Influence of the Preservation Temperature (37, 20, 4, −196°C) and the Mixing of Semen over Sperm Quality of Majorera Bucks

Abstract

This study assessed the effect of different semen storage temperatures and the influence of semen pooling in semen viability. In experiment 1, semen samples (n = 30) of five Majorera bucks were individually processed [Individual semen (IS)] and after the first dilution (Tris-yolk extender), semen-diluted aliquots from each male were pooled semen (PS). Thereafter, semen samples (IS and PS) were preserved as fresh semen (37 and 20°C), chilled semen (4°C) and frozen semen. Sperm motility and the percentage of abnormal sperm cells and intact membrane acrosomes were defined. Semen preservation at 20 and 4°C did not modify the quality of spermatozoa for the first 24 h, but the conservation at 37°C caused a dramatic fall in the semen motility from 12 h onwards. Furthermore, the longevity of frozen-thawed semen was limited to 4-6 h. No differences were observed in semen parameters when PS was compared with semen from individual males in any of the preservation protocols assessed. In experiment 2, 120 goats were distributed in four experimental groups: in group fresh individual semen (FIS, n = 30) and group frozen-thawed individual semen (FTIS, n = 30), does were transcervically inseminated with fresh semen and frozen-thawed semen from each individual male, respectively, and in group fresh pooled semen (FPS, n = 30) and group frozen-thawed pooled semen (FTPS, n = 30), goats were transcervically inseminated with FPS and FTPS, respectively. The kidding rate was very close in the FIS and FPS groups (70.0% and 73.7%, respectively), and no significant differences were observed in the fertility rate between FTIS and FTPS. The results of this study confirmed that semen samples may be preserved satisfactorily for 24 h both at 20 and 4°C. In addition, the mixture of semen of different bucks did not significantly modify the semen parameters when compared with semen from individual males.

Comparison of Electro Ejaculator and Artificial Vagina on Semen Collection from South African Indigenous Goat Following Assessment by Computer Aided Sperm Analysis

“…However, the sperm motility (91.7%) obtained in this study for AV was significantly higher to the findings of [23]. The results of live normal sperm and abnormalities obtained in this study are similar to other studies [23] [27]. However, the best semen collection technique is AV because it yielded higher total sperm motility, rapid sperm movement and live normal sperm.…”

“…This observation clearly shows that semen volume of buck increases with age. The semen volume 0.5 ± 0.3 mL obtained when the AV was used is lower when compared with the results obtained by [20] (1.4 ± 0.2 mL), suggesting breed effect [27]. It must be emphasized that buck semen volume values obtained in this study are according to the acceptable ranges (0.7 to 2.2 mL) for EE and (0.5 to 1.0 mL) for buck semen collected with AV.…”

Sperm survival kinetics in different types of bull semen: progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal status and reactive oxygen species generation

“…Sperm motility is important for transport from the site of ejaculation or insemination to the site of fertilisation (Suarez and Pacey 2006). Sperm motility in fresh, diluted and frozen-thawed semen declines during incubation at body temperature (Bedford et al 1999;Schuffner et al 2002;Bag et al 2004;Batista et al 2011). Reduction in sperm motility is mainly due to mitochondrial impairment (Bag et al 2004) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS; Guthrie and Welch 2006).…”

“…The loss of membrane asymmetry, characterised by the externalisation of phosphatidylserine (PS) from the inner to the outer leaflet and increased membrane permeability due to the collapse in lipid distribution across the plasma membrane, are indicators of early apoptosis and have been detected in mammalian spermatozoa (Anzar et al 2002;Martin et al 2004;Kim et al 2010;Hossain et al 2011;Visconti et al 2011). Sperm exposure to the female reproductive tract causes the externalisation of PS due to high Ca 2þ , which acts as a flippase inhibitor (Anzar et al 2002;Anand-Ivell and Ivell 2011;Visconti et al 2011), an acidic environment and a shift of temperature from 328C (scrotal) to 378C (Anand-Ivell and Ivell 2011; Batista et al 2011). Annexin V detects PS externalisation from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane, an indicator of loss of membrane asymmetry.…”

Semen processing and artificial insemination in goats

“…Segundo os autores, a deposição rápida do sêmen limita o reflexo que ativa as contrações uterinas, provocado pela inserção do espéculo e movimentos do aplicador e com isso melhora a fertilidade. Batista et al (2011) compararam a taxa de prenhez de cabras inseminadas pela via cervical com sêmen fresco e congelado e observaram que aos 35 dias a taxa de prenhez foi significativamente maior (73,3%) utilizando sêmen fresco que com sêmen criopreservado (46,7%).…”