The influence of wheat dehydration-induced proteins on the function of turkey spermatozoa after twenty-four-hour in vitro storage.
Dehydration-induced proteins and other osmo-protectants enable plants to survive dehydration stress. The object of this study was to determine whether dehydration-induced proteins from wheat seeds could protect turkey sperm and improve survival and function after liquid storage. A partially purified heat-soluble protein extract was isolated from dry, mature wheat seed embryos and added to semen diluent. Hens were inseminated with either fresh or semen stored 24 h at 5 C and fertility and hatchability data collected. The addition of 10% wheat protein extract to semen stored 24 h at 5 C improved fertility and hatchability of eggs over semen stored in diluent alone (P < 0.05). The heat-soluble proteins isolated from wheat seed embryos are capable of protecting turkey sperm during in vitro storage and could potentially improve long-term storage of sperm from other species.
Germplasm and Gamete Physiology Laboratory, ARS, USDA, Beltsville, Maryland 20705, USA. annie@lpsi.barc.usda.gov
A M
AM
Donoghue
M K
MK
Walker-Simmons
D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D003681:Dehydration; D005298:Fertility; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010940:Plant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry; D012662:Semen Preservation; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D014908:Triticum / Q000737:chemistry; D014422:Turkeys / Q000502:physiology*
D010940:Plant Proteins