Effects of cooling rate and storage temperature on equine spermatozoal motility parameters.
Abstract: Two experiments were conducted to examine the effects of cooling rate and storage temperature on motility parameters of stallion spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, specific cooling rates to be used in Experiment 2 were established. In Experiment 2, three ejaculates from each of two stallions were diluted to 25 x 10(6) sperm/ml with 37 degrees C nonfat dry skim milk-glucose-penicillin-streptomycin seminal extender, then assigned to one of five treatments: 1) storage at 37 degrees C, 2) storage at 25 degrees C, 3) slow cooling rate to and storage at 4 degrees C, 4) moderate cooling rate to and storage at 4 degrees C, and 5) fast cooling rate to and storage at 4 degrees C. Total spermatozoal motility (TSM), progressive spermatozoal motility (PSM), and spermatozoal velocity (SV) were estimated at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 h postejaculation. The longevity of spermatozoal motility was greatly reduced when spermatozoa were stored at 37 degrees C as compared to lower spermatozoal storage temperatures. At 6 h postejaculation, TSM values (mean % +/- SEM) of semen stored at 37 degrees C, slowly cooled to and stored at 25 degrees C or slowly cooled to and stored at 4 degrees C were 5.4 +/- 1.1, 79.8 +/- 1.6, and 82.1 +/- 1.6, respectively. Mean TSM for semen that was cooled to 4 degrees C at a slow rate was greater (P<0.05) than mean TSM of semen cooled to 4 degrees C at a moderate rate for four of seven time periods (6, 24, 72 and 120 h), and it was greater (P<0.05) than mean TSM of semen cooled to 4 degrees C at a fast rate for five of seven time periods (6, 12, 24, 72 and 120 h). Mean TSM of semen cooled to 4 degrees C at a slow rate was greater (P<0.05) than mean TSM of semen cooled to 25 degrees C for five of seven time periods (24 to 120 h). A similar pattern was found for PSM. Mean SV of semen cooled to 4 degrees C at a slow rate was greater (P<0.05) than mean SV of semen cooled to 25 degrees C for all time periods. A slow cooling rate (initial cooling rate of -0.3 degrees /min) and a storage temperature of 4 degrees C appear to optimize liquid preservation of equine spermatozoal motility in vitro.
Publication Date: 1988-01-01 PubMed ID: 16726426DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80028-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research explores the impact of cooling rate and storage temperature on equine sperm mobility. It concludes that a slow cooling rate and low storage temperature optimize preservation of equine sperm mobility for prolonged periods.
About the Experiments
- The study involved two experiments which were designed to investigate the influence of cooling rate and storage temperature on stallion sperm’s mobility parameters.
- The two experiments involved testing multiple ejaculates from two stallions once they had been diluted with seminal extender.
- The first experiment was primarily aimed at determining the specific cooling rates to be used in the second experiment.
Experiment Design
- In the second experiment, diluted sperm samples were subject to five treatments involving varying storage temperatures and cooling rates.
- The sperm was either stored at a constant 37 degrees or 25 degrees Celsius, or it was cooled at a slow, moderate or fast rate to 4 degrees Celsius.
Monitoring and Results
- The scientists then monitored the sperm’s total mobility, progressive mobility, and speed at time intervals post ejaculation (at 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96 and 120 hours).
- The research found that maintaining sperm at the body temperature 37 degrees Celsius drastically reduced the sperm’s mobility compared to when they were stored at lower temperatures.
- They also found that slow cooling to 4 degrees Celsius effectively preserved sperm mobility compared to moderate or fast cooling to the same temperature.
Conclusion
- The most significant finding of this research was that a slow cooling rate of -0.3 degrees per minute and a storage temperature of 4 degrees Celsius optimized equine sperm mobility for in vitro preservation.
- This result could have a significant impact on how stallion sperm should be stored for artificial insemination in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Varner DD, Blanchard TL, Love CL, Garcia MC, Kenney RM.
(1988).
Effects of cooling rate and storage temperature on equine spermatozoal motility parameters.
Theriogenology, 29(5), 1043-1054.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(88)80028-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery Texas Veterinary Medical Center Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
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