Pregnancy outcomes using stallion epididymal sperm stored at 5 °C for 24 or 48 hours before harvest

Abstract

The cryopreservation of epididymal sperm can be useful in a variety of circumstances for ensuring genetic preservation of a valued stallion. Although early studies have reported pregnancy rates significantly lower than those achieved with cryopreserved ejaculated sperm, two recent studies report over 60% one-cycle pregnancy rates with epididymal sperm stored for 24 hours at 5 °C before harvest and cryopreservation. The aims of this study were to: (1) attempt to replicate the one-cycle pregnancy rate of over 60% using epididymal sperm cooled and stored within the epididymis for 24 hours before harvest and cryopreservation and (2) evaluate pregnancy outcome with sperm cooled and stored within the epididymis for 48 hours before sperm harvest and cryopreservation. Testicles were obtained from 13 stallions undergoing routine castration. The epididymides were stored at 5 °C for either 24 or 48 hours before sperm harvest and cryopreservation in an egg yolk and dimethylformamide-based freezing extender. Thirteen mares were bred on one cycle with cryopreserved epididymal sperm stored for 24 hours before harvest, and 10 of those 13 mares were also bred on a previous or subsequent cycle with samples from the same stallion that had been stored for 48 hours before harvest. Pregnancy occurred in 7 of the 13 inseminations of sperm stored for 24 hours before harvest, and in 4 of the 10 inseminations of sperm stored for 48 hours before harvest. The pregnancy rate using epididymal sperm stored for 24 hours before harvest is consistent with that of previous reports. In addition, these results provide evidence that pregnancies can be achieved when the epididymides are cooled and stored for 48 hours before sperm harvest and cryopreservation.