title: The effect of cryopreservation on the survivability, viability and motility of epididymal African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) spermatozoa.
abstract: The effect of cryopreservation on the viability and motility of epididymal African buffalo spermatozoa was studied in samples obtained from 17 and 13 animals in 1995 and 1996, respectively. Cryopreservation significantly reduced the viability and motility of the epididymal spermatozoa. The average percentage of live (+/- SE) spermatozoa declined significantly from 90.4 +/- 2.0% (1995) and 84.4 +/- 1.1% (1996) in fresh epididymal samples, to 57.0 +/- 2.0% and 56.3 +/- 1.1%, respectively, in frozen-thawed samples. The acrosomal integrity (+/- SE) of spermatozoa declined from 89.3 +/- 2.3% (1995) and 93.3 +/- 2.2% (1996) to 50.2 +/- 2.3% and 37.5 +/- 2.2%, respectively. In 1995, this effect was largely associated with the thermal equilibration prior to cryopreservation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Animal Physiology, University of Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa. heletl@wcape.agric.za
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lambrechts
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: van Niekerk
authors.forename: W A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Coetzer
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Cloete
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: van der Horst
mesh_terms: D000177:Acrosome / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000818:Animals; D002020:Buffaloes; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004822:Epididymis; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology