Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and binding capacity to homologous zona pellucida of cryopreserved epididymal spermatozoa in the domestic cat.
We examined motility, plasma membrane integrity, and binding capacity to homologous zona pellucidae (ZP) of frozen/thawed epididymal cat sperm as a model species for endangered felines. Epididymal spermatozoa from 20 domestic cats were frozen with freezing egg-yolk extender containing 3.0% glycerol in 0.25-ml straws. Post-thaw motility and plasma membrane integrity of the frozen/thawed spermatozoa were 31.8 +/- 2.4% and 32.2 +/- 4.2%, respectively. The frozen/thawed spermatozoa were co-cultured with frozen/thawed immature homologous oocytes with intact ZP for 3 h to examine their ability to bind to the ZP. Sixteen of the 20 frozen/thawed sperm samples demonstrated the ability to bind to ZP. These results indicated that the freezing system for epididymal sperm used in the present study gives appropriate information for banking the genetic resources of wild felid species.
Kashiwazaki
Naomi
N
Laboraory of Animal Reproduction, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Azabu University, Kanagawa, Japan. nkashi@azabu-u.ac.jp
Yamaguchi
Ryo
R
Uesugi
Ryuhei
R
Hishiyama
Nobuya
N
Kim
Masahide
M
Nakatsukasa
Ena
E
Kojima
Yoshihiko
Y
Okuda
Yasushi
Y
Hisamatsu
Shin
S
Inomata
Tomo
T
Shino
Masao
M
D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000502:physiology; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology; D005260:Female; D005823:Genetics; D008297:Male; D009865:Oocytes / Q000166:cytology; D013074:Sperm Banks; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000378:metabolism*