The addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to INRA 96 extender for stallion semen cooling.
Abstract: A commonly used commercial extender (i.e. INRA 96) contains antimicrobials that may have limited effectiveness. Therefore, addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to this extender is a widespread procedure in the equine breeding industry in the United States. However, such practice has not been critically evaluated. Objective: To evaluate the addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to INRA 96 and different extender and antimicrobial storage conditions on sperm function and antimicrobial effectiveness. Methods: Gel-free semen (42 ejaculates from 14 mature Quarter Horse stallions) was extended with INRA 96 and stored for 24 h in an Equitainer II. The effects of added ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and different extender storage procedures on sperm motion characteristics (by computer-assisted analysis), sperm membrane integrity (by fluorescence-based measurement) and suppression of bacterial growth (by aerobic and anaerobic culture methods) were evaluated using analysis-of-variance and Chi-square statistical methods. The P value for significance was set at < 0.05. Results: Freezing and thawing of modified or unmodified extender prior to use for stallion semen resulted in reduced sperm quality post cooling for 24 h, as evidenced by a significant reduction in sperm motility (i.e. total and progressive) and sperm membrane integrity. Addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to extender resulted in higher sperm velocity when the reconstituted antimicrobial was subjected to cooled storage, as compared with frozen storage, prior to use. Only 28 of 42 ejaculates (67%) yielded presence of bacteria in neat semen but addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to INRA 96 was not different than INRA 96 alone for inhibiting growth of bacteria (98 vs. 94%, respectively). Conclusions: Addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid (1 mg/ml) to INRA 96 did not adversely affect sperm quality in extended semen after cooled storage. Extender freezing and thawing prior to use had detrimental effects on sperm quality. Conclusions: These data suggest that INRA 96 should not be frozen and thawed prior to use. Addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to INRA 96 did not impair sperm quality. All extender treatments effectively controlled the bacterial growth compared with neat semen.
Publication Date: 2013-03-02 PubMed ID: 23447886DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00638.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study assesses the impact of adding ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to a commonly used commercial extender, INRA 96, for cooling stallion semen. The study findings suggest that the addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid does not negatively affect sperm quality after cooling storage and all extender treatments effectively controlled bacterial growth.
Objective and Methodology of Research
- This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to a commonly used semen extender, INRA 96, on sperm function and antimicrobial effectiveness under different storage conditions. Despite being a common practice in the equine breeding industry within the United States, this process had not been critically evaluated until this study.
- 42 gel-free semen samples were taken from 14 mature Quarter Horse stallions and extended with INRA 96. These samples were then stored for 24 hours in an Equitainer II.
- The researchers analysed the effects of added ticarcillin-clavulanic acid and the extender storage procedures on sperm motion, sperm membrane integrity, and bacterial growth suppression using various statistical techniques such as analysis-of-variance and Chi-square statistical methods.
Research Findings
- The research found that the freezing and thawing of the modified or unmodified extenders before use resulted in a significant reduction in sperm motility and sperm membrane integrity, indicating a decrease in sperm quality.
- The addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to the extender led to higher sperm velocity when the reconstituted antimicrobial was subjected to cold storage, particularly as compared with frozen storage.
- The presence of bacteria was evident in 67% of the semen samples, however the addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to the INRA 96 extender was not significantly different from using INRA 96 alone in terms of inhibiting bacterial growth.
Conclusions
- From the data gathered, the researchers concluded that the addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to the INRA 96 extender does not affect sperm quality following cooled storage. Furthermore, freezing and thawing the extender prior to use had a detrimental effect on the sperm quality.
- They also suggest that these findings could indicate that the INRA 96 extender should not be frozen and thawed before its usage. Furthermore, the addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid while not negatively impacting the sperm quality, does not significantly improve the inhibition of bacterial growth compared to the use of the INRA 96 extender alone.
Cite This Article
APA
Dean CJ, Hobgood AM, Blodgett GP, Love CC, Blanchard TL, Varner DD.
(2013).
The addition of ticarcillin-clavulanic acid to INRA 96 extender for stallion semen cooling.
Equine Vet J Suppl(43), 95-99.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2012.00638.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Texas Tech University, Texas, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology
- Clavulanic Acids / pharmacology
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Cryoprotective Agents / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Semen / drug effects
- Semen Preservation / methods
- Sperm Motility / drug effects
- Ticarcillin / pharmacology
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Santos CS, Campos LB, Praxedes ÉCG, Moreira SSJ, Souza-Júnior JBF, Comizzoli P, Feijó FMC, Silva AR. Influence of antibiotics on bacterial load and sperm parameters during short-term preservation of collared peccary semen.. Anim Reprod 2021;18(3):e20210021.
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