 15 minutes at 37 degrees Celsius. Video records of the sperm’s motility were captured for evaluation using a specialized device, the Hamilton-Thorne motility analyzer that was also set at 37 degrees Celsius.
- The researchers also measured the temperature of semen extender stored in each container for 60 hours using a specific type of thermometer placed in the center of the stored samples.
Results
- The interval from the start of storage until the sample temperature exceeded 10 degrees Celsius during the warming phase differed among the containers: it was 27.5 hours for Expecta-Foal, 33.5 hours for the Equine Express, and 53 hours for the Equitainer.
- The researchers found that the semen extender stored in the Equitainer followed the most ideal cooling rates and storage temperatures as compared to the other containers. These ideal rates and temperatures have been published in previous studies.
- After a 24-hour storage period, all three containers registered similar percentages of motile, progressively motile, and rapidly motile spermatozoa, as well as similar mean sperm curvilinear velocity. There was no statistically significant variation among the three containers in these measures.
Conclusion
The researchers thus concluded that all three containers maintained reasonable levels of sperm mobility for equine semen. However, for maintaining ideal cooling rates and storage temperatures, Equitainer was found to be the most effective among the three containers examined in the study. This suggests that when choosing a container for transport or storage of cooled equine semen, the Equitainer may be the most reliable choice.
Cite This Article
APA
Katila T, Combes GB, Varner DD, Blanchard TL.
(2006).
Comparison of three containers used for the transport of cooled stallion semen.
Theriogenology, 48(7), 1085-1092.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00341-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Animal Reproduction University of Helsinki, Saari, Finland.
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