Preservation of ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa by cooling and freezing.
Abstract: The suitability of ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa for cooled storage (5 degrees C) and cryopreservation was examined in 5 ejaculates from each of 6 stallions and in spermatozoa recovered from the cauda epididymidis after castration of these stallions. The percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, examined by subjective estimation (cooled samples) or by computerized analysis (frozen-thawed samples), was used as parameter. In ejaculated semen samples containing 5 and 25% seminal plasma in a skim milk glucose extender, the lower amount of seminal plasma supported spermatozoal motility significantly better throughout storage at 5 degrees C. Addition of 5 or 25% seminal plasma to perfused epididymal spermatozoa (0% seminal plasma) resulted in a significant stimulation of spermatozoal motility by 25% seminal plasma at 0 h (P<0.05) and to a lesser extent at 24 and 48 h. Post-thaw motility of ejaculated as well as epididymal spermatozoa was not influenced by slow cooling to 15 degrees or 5 degrees C with or without glycerol prior to rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen vapor. During cooled storage, seminal plasma had a stimulatory effect on epididymal spermatozoa and depressed motility in ejaculated spermatozoa. Results on cryopreservation indicate that freezability of equine spermatozoa is already determined when spermatozoa leave the tail of the epididymis.
Publication Date: 1994-01-01 PubMed ID: 16727435DOI: 10.1016/0093-691x(94)90497-7Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The researchers examined the potential for preserving horse sperm obtained via ejaculation and the epididymis through cooling and cryopreservation processes, studying their motility and longevity under different conditions.
Objectives and Methodology
- The main aim of this study was to examine the feasibility of preserving stallion spermatozoa, both ejaculated and epididymal, through cooling and freezing procedures.
- Five ejaculates from each of six stallions were collected, in addition to spermatozoa recovered after castration from the cauda epididymidis, a part of the male reproductive system.
- The scientists paid particular attention to the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa, or sperm cells capable of moving forward or in a straight line, as a key measure of the success of any treatment. The sperm were evaluated either through subjective estimation (for cooled samples) or computerized analysis (for frozen-thawed samples).
Effects of Seminal Plasma Concentration
- In the ejaculated semen samples that had either 5 or 25 percent of seminal plasma in a skim milk glucose extender – a substances usually used to prolong the lifespan of sperm cells – the lower percentage of seminal plasma better preserved sperm motility during cooling storage at 5 degrees C.
- When 5 or 25 percent of seminal plasma was added to perfused epididymal spermatozoa (which initially had no seminal plasma), a significant stimulation of sperm movement was observed in the first hour with 25 percent seminal plasma. This stimulatory effect decreased after 24 and 48 hours.
Impact of Cooling and Freezing on Motility
- The researchers found that slow cooling to 15 or 5 degrees C, with or without glycerol (a common cryoprotective agent), prior to rapid freezing in liquid nitrogen vapor, did not affect the post-thawing motility of either type of spermatozoa.
- Throughout the cooling storage process, seminal plasma was found to stimulate motility in epididymal sperm and depress it in ejaculated spermatozoa.
- The results suggest that the ability of equine sperm to withstand freezing is already determined by the time the sperm cells leave the tail of the epididymis.
Cite This Article
APA
Braun J, Sakai M, Hochi S, Oguri N.
(1994).
Preservation of ejaculated and epididymal stallion spermatozoa by cooling and freezing.
Theriogenology, 41(4), 809-818.
https://doi.org/10.1016/0093-691x(94)90497-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Laboratory of Horse Production, Obihiro University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan.
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Lago-Alvarez Y, Podico G, Segabinazzi LG, Cunha LL, Barbosa L, Arnold CE, Lima FS, King LT, McLean AK, Canisso IF. Donkey Epididymal Transport for Semen Cooling and Freezing.. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 25;10(12).
- Martínez-Fresneda L, Castaño C, Bóveda P, Tesfaye D, Schellander K, Santiago-Moreno J, García-Vázquez FA. Epididymal and ejaculated sperm differ on their response to the cryopreservation and capacitation processes in mouflon (Ovis musimon).. Sci Rep 2019 Oct 30;9(1):15659.
- Safsaf B, Belkadi S, Belkacem L, Mamache B, Tlidjane M. Variations of motility and survival with storage time at 4°C of epididymal spermatozoa Ouled-Djellal breed rams in Eastern Algeria.. Vet World 2015 Mar;8(3):326-9.
- Iswadi MI, Ann ZF, Hafiz MM, Hafiz MD, Fahrul FJ, Hajarian H, Wahid H, Zawawi I, Khairiah MS, Mazni OA. Collection, analysis and cryopreservation of semen from Malayan gaur (Bos gaurus h뮬ki): A preliminary study.. Open Vet J 2012;2(1):109-14.
- Cary JA, Madill S, Farnsworth K, Hayna JT, Duoos L, Fahning ML. A comparison of electroejaculation and epididymal sperm collection techniques in stallions.. Can Vet J 2004 Jan;45(1):35-41.
- Card CE, Manning ST, Bowman P, Leibel T. Pregnancies from imipramine and xylazine-induced ex copula ejaculation in a disabled stallion.. Can Vet J 1997 Mar;38(3):171-4.
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