Collection and cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa in dogs

Abstract

When a male dog is not able to ejaculate, epididymal spermatozoa can be used to artificially inseminatethe bitch. In the present study, two methods to collect epididymal sperm after castration werecompared, i.e. the float-up method and the aspiration method. With the float-up method, more spermatozoawere collected than with the aspiration method (1810±718.1 million versus 694±244.5 millionrespectively, p-value = 0.018). A trend towards a higher post-thaw motility was observed when usingthe float-up method compared to the aspiration method (52±9.4% versus 44±9.4%, p-value = 0.060).Semen samples collected with the float-up method showed more blood contamination than with theaspiration method; however, this seemed to have no effect on the quality and quantity of the semen. Itcan therefore be concluded that the float-up method is the method of choice when epididymal spermhas to be collected in dogs.