Development of Extender and Techniques for Frozen Turkey Semen: 2. Fertility Trials

Abstract

The effects of cryoprotectant concentrations, redilution, centrifugation, and dialysis techniques on fertility of fresh and frozen-thawed turkey semen were tested. Fresh extended semen with final concentrations of 4.8, 5.6, 9.6, and 11.2% cryoprotectant (dimethylsulfoxide and ethylene glycol, 1:1 ratio) showed a significant (P<.05) decrease in fertility when compared to semen without cryoprotectant. Fertility of fresh semen extended with 4.8% cryoprotectant when centrifuged or rediluted and centrifuged, was unaffected when compared to cryoprotectant treated semen. Fertility of frozen-thawed semen after redilution and centrifugation was low, but samples rediluted one part semen for two parts extender yielded significantly (P<.05) higher fertility than semen rediluted 1:1.Fresh semen extended with 11.2% cryoprotectant showed a highly significant (P<.01) decrease in fertility despite dialysis, while semen with 9.6% cryoprotectant showed no difference when compared to dialyzed semen without cryoprotectant. Fertility of frozen-thawed semen dialyzed against blood plasma (∼pH 7.9) and blood plasma adjusted with TES22[N-tris-(hydroxymethyl) methyl-2-aminoethane-sulfonic acid]. to pH 7.4 or pH 7.2 was not significantly different. Fertility of frozen-thawed semen dialyzed for 30 min was significantly higher (P<.01) than semen dialyzed for 15 min or 0 min. Frozen-thawed semen dialyzed with a semen to dialysate ratio of 1:15 and 1:24 supported significantly higher (P<.01) fertility than at 1:50 ratio. The AGPT33Amino acids-glucose-phosphate-TESNaK. dialysate yielded significantly higher (P<.01) fertility than blood plasma adjusted to pH 7.2 with TES.