Liquid Storage Of Ram Semen Research Articles

Liquid storage of ram semen: a review.

Research from 1930 to 1992 is reviewed with regard to storage of semen at reduced (0-5 degrees C or 10-15 degrees C) and at ambient temperatures. Diluents investigated have included synthetic buffers combined with sugars and egg yolk or its fractions, milk from various sources, glycine, and other substances. Irrespective of the diluent, dilution rate, temperature or conditions of storage, the spermatozoa deteriorate with time of storage. Changes include reduction in motility and morphological integrity of spermatozoa, accompanied by a decline in their survival in the female reproductive tract, reduction in fertility and increased embryonic loss. In critical studies, fertility declined rapidly when semen stored for more than 24 h was used for cervical insemination, but after intrauterine insemination some spermatozoa maintained their fertilizing capacity up to 10 days. Laparoscopic intrauterine or transcervical inseminations could be the means of improvement of fertility. These methods may eliminate the problem of sperm transport through the cervix and ageing of spermatozoa in the reproductive tract, thereby improving fertilization of ova and reducing embryonic loss.

Short-term liquid storage of ram semen in various extenders

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three extenders on ram sperm quality after short-term liquid storage (24 hours’ holding time). The study included 20 crossbred rams (Pirot Pramenka x Wurttemberg x Ile de France), 12 months old. Animals were housed at the experimental sheep farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry in Belgrade, Serbia. Semen was collected through electro ejaculation. The ejaculates were obtained from single services and routine field analysis of the semen was performed immediately after the collection. The semen was split and diluted with three extenders, namely Optidyl®, Andromed® and ultrahigh temperature processed (UHT) milk, in ratios of 1 : 50 or 1 : 100. The ejaculates were examined for sperm motility variables (sperm cell motility percentage, the progressive motility percentage, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), sperm linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral sperm head displacement (ALH), beat cross frequency (BCF) and circular tracks), and sperm morphology (live sperm percentage, percentage of normal sperm forms with intact acrosome, percentage of abnormal sperm forms and total damaged acrosome) by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and classic sperm cytology after supravital eosin/nigrosine/trypan blue staining, respectively. It was observed that the type of extender used in diluting ram semen is an important factor in the successful short-term liquid preservation (at 4 °C) of ram spermatozoa. In conclusion, this study showed that egg yolk (Optidyl) and soybean (Andromed)-based extenders gave better results of both sperm morphology and sperm motility parameters compared with UHT milk.Keywords: Diluents, morphology, motility, sperm