Abstract
This study was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of seminal plasma (SP) and cold-shock on ram spermatozoa during 36 h storage at 5°C. In both ejaculated spermatozoa coated with egg yolk (second ejaculate; coated spermatozoa) and epididymal spermatozoa, samples were treated with 0, 50 and 100% seminal plasma. Different levels of seminal plasma were added on the basis of ram spermatocrit (32%). Then half of aliquots were suddenly put on ice water (cold-shock) and other half were gradually (0.25°C/min) chilled (non- cold shock). Sperm motility, viability and functional membrane integrity were determined in both aliquots at 0, 12, 24 and 36 h storage at 5°C. Under non- cold shock and cold-shock conditions, coated spermatozoa treated with 0% SP showed the highest motility compared to ejaculated spermatozoa (first ejaculate; uncoated spermatozoa) after 12, 24 and 36 h of storage at 5°C (P<0.05). Under non- cold shock and cold-shock conditions, viability and functional membrane integrity was higher in the coated spermatozoa treated with 0% SP than in the uncoated spermatozoa during 36 h storage (P<0.05). There was no significant difference between coated spermatozoa treated with 0 and 50% SP in the percentage of motility and viability after 24 and 36 h of storage (P>0.05). Under non- cold shock and cold-shock conditions, the percentage of motility of epididymal spermatozoa treated with 0% SP was significantly (P<0.05) higher than those treated with 100% SP after 36 h of storage at 5°C. In conclusion, removal of seminal plasma and/or reduction (up to 50%) of its concentration can decrease detrimental effects of seminal plasma on chilled ram spermatozoa.
Highlights
Ram spermatozoa are more sensitive to cold-shock stress than those of other species (Muiño-Blanco et al, 2008)
Under the non- cold shock condition, coated spermatozoa treated with 0% seminal plasma (SP) showed the higher motility compared to uncoated spermatozoa after 12, 24 and 36 h of storage at 5°C (P
The results of the present study suggested that removal of seminal plasma or reducing the time that the spermatozoa were exposed to seminal plasma increases survival of liquid stored ram semen at 5°C; seminal plasma serves as a vehicle for ejaculated sperm, and contains the various proteins and polypeptides that their functions are poorly understood (Manjunath and Thérien, 2002)
Summary
Ram spermatozoa are more sensitive to cold-shock stress than those of other species (Muiño-Blanco et al, 2008). Seminal fluid is a complex medium containing a great variety of molecules, produced by testes, epididymides, sex accessory glands and cells (apart from spermatozoa) that have many potential effects on both male and female fitness (e.g. sperm capacitation, sperm competition and fertilisation for male, and food, immunostimulation and antibiotic effects for Copyright © The Author(s).
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