The effect of dialysis of extended ram semen prior to freezing on post-thaw survival and fertility.
The effect of dialysis on extended ram semen prior to cryopreservation was studied. Techniques were developed to improve post-thaw recovery of dialyzed semen and a fertility trial was used to evaluate the viability of dialyzed and frozen semen. Dialysis prior to freezing was shown to increase post-thaw recovery of motile cells and percentage of cells passing through a Sephadex filter. Freezing semen in pellets on dry ice was superior to freezing in French straws. Pellets were thawed in an aluminum thaw block at 42 to 45 degrees C before insemination of progestagen-PMSG synchronized ewes. Double inseminations were made at 12-hr intervals. Natural service of synchronized ewes was also made at 12-hr intervals as a control. There was no significant difference (P greater than 0.05) in fertility between naturally serviced ewes (44.4%) and ewes inseminated with frozen semen (44.7%).
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D003956:Dialysis; D005298:Fertility; D005615:Freezing; D008297:Male; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology*; D012756:Sheep; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology*