The effect of different concentrations of glycerol and DMSO on viability of Markhoz goat spermatozoa during different freezing temperatures steps

• Published in: Pakistan journal of biological sciences 2009-02, Vol.12 (3), p.239-245
• Main Authors: Farshad, A, Khalili, B, Fazeli, P
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animals; Cryopreservation - methods; Cryoprotective Agents - pharmacology; Dimethyl Sulfoxide - pharmacology; Female; Glycerol - pharmacology; Goats; Male; Semen Preservation - methods; Solvents - pharmacology; Sperm Motility - drug effects; Spermatozoa - drug effects
• ISSN: 1028-8880
• DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2009.239.245

The present study was conducted to determine the following; (1) the influence of different concentrations of glycerol (1, 3, 5 or 7%, v/v) in experiment 1 and DMSO (1, 1.25, 1.5 or 1.75% v/v) in experiment 2 added either at 37 or 5 degrees C and (2) the comparing of best concentration of glycerol with the best of DMSO, obtained in this study, on post-thaw motility, progressive motility, viability and normal acrosome of Markhoz goat sperm. In experiment 1, motility, progressive motility and viability of sperm were improved significantly (p < 0.05) by increasing of glycerol concentrations in the extenders, with the best results obtained with glycerol at 7% added at 37 degrees C. However, the rate of normal acrosome showed an opposite trend, i.e., the extender containing 1% glycerol added at 5 degrees C showed better results (p < 0.05). In experiment 2, the observed results showed similar tendencies to experiment 1. The data showed that the extender containing 1.75% DMSO concentration (the highest level) added at 37 degrees C was significantly (p < 0.05) better than others. The percentage of intact acrosomes decreased significantly (p < 0.05) by increasing of DMSO concentrations, when added at 37 degrees C. Further, the results of 1% DMSO added at 5 degrees C was (p < 0.05) better than other groups. In regard to all evaluated parameters, the observed results in experiment 3 showed that extender containing 7% glycerol added at 37 degrees C was significantly (p < 0.05) better than 7% glycerol added at 5 degrees C and extender containing 1.75% DMSO added at both temperatures. In conclusion, the results of presented study indicated that glycerol is still the cryoprotectant of choice for freezing of Markhoz goat sperm.