Effects of Cryopreservation of Buffalo and Bovine Spermatozoa on Sperm DNA Damage and Early Embryonic Development

Abstract

Semen was collected using artificial vagina as per the standard practice from 3 healthy Egyptian buffalo and 3 Holstein Friesian bulls with good body condition, and their age ranged between 4 to 6 yr. Routine semen evaluation was performed. For a better prediction of buffalo and bovine sperm fertility, the first objective was to measure DNA fragmentation in buffalo and bovine bull semen using the alkaline Halo sperm assay. The second objective was to study the influence of cryopreservation process on sperm sustainability of the zygotic and embryonic development. The results revealed that the ejaculate volume and sperm concentration /ml differed (p<0.05) between the bovine and the buffalo bulls. Sperm physical characteristics including sperm motility, livability, percentage of dead sperm, abnormalities, acrosomal damage and values of sperm with halo were found to be different (p<0.05) depending on the species. Semen characteristics of bovine bull are almost better than there of buffalo.Sperm with halo (competent DNA) percentage was. There was a general decrease in post-thawing semen quality parameters including percentages of the live sperm, motility, dead, abnormality, acrosomal damage, and halo sperm value for buffalo and bovine. Moreover, evidence from the current results suggests that the percentage of embryos produced from insemination by fresh sperm had greater (p<0.05) values for the bovine in relation to the buffalo. The rate of development to morula or blastocyst, irrespective of the species or the status of the inseminated sperm (fresh or frozen/thawed) was comparable. It was concluded that (irrespective of the species) sperm freezing/thawing process significantly affected each of sperm physical characteristics and rate of DNA damage. It was also proposed that paternal effects on fertility may go beyond events of fertilization and completion of early stages of embryonic development, and might involve the ability of those embryos to sustain its development to the later stages.

Melatonin supplementation improved cryopreserved Thai swamp buffalo semen

“…It is well‐accepted that assisted reproductive technology, particularly semen cryopreservation and artificial insemination, greatly promotes the animal breeding and production. However, compared with dairy cattle, it was shown that the sperm of buffalo is more susceptible to damage during freezing and thawing process than that of cattle (El‐Regalaty, 2017; Garg et al., 2009; Nair et al., 2006). In the light of the above information, the study was conducted to evaluate the effect of melatonin supplementation in semen extender on frozen‐thawed sperm quality of Thai swamp buffalo.…”