Freezability of Iberian ibex ( Capra pyrenaica) spermatozoa according to the glycerolization temperature and plasma testosterone concentration

Abstract

Ibex spermatozoa can be successfully frozen using glycerolated media. However, no information is available regarding the most effective method of glycerol addition in this species. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the effect of the glycerolization temperature on the response to freezing–thawing of ibex spermatozoa collected by electroejaculation. The effect of the interaction glycerolization temperature x plasma testosterone concentration was also evaluated. The spermatozoa used in this work came from six adult ibexes maintained in captivity. Each ejaculate was divided into two aliquots in a Tris–egg yolk-based medium. One fraction was subjected to single step dilution with 5% glycerol at room temperature (23 °C). The other fraction was diluted in two steps, first by dilution at room temperature with an extender identical to that described above but without glycerol, followed by the addition of glycerol after cooling to 5 °C. The glycerolization temperature did not affect any sperm variable after thawing. Heterospecific artificial insemination involving domestic goats, revealed no differences in the fertilization rate for frozen–thawed spermatozoa diluted by the one or two step procedures (18.2% vs. 20.0%). The interaction glycerolization temperature x plasma testosterone concentration had no affect on the freezing–thawing of the sperm cells. The results revealed, however, that high plasma testosterone levels during the pre-rutting season may interfere with the freezing–thawing process, having a negative influence on sperm cryosurvival.