Cryopreservation of onager (Equus hemionus onager) epididymal spermatozoa

Genetic diversity is a primary component of adaptive evolution, and its loss or reduction can decrease the long-term survival probability of populations. Utilization of cryopreserved semen may be considered a perfect tool to improve genetic diversity, reduce inbreeding, and avoid animal translocation for breeding. The present study aimed at finding a reliable epididymal sperm freezing protocol for the critically endangered onager (Equus hemionus onager). Six testicles from three animals were processed postmortem. The effects of two transportation temperatures (22°C and 4°C; testicles submerged in saline), two cryopreservation techniques (conventional liquid nitrogen vapor freezing in straws and directional freezing in 8-ml HollowTubesTM), and two postthaw incubation temperatures (22°C and 37°C; evaluated after 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hr) were tested in a 2 × 2 × 2 experimental design. Sperm samples were evaluated for motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and sperm morphology. The resulting optimal freezing protocol includes transportation of testicles at 4°C, cryopreservation by directional freezing, and, if needed, postthaw incubation at 22°C. With this combination of transportation temperature and cryopreservation technique, the authors obtained the following postthaw values normalized to prefreezing values 60.3 ± 8.8% motility, 60.7 ± 13.3% viability, 75.3 ± 9.5% acrosome integrity, and 94.7 ± 2.9% normal morphology (excluding defects due to the epididymal origin of the sperm). After incubation at 22°C, motility values for the above combination were 40 ± 5.7%, 30.3 ± 5.2%, 28.3 ± 4.4%, and 16.7 ± 4.4% for 0.5, 1, 2, and 3 hr, respectively. In conclusion, with this protocol, good quality semen can be stored for future use in artificial inseminations when and where needed. © 2015 by American Association of Zoo Veterinarians.

Bibliographic Details

Main Authors:	Prieto Pablos, M. T., Saragusty, J., Santiago Moreno, Julián, Stagegaard, J., Göritz, F., Hildebrandt, T. B., Hermes, R.
Format:	artículo biblioteca
Language:	English
Published:	American association of Zoo Veterinarians 2015
Subjects:	Assisted reproductive technologies, Directional freezing, Epididymis, Equidae, Equus hemionus, Spermatozoa,
Online Access:	http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12792/3587 http://hdl.handle.net/10261/290654
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