Preservability of bull spermatozoa in Tris-egg yolk extender enriched with different concentrations of butylated hydroxytoluene

Objective: To explore the effect of BHT on cattle spermatozoa during cooling and cryopreservation.Methods: Pooled bull semen were diluted by Tris-Citrate-Fructose egg yolk (TCFY) diluent considered as control (0 BHT) and different concentrations of BHT (1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0 mM were prepared in ethanol in prewarmed (37 °C) test tubes. The ethanol was allowed to evaporate so that, a thin crystallized layer of BHT was deposited on the inner surface of the tubes. Then extended semen was added into the tubes and incubated at 37 °C for 5 min to allow uptake of BHT by spermatozoa. The tubes were cooled slowly (approximately for 2 h) up to 5 °C and equilibrated for 4 h. After equilibration, semen freezing process was carried out. Extended semen was subjected to evaluation (motility, alive sperm, intact sperm membrane (HOST) % and acrosome integrity) in both cooled and cryopreserved semen.Results: The result revealed that sperm motility of post-cooled spermatozoa improved (P<0.05) by the use of BHT concentrations (1, 2 and 3 mM) in Tris semen extender if compared to the control (85.00±1.09), (83.33± 0.63), (81.67± 0.63) and (78.33± 0.63), respectively. Alive sperm percent was significantly higher in all concentrations of BHT. Sperm abnormalities percent were significantly lower in concentrations of BHT 1 and 2 (11.2±0.2), (11.8±0.2)and (13.4±0.4), respectively. Sperm membrane integrity were significantly higher in BHT concentrations (1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 mM). It is exhibited that improved sperm motility in post-thawed frozen semen in the concentrations of BHT (1, 2, 3 and 4 mM) if compared to the control. The sperm membrane integrity were significantly improved at all concentrations of BHT. Acrosome integrity was significantly higher at BHT concentration 1 mM (81.80±0.57) and (76.00±2.05), respectively.Conclusions: It could be concluded that some concentrations of BHT improved bull semen quality post-cooling and post-freezing

Effects of Phoenix dactylifera pollen grains extract supplementation on post-thaw quality of Arabian stallion semen

This study explored the effect of extender supplementation with different concentrations of date palm pollen grain (DPPG) on post-thawed sperm motility, viability index, membrane and acrosome integri-ties in Arabian stallions. Five ejaculates from each of four Arabian stallions were subjected to cryo-preservation with a modified INRA-82, without any supplementation (control) or supplemented with 50, 100, 150, 200 and 250 mg DPPG. After thawing, all samples were maintained at 37 oC, while analyses were performed at 0, 1, and 2 and 3 hours. Sperm motility percentage, viability index, mem-brane integrity percentage and acrosome integrity of each sample were determined by conventional laboratory methods. The addition of 100 mg DPPG resulted in improved maintenance of sperm moti¬lity after 0 and 60 min post-thawing, as compared to the control and other treatment groups. Non-significant effects on viability index were observed after enrichment of extender with 100 and 150 mg DPPG. The addition of 100 and 150 mg DPPG resulted in significant (P<0.0010) improvement in post-thawing membrane integrity (41.33±0.83%; 41.33±2.33%) compared to the controls (34.33±1.55%). These concentrations exerted also a beneficial effect in preserving sperm acrosome integrity (38.33±1.01%; 38.67±1.64%) as compared with the control one (33.33±1.12%). Supple-mentation of modified INRA-82 with 200 mg DPPG failed to maintain sperm motiliy while 250 mg PG has a negative impact on all studied post-thawing semen parameters. In conclusion, adding 100 and 150 mg date palm pollen grain extract to modified INRA-82 seemed useful in the chilling and freezing process of Arabian stallion sperm

Factors affecting in-vivo fertility of crossbred Egyptian - Italian buffalo semen

Objective: To assess the effect of region, season and year of insemination on in-vivo fertility of Italian-Egyptian crossbred buffalo semen.Methods: A total number of 4 799 female buffaloes were inseminated by frozen semen with at least 50% post-thaw motility of Egyptian-Italian crossbred bulls in three localities in Delta, lower Egypt (El-Behira, El-Sharkia and Damietta) during the period of 2013, 2014 and 2015. The pregnancy rate after two months was evaluated during the four seasons.Results: The rate of pregnancy was significantly (P<0.000 1) differ among the three localities. The effect of year of insemination on pregnancy rate was significantly higher during 2014 and 2015 than 2013 in El-Sharkia and El-Behira. But in Damietta, the rate of pregnancy was significantly higher in 2014 than 2013 and 2015. There were no significant differences among seasons in El-Behira and Damietta governorates but there was significant (P<0.05) differences in pregnancy rate in El-Sharkia. It was higher in summer, spring and autumn than in winter.Conclusions: Localities, year of insemination and season of the year have effects on fertility of crossbred Egyptian-Italian buffalo semen