Survival of Bovine Spermatozoa at Room Temperature in Citrate and Cornell University and Tris Extenders Containing Whole and Fractionated Coconut Milk

Abstract

Summary The average percentage of motile sperm over an eight-day storage period in a citrate buffer alone or with the addition of 15% by volume of whole coconut milk (CM), neutral fraction (NF), and active fraction (AF), for carrot explants, or NF + AF was 19, 34, 42, 22, and 36, respectively. Corresponding values in Cornell University Extender (CUE) were, respectively, 44, 42, 44, 42, and 42% and for Tris (hydroxymethyl) aminomethane (Tris), 31, 32, 24, 32, and 30%. Whole coconut milk and the neutral fraction equally improved sperm survival in citrate buffer, but did not improve sperm survival in the other buffers. Removal of anions and cations from the NF reduced this response, but carbohydrates or other material, or both, remaining in the NF produced some effect. The fraction active in producing cell division in carrot explants was ineffective for sperm. In general, the CUE buffer was equal or superior to the other treatments tested, indicating that coconut milk had no special properties due to unknown substances. Sperm survival in all buffers was improved by the addition of egg yolk.