Effects of selective extenders on buffalo semen quality at physical and molecular level

Abstract

This study was designed to investigate the effects of selective extenders on buffalo semen quality at physical and molecular level for screening a suitable extender for cryopreservation of buffalo semen. Semen was collected from four indigenous buffalo bulls using artificial vagina method twice in a week. After initial evaluation, each semen sample was divided into three aliquots and diluted with three different extenders (Tris-egg-yolk extender, Soya-milk extender and Andromed extender). After initial quality assessment the semen was frozen with liquid nitrogen vapor with a programmable bio freezer and finally stored at –196ºC liquid nitrogen. Post thaw semen quality evaluation was performed after 24 h of storage. The expression of aldoketoreductase family 1 member B1 (AKR1B1) and A-kinase anchoring proteins (AKAP4) transcripts in fresh and three extenders groups (post thaw) of buffalo sperm were observed. The total, progressive, static and slow motility and hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) reactivity of pre-freeze and post thaw sperms were varied significantly among Andromed, Tris-egg-yolk and Soyamilk based extender. Similar variations were also observed for different kinetic parameters of pre-freeze and post thaw buffalo sperm. However, no significant variations were found in AKR1B1 and AKAP4 genes expression among Andromed, Tris-egg-yolk and Soya milk extender groups considering pre-freeze and post thaw sperms characteristics. It may be concluded that, Tris-egg-yolk semen extender might be used for cryopreservation of buffalo semen at efficiency level similar as commercially available semen extender like Andromed.