Freezing of stallion semen with addition of glycine betaine.
The effect of addition of glycine betaine to a lactose-EDTA freezing medium on the post-thaw motility of stallion semen was determined. The first three semen-rich fractions of nine stallions were collected with an open-end Krakow artificial vagina on consecutive weekdays. Semen was frozen using the Hannover method with freezing media containing glycine betaine in various concentrations from 0 to 5%. After thawing, sperm motility was analysed both by a light microscope and by a Hamilton-Thorn Motility Analyser. Total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen containing 0.25-3% glycine betaine did not differ significantly from the total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen frozen without glycine betaine. The total and progressive post-thaw motilities of semen containing 4 or 5% glycine betaine were significantly lower (P < 0.001) than those of semen without glycine betaine. In conclusion, glycine betaine did not show any beneficial effect on the post-thaw motility of stallion semen when semen was frozen using the Hannover method.
Lindeberg
H
H
Department of Animal Science/Animal Physiology, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Helsinki, Finland.
Kurtén
A
A
Koskinen
E
E
Katila
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004542:Ejaculation; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects
D001622:Betaine