Influence of various cryoprotectants on the sperm mobility of Muscovy semen before and after cryopreservation
A study for influence of five cryoprotectans – glycerol, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), ethylene glycol, 1,3 propandiol and polyethylene glycol in different concentrations from 3%, 5% and 7% with use of HIA-1 and AU extenders on the mobility of Muscovy spermatozoa after freeze-thaw was carried out. The semen was collected with artificial vagina from 9 one-year-old Muscovy drakes by using a female as a teaser twice a week. The sperm was diluted with HIA-1 and AU extenders with 15% egg yolk (v/v) at the ratio of 1:3 (semen:extender), respectively, and divided equally. Cryoprotectant was added in one of following concentrations 3-5-7% into each semen sample, respectively, a process of equilibration in a refrigerator followed at 4 0 C for 60 min. Afterwards they were directly dropped in concave cavities of dry ice at -790 C for 10 min. The semen pellets were placed in an atmosphere of liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapors for 5 – 10 min and finally they were put in cryotubes and plunged into liquid nitrogen. The pellets were kept frozen in the LN2 container for at least 2 months before being thawed for evaluation. The sperm samples were thawed at 420 C with HIA-1 and AU extenders, respectively. Comparatively the highest sperm mobility was established at using 5% and 7% glycerol and 7% DMSO. Both HIA-1 and AU extenders are suitable to semen dilution. Cryopreservation of Muscovy semen caused damages in the morphological integrity of sperm cells.
V. Gerzilov