Trehalose improves ram semen cryopreservation when it is present in conventional extenders

AISEN E., PELUFO V., MALCOTTI V.. MORELLO H., MEDINA V., VENTURINO A.

Budapest -Hungría

Congreso; 16th International Congress on Animal Reproduction; 2008

ICAR

TREHALOSE IMPROVES RAM SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION WHEN IT IS PRESENT IN CONVENTIONAL EXTENDERS.   Aisen, E., Pelufo, V., Malcotti, V., Morello, H., Medina, V., Venturino, A. Laboratorio de Teriogenología, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional del Comahue. C.C. 85 (8303), Cinco Saltos (Río Negro), ARGENTINA.     It is well known that trehalose improve the post-thawing sperm viability and fertility when it is added in hypertonic conditions. The aim of this study was to apply trehalose in three different extenders used commonly in ram semen cryopreservation. The solutions (with or without trehalose 100 mosm/L), containing Tris, citric acid, fructose or glucose, glycerol, egg yolk and antibiotics, were B1 (experimental), S (Salamon’s extender) and Tri (Triladyl®). Ejaculates from four Merino rams were evaluated and pooled at 30°C. The semen was diluted to contain 1x109 cells/mL, cooled to 5°C, loaded into 0.25-mL straws, frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Post-thaw evaluation was based on sperm motility (MI), supravital stain (Eo), acrosome integrity (AI), hyposmotic swelling test (HOST), middle piece function (PI) and incubation resistance at 39ºC, 4 h (TR). Majority, post-thaw parameters were higher in those treatments with trehalose, specially MI, AI, PI and TR, indicating that this disaccharide in this conditions improve the morphology and function status of cryopreserved spermatozoa. The extender S with trehalose showed the best results: MI=63,0%; Eo=58%; TR=50%, PI=0,92; AI=75,8%. We conclude that, in that trial, trehalose protects membranes integrity and physiological parameters, and could improve the fertility results in artificial insemination programmes with cryopreserved ram semen.