Semen extenders: An evaluative overview of preservative mechanisms of semen and semen extenders.

Ghadeer Sabah Bustani,Falah Hasan Baiee

doi:10.14202/vetworld.2021.1220-1233

Ghadeer Sabah Bustani, Falah Hasan Baiee

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.14202/vetworld.2021.1220-1233

Copy DOI

Journal: Veterinary world	Publication Date: May 1, 2021
Citations: 31	License type: CC BY 4.0

Affiliation: Iraqi University, University of Kufa

Abstract

Reproduction is fundamental for all living things as it ensures the continued existence of a species and an improved economy in animal husbandry. Reproduction has developed since history, and diverse processes, such as artificial insemination and in vitro fertilization, have been developed. Semen extenders were discovered and developed to protect sperm from harmful factors, such as freeze and osmotic shock, oxidative stress, and cell injury by ice crystals. Semen extenders preserve sperm by stabilizing its properties, including sperm morphology, motility, and viability and membrane, acrosomal, and DNA integrity. Therefore, semen extenders must provide a favorable pH, adenosine triphosphate, anti-cooling and anti-freeze shock, and antioxidant activity to improve semen quality for fertilization. Hence, this review provides precise data on different semen extenders, preservative mechanisms, and essential additives for semen extenders in different animals.

Highlights

Artificial insemination (AI) is a powerful and unique technique for fertilizing the females of most mammals
This review provides precise data on semen extenders, semen preservation mechanisms, and essential additives for semen extenders in different animals
Trehalose can be used as a cryoprotectant in semen extenders to preserve the optimal quality of motility, viability, and membrane integrity of goat sperm cells compared with other types of sugar [128]

Summary

Introduction

Artificial insemination (AI) is a powerful and unique technique for fertilizing the females of most mammals. Skim milk and egg yolk are widely used as non-penetrating cryoprotectants for preserving sperm [67] of different male mammals, such as rams [68], bulls [59], stallions [65,69], boars [70], and humans [29]. Egg yolk is the primary non-penetrate substance used in extenders to dilute semen and protect sperm from freeze shock during the chilling process.

Results

Conclusion