In vitro evaluation of in vivo fertilizing ability of frozen rabbit semen

• Published in: Reproduction in domestic animals 2005-04, Vol.40 (2), p.136-140
• Main Authors: Viudes-de-Castro, M.P, Moce, E, Vicente, J.S, Marco-Jimenez, F, Lavara, R
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal reproduction; Animals; artificial insemination; Biological and medical sciences; capacitation; cryopreservation; Cryopreservation - methods; Cryopreservation - veterinary; Cryoprotective Agents; Female; Fertility; Fertility - physiology; fertilization (reproduction); Fertilization in Vitro - veterinary; food animals; Freezing; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; in vitro fertilization; Insemination, Artificial - veterinary; liquid nitrogen vapor; Male; males; Mammalian reproduction. General aspects; oocytes; ovulation; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Rate; prolificacy; Rabbits; Rabbits - physiology; semen; Semen Preservation - methods; Semen Preservation - veterinary; semen quality; Sperm Capacitation; Sperm Maturation; sperm motility; spermatozoa; Spermatozoa - physiology; Vertebrates: reproduction; zygote
• ISSN: 0936-6768; 1439-0531
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2005.00568.x

Contents The present work studied different spermatozoa parameters and the ability of frozen rabbit spermatozoa to fertilize, in vitro, in vivo‐matured oocytes, as a test to predict their in vivo fertility and prolificacy. Semen from rabbit bucks was frozen using two freezing protocols [in a freezer at −30°C or in liquid nitrogen vapour (LNV)]. For the in vivo trial, females were inseminated with frozen‐thawed spermatozoa. Oocytes used for in vitro testing were recovered 14 h after ovulation induction from donors and co‐incubated with 2 × 106 frozen‐thawed spermatozoa during 4 h at 37°C in Tyrode's medium under an atmosphere of 5% CO2 in air with maximal humidity. After co‐incubation period, presumptive zygotes were cultured in TCM199 supplemented with 20% foetal bovine serum (FBS), under the same conditions described above. Although no statistical differences were observed between freezing protocols in seminal parameters [motility rate: 40 and 35%, VCL: 35 and 46 μm/s, amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH): 1.7 and 2.4 μm, for semen frozen at −30°C and in LNV, respectively], significant differences were noted in the fertilizing ability in vivo and in vitro. Semen frozen at −30°C showed the highest fertilizing ability in vitro (26.7% vs 6.2 and 8.7% for semen frozen at −30°C, in LNV and fresh semen, respectively) and the lowest fertility rate in vivo (21.7% vs 64.2% and 70.6% for semen frozen at −30°C, in LNV and fresh semen, respectively). Sperm frozen at −30°C seemed to be more capacitated.