Abstract
The aim of this study was to use biochemical markers to evaluate the quality of fresh and cryopreserved semen from the arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus). Twenty-three manually collected ejaculates were analysed for the main indicators of semen quality (sperm concentration and ejaculate volume). Sperm motility and percentage of morphologically normal and abnormal spermatozoa were determined according to the stage of cryopreservation (fresh--measurement A; equilibrated--measurement B; frozen/thawed--measurement C). Furthermore, the seminal plasma and supernatants were analysed after equilibration and freeze/thawing for the activity of the enzymes alkaline phosphatase (ALP), acid phosphatase (AcP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and aspartate aminotransferase (AspAT), and for the activity of acrosin inhibitors (AP). The mean concentration of sperm was 625.1 million/cm3, and ejaculate volume averaged 1.6 cm3. Seminal plasma was characterized by the highest activity of alkaline phosphatase (3.43 x 10(3) U/l) and lowest activity of acrosin inhibitors (4.55 x 10(3) U/l). After equilibration, the supernatants showed the highest activity of acid phosphatase (94.9 U/l) and after freeze-thawing, they showed a high activity of lactate dehydrogenase (535.8 U/l) and aspartate aminotransferase (577.1 U/l), which indicates that these proteins had leaked from spermatozoa into the extracellular medium during the biotechnique of semen cryopreservation. In addition, several significant relationships were found between some indicators of semen quality and plasma and/or supernatant enzyme activity.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.