Use Low Ozone Dosages has Positive Effects on the Cooling and Cryopreservation of Equine Semen.

The research examines the effects of low doses of ozone on the cooling and cryopreservation process of horse semen. The study shows that minimal amounts of ozone can positively affect both the movement patterns of sperm and their structural integrity during storage at low temperatures.

Methodology

• In this study, four different ozone concentrations (2, 15, 30, and 60 µg/mL) were used with equine semen during cooling and freezing processes.
• The research was designed to measure ozone’s action on sperm cells, and hence the analysis was carried out for sperm kinetics patterns, function of sperm structures and lipid peroxidation.

Key Findings

• At a specific interval (M24) during the cooling process, semen samples with a 15 µg/mL ozone concentration demonstrated higher total and progressive motility compared to the control sample.
• The minimal 2 µg/mL ozone concentration showed a higher percentage of intact plasma and acrosomal membrane when compared to the control sample at the M24 stage, and another stage after 30 minutes of incubation.
• For the cooling and cryopreservation process, the higher concentrations of ozone (30 and 60 µg/mL) were revealed to be harmful, as opposed to the lower concentrations.

Conclusion

• The findings led to the conclusion that minimal doses of ozone can have positive effects on sperm kinetics patterns (movement) and the integrity of sperm structures during low-temperature storage. This could help improve processes involving the cooling and preservation of equine semen.
• On the contrary, higher concentrations of ozone proved to be detrimental for cooling and cryopreservation processes of equine semen.