Abstract
ABSTRACT We aimed to compare fresh sperm and sperm cooled to 4ºC that had been recovered from the epididymides of cats using powdered coconut water (ACP-117c) and Tris extenders. Sixty epididymides were divided into 6 groups: 10 fresh epididymides were recovered using Tris (T0h); 10 were kept at 4°C/2h and recovered using Tris (T2h); 10 were kept at 4°C/4h and recovered using Tris (T4h); 10 fresh were recovered using ACP-117c (A0h); 10 were kept at 4°C/2h and recovered using ACP-117c (A2h), and 10 were kept at 4°C/4h and recovered using ACP-117c (A4h). The testis-epididymis complexes (TEC) control were not cooled. The others were cooled at 4°C for 2 or 4h. The epididymis was separated and the sperm was recovered by the modified flotation method. Sperm kinetic parameters were evaluated by a computer-system analysis, and vigor, viability, concentration, membrane function and morphology of the sperm were assessed under a light microscope. The progressive motility with ACP-117c declined after 2h of cooling, but did not differ between fresh and 4h. The vigor and membrane function were higher in A4h than A0h. The vigor at T2h and T4h were decreased compared to T0h. T0h was higher than A0h for vigor and sperm membrane function. However, after 4h of cooling, ACP-117c maintained a higher percentage of living cells. Feline epididymal sperm quality can be maintained to the degree necessary for artificial breeding programs following cooling and ACP-117c may be successfully used to recover cat sperm that have been cooled for up to 4h.
Highlights
The biomethods used in the breeding of domestic cats have advanced significantly in recent years, and the recovery of sperm from the epididymides of these animals is a possible approach to preserve animal fertility and create new opportunities for artificial breeding programs (Vernocchi et al, 2014)
Sperm quality may decline during the cooling period, so there is a need for studies that seek to establish the optimal cooling time for cat epididymal sperm (Tebet et al, 2006)
In computer analysis of the kinetic parameters, for ACP-117c, the fresh progressive motility was greater than the cool time of 2 hours; both do not differ from recovery after 4 hours of cooling
Summary
The biomethods used in the breeding of domestic cats have advanced significantly in recent years, and the recovery of sperm from the epididymides of these animals is a possible approach to preserve animal fertility and create new opportunities for artificial breeding programs (Vernocchi et al, 2014). The collection of epididymal sperm is a key for assisted reproduction because it enables the storage of gametes from animals of high genetic value that have died or required castration (Mota Filho et al, 2014). These sperm manage to maintain their capacity for fertilization after collection and may be cooled for later use. Sperm quality may decline during the cooling period, so there is a need for studies that seek to establish the optimal cooling time for cat epididymal sperm (Tebet et al, 2006)
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