The effects of equilibration times (E1, 2h; E2, 4h; E3, 6h), freezing rates (FR1, manual, 5cm above liquid nitrogen (LN2 ) for 10min, plunging in LN2 ; FR2, programmable ultra-fast, holding at +4°C for 2min, from 4 to -10°C at -10°C/min, from -10 to -20°C at -15°C/min, from -20 to -120°C at -60°C/min, holding at -120°C for 30sec, plunging in LN2 ), and thawing rates (T1, 37°C for 30sec; T2, 50°C for 15sec; T3, 70°C for 7sec) were evaluated on quality of buffalo bull spermatozoa. Progressive motility (%), rapid velocity (%), average path velocity (VAP, μm/s), straight line velocity (VSL, μm/s), and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (%) were higher (p<0.05) with E2, FR2, and T3 compared to other groups. Sperm curved line velocity (VCL, μm/s) was higher (p<0.05) with E2 and FR2 compared to other groups. Sperm straightness (%) and linearity (LIN, %) were higher (p<0.05) with E2 compared to other groups. Sperm LIN was affected (p<0.05) with T3 compared to other groups. Supravital-plasma membrane integrity (%), viability and acrosome integrity (%) of spermatozoa were higher (p<0.05) with E2 and FR2 compared to other groups. Sperm DNA integrity (%) was higher (p<0.05) with FR2 and T1 compared to other groups. We concluded that inclusion of 4h-equilibration time, programmable ultra-fast freezing rate, and rapid thawing at 70°C for 7sec in cryopreservation protocol improves the post-thaw quality of buffalo bull spermatozoa.
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