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Animal reproduction science2008; 112(1-2); 22-35; doi: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.03.016

Differences in ability of jennies and mares to conceive with cooled and frozen semen containing glycerol or not.

Abstract: A suitable method for the cryopreservation of donkey semen would be very valuable for the ex situ management of genetic diversity in this species. This report uses a variety of observation and trials to evaluate the effect of cryoprotectants in per-cycle pregnancy rates (PC) in equids females (jennies (donkey) and mares (horse)). This was explored by (1) comparing the results of insemination of jennies and mares with cooled or frozen donkey semen, (2) examining the possible toxic effect of the cryoprotectant (CPA) glycerol in these two species and (3) studying alternative solutions. Donkey and horse semen was either used immediately, or cooled according to some steps of the pre-freezing procedure or frozen and thawed. The pre-freezing procedure included semen dilution, centrifugation, resuspension in milk or in INRA82+2% egg yolk+various % CPA (expressed as final concentrations in extended semen (v/v)) and then cooling to 4 degrees C. PC was similar in mares and jennies inseminated with donkey semen cooled to 4 degrees C in milk. However, the PC was significantly higher in mares than in jennies when donkey semen was frozen with 2.2% glycerol (36%, n=50 cycles vs. 11%, n=38 cycles; P<0.01). Increasing the concentrations of glycerol (0, 2.2, 3.5, 4.8%) before cooling stallion semen resulted in a progressive decrease in mare PC (87, 53, 53, 13% (n=15 cycles for each concentration); P<0.0001). The addition of 2.2% glycerol before cooling donkey semen decreased the PC measured in jennies to 0. The replacement of glycerol by 2% dimethylformamide increased the fertility obtained in jennies with cooled donkey semen (PC: 67%, n=12 cycles) but did not increase the fertility obtained with frozen-thawed donkey semen (PC: 11%, n=28 cycles with dimethylformamide vs. 0%, n=16 cycles with glycerol). In conclusion, this study clearly shows that the ability of jennies to conceive after AI with donkey frozen semen is lower than that of mares. Glycerol affects the fertility of donkey and stallion spermatozoa as early as during the pre-freezing procedure. In consequence, the glycerol level must be low in frozen equine semen to provide good fertility. The toxic dose of glycerol for donkey spermatozoa seems to be almost half that for stallion spermatozoa. Whether this greater sensitivity of donkey spermatozoa to glycerol is responsible for the low success of semen cryopreservation in jennies is not so obvious because replacement of glycerol by dimethylformamide was not much more effective in terms of fertility.
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Publication Date: 2008-03-28 PubMed ID: 18502059DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.03.016Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research aims to identify effective methods for preserving donkey sperm through freezing (cryopreservation) and explores how different factors affect the success rate of pregnancies in both donkey and horse females. The study found that female donkeys (jennies) have a lower rate of conception with frozen semen than horses (mares), suggesting that the cryoprotectant substance, glycerol, negatively affects the fertility of donkey sperm.

Study Design and Methodology

  • The study observed the effect of different conditions of donkey semen on the pregnancy rates in horse and donkey females. Specifically, they compared outcomes when using fresh semen, semen that was cooled, and semen that was frozen and thawed.
  • Part of the pre-freezing procedure involved diluting the semen and then cooling it to 4 degrees Celsius. Two main solutions were used for this – milk and another mix called INRA82+2% egg yolk. Various concentrations of cryoprotectant – glycerol, were added in certain tests.
  • The researchers examined if and how the cryoprotectant glycerol could be toxic for these species and looked for alternative solutions to minimize this toxicity.

Key Findings

  • When donkey semen was cooled with milk, the conception rates were similar for both horse and donkey females.
  • However, when donkey semen was frozen with the addition of a 2.2% concentration of glycerol, horse females had significantly higher conception rates compared to donkey females.
  • Increasing concentrations of glycerol (ranging from 0 to 4.8%) before cooling stallion (male horse) semen led to a decrease in female horse success rates of conception.
  • The addition of glycerol to cooled donkey semen resulted in zero conception rates in donkey females.
  • Substituting glycerol with another substance called dimethylformamide improved conception rates in donkey females with cooled donkey semen but did not have the same effect with frozen-thawed donkey semen.

Conclusions

  • The study concluded that donkey females have a lower conception rate following insemination with frozen donkey semen than horse females.
  • The fertility of donkey and stallion sperm is negatively impacted by glycerol during the pre-freezing process, suggesting glycerol levels must be low in frozen semen to ensure high fertility rates.
  • Donkey spermatozoa appear to be more sensitive to glycerol, requiring almost half the concentration compared to stallion spermatozoa.
  • The study notes that it is unclear whether this sensitivity to glycerol is the primary cause for the lower success rates of semen preservation in donkey females, particularly as the substitution of glycerol with dimethylformamide did not significantly improve fertility rates.

This study provides valuable insights into the cryopreservation of donkey semen and illustrates the need for further research into effective methods for semen preservation and successful conception rates in donkeys.

Cite This Article

APA
Vidament M, Vincent P, Martin FX, Magistrini M, Blesbois E. (2008). Differences in ability of jennies and mares to conceive with cooled and frozen semen containing glycerol or not. Anim Reprod Sci, 112(1-2), 22-35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.03.016

Publication

Animal reproduction science
ISSN: 1873-2232
NlmUniqueID: 7807205
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 112
Issue: 1-2
Pages: 22-35

Researcher Affiliations

Vidament, Marianne
  • UMR INRA/CNRS/Haras Nationaux/University Tours: Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Physiologie Animale et Systèmes d'Elevage, Centre de recherche de Tours, NOUZILLY, France. vidament@tours.inra.fr
Vincent, Pierrick
    Martin, François-Xavier
      Magistrini, Michele
        Blesbois, Elisabeth

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Cold Temperature
          • Cryopreservation / methods
          • Cryopreservation / veterinary
          • Cryoprotective Agents / administration & dosage
          • Dimethylformamide / administration & dosage
          • Equidae / physiology
          • Female
          • Fertility
          • Fertilization
          • Glycerol / administration & dosage
          • Horses / embryology
          • Insemination, Artificial / methods
          • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
          • Pregnancy
          • Semen Preservation / methods
          • Semen Preservation / veterinary
          • Species Specificity
          • Sperm Motility

          Citations

          This article has been cited 18 times.
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