The efficacy of glucose and electrolyte solutions in preserving the structure of fowl spermatozoa after freezing and thawing.

Abstract

In a series of morpho-physiological studies on freezing injuries in fowl spermatozoa, the present study dealt with the influence of electrolyte and non-electrolyte on structure of unfrozen and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Fowl spermatozoa were suspended in electrolyte (sodium citrate, sodium chloride, potassium chloride and calcium chloride) solutions and in a non-electrolyte (glucose) solution, and incidences of crooked-necked spermatozoa (CNS) and abnormal acrosomes were investigated to ascertain whether the increased incidence of CNS during the freeze-thawing procedure might be caused by the high concentration of chloride ion in media, and whether the acrosomal damage might be causes by increased osmotic pressure in media during the freezing process. The incidences of CNS occurring during the freeze-thawing process tended to be comparatively larger in spermatozoa suspended in solutions containing chloride ions than in those in solutions without chloride ion, although there were no significant differences between the former and the latter.The deterioration in acrosomes due to freeze-thawing was evident in all samples, but were significantly higher in the glucose solution than in other solutions.From these results, it is speculated that increased incidence of CNS during freeze-thawing is related to the high concentration of chloride ion in the media, and that the high osmotic pressure which is produced by concentration of solutes in media may cause the acrosomal damage.