Implications of the pH and temperature of diluted, cooled boar semen on fresh and frozen-thawed sperm motility characteristics

Boar semen is typically collected, diluted and cooled for AI use over numerous days, or frozen immediately after shipping to capable laboratories. The storage temperature and pH of the diluted, cooled boar semen could influence the fertility of boar sperm. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Theriogenology 2010-10, Vol.74 (7), p.1304-1310
Main Authors: Purdy, P.H., Tharp, N., Stewart, T., Spiller, S.F., Blackburn, H.D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
boars
CASA
cooling
Cryopreservation
dilution
freezing
freezing quality
freshness
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
Male
semen
semen extenders
Semen Preservation - veterinary
Sperm motility
Sperm Motility - physiology
Spermatozoa
Spermatozoa - physiology
storage quality
storage temperature
Swine
Temperature
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Summary:Boar semen is typically collected, diluted and cooled for AI use over numerous days, or frozen immediately after shipping to capable laboratories. The storage temperature and pH of the diluted, cooled boar semen could influence the fertility of boar sperm. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effects of pH and storage temperature on fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm motility end points. Semen samples (n = 199) were collected, diluted, cooled and shipped overnight to the National Animal Germplasm Program laboratory for freezing and analysis from four boar stud facilities. The temperature, pH and motility characteristics, determined using computer automated semen analysis, were measured at arrival. Samples were then cryopreserved and post-thaw motility determined. The commercial stud was a significant source of variation for mean semen temperature and pH, as well as total and progressive motility, and numerous other sperm motility characteristics. Based on multiple regression analysis, pH was not a significant source of variation for fresh or frozen-thawed boar sperm motility end points. However, significant models were derived which demonstrated that storage temperature, boar, and the commercial stud influenced sperm motility end points and the potential success for surviving cryopreservation. We inferred that maintaining cooled boar semen at approximately 16 °C during storage will result in higher fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm quality, which should result in greater fertility.
ISSN:0093-691X
1879-3231
DOI:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.04.030