title: Association between the presence of protein bands in ram seminal plasma and sperm tolerance to freezing.
abstract: This study evaluated associations between the presence of protein bands in ram seminal plasma and the quality of sperm frozen with distinct extenders. Ejaculates were frozen in a Tris-egg yolk based extender, including either 5% glycerol or 100mM trehalose. Seminal plasma samples were submitted to unidimensional electrophoresis. Pre-freezing and post-thawing sperm quality was similar between extenders (P>0.05). A total of 26 bands were identified in ram seminal plasma. Pre-freezing sperm motility was increased when the 15, 19 and 80kDa bands were present in seminal plasma (P<0.05). The presence of an 11kDa band in seminal plasma was associated with reduced pre-freezing membrane integrity (P<0.05). After thawing, both sperm motility and membrane integrity were reduced when a 24kDa band was present in seminal plasma (P<0.05). Post-thawing acrosome integrity was greater in the presence of a 31kDa band in seminal plasma (P<0.05). Regardless of the cryoprotectant included in the freezing extender, these six bands may be potential markers for ram sperm tolerance to freezing.
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: kgoularte@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Goularte
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: G D A
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Gastal
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Schiavon
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: A O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Corcini
authors.affiliation: ReproPel, Faculdade de Veterinária, Campus Capão do Leão, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, 96010-900 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lucia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D005615:Freezing; D008297:Male; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*; D012661:Semen / Q000737:chemistry*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D012756:Sheep / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins
keywords: Bands; Frozen sperm; Ram; Seminal plasma