Abstract:
The present research studied the effect of the interval
between animal`s death and sperm recovery (0, 24 or 48h) on the quality
and freezability of ram spermatozoa from cauda epididymidis. Storage temperature
of epididymes (room temperature or 5°C) was also analyzed. Spermatozoa
were diluted with Tes-Tris-Fructose solution supplemented with egg yolk
(10%) and glycerol (4%) and frozen using a programmable bio-freezer (-20°C
min-1). Pre-freeze and post-thaw sperm samples showed viable
spermatozoa up to 48h after the animal`s death, although their quality
declined significantly as post-mortem storage time increased. Epididymes
sperm stored at 5°C showed better motility and a lower percentage
of abnormal forms than epididymes stored at room temperature after 24
and 48h. The fertilizing ability of cauda epididymis ram spermatozoa obtained
at 0 and 24h after the animal`s death is similar to that of ejaculated
spermatozoa. Therefore, a good protocol for post-mortem semen collection
in rams when epididymal spermatozoa cannot be collected immediately is
to preserve the epididymes at 5°C and process the samples in the first
24h after the animal`s death.
M. Shakeri, H. Roshanfekr, M. Mamoei and Kh. Mirzadeh, 2008. Effect of Epididymis Handling Conditions on the Quality of Ram Spermatozoa Recovered Post-Mortem. Asian Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 3: 400-408.
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