چکیده (انگلیسی):

Objective: To characterize Venda cocks semen, find a suitable short-term diluted semen
storage temperature, find a suitable cryopreservation cryoprotectant and to investigate
cryoprotectant toxicity.
Methods: Semen was collected from six Venda cocks and evaluated macroscopically for
semen volume, pH and sperm concentration. Microscopic sperm characteristics examined
included were total motility (rapid, medium and slow) progressive and non-progressive
motility. Velocity characteristics included curvilinear and straight-line velocity, average
path velocity, linearity, straightness, wobble, amplitude of lateral head displacement and
beat cross frequency.
Results: Results showed that the average semen volume was 0.3 ± 0.1 mL, the pH
6.9 ± 0.4 and the sperm concentration (6.8 ± 79.8) × 109/mL. A positive correlation was
observed between body weight and semen volume (r = 0.38). Similarly a significant
difference between the initial sperm total motility (TM%) of 87.5 ± 8.6 and samples
stored for 24 h at 5
C (55.0 ± 8.0) and 25
C (30.6 ± 6.1) was recorded. The percentage
live and normal sperm was 87.0% and 93.5% (P < 0.05) respectively. The TM% recorded
was significantly different in samples supplemented with DMSO (46.0 ± 8.3), ethylene
glycol (EG) (45.0 ± 12.2) and propanediol (PND) (21.8 ± 10.4), following thawing.
Detailed velocity values showed consistent differences between the raw and
cryoprotectant-free semen samples.
Conclusions: In conclusion, the Venda cock semen was subsequently found to have a
higher TM% when stored in vitro at 5
C. DMSO and EG were found to be suitable for
the cryopreservation of Venda cock semen.