title: Alginate encapsulation preserves the quality and fertilizing ability of Mediterranean Italian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Holstein Friesian (Bos taurus) spermatozoa after cryopreservation.
abstract: The use of artificial insemination (AI) in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is limited by poor ovarian activity during the hot season, seasonal qualitative patterns in semen, low resistance of sperm cells in the female tract, difficulties in estrus detection, and variable estrus duration. Although AI procedures are commonly used in bovine, use of AI has been limited in buffalo. In the zootechnical field, different studies have been conducted to develop techniques for improvement of fertilizing ability of buffalo spermatozoa after AI. In this study, for the first time, the use of alginate encapsulation and cryopreservation of buffalo spermatozoa is described, and the same procedure was performed with Holstein Friesian (Bos taurus) semen. Results obtained fromin vitroanalyses indicate that the encapsulation process does not have detrimental effects (compared to controls) on quality parameters (membrane integrity, progressive motility, path average velocity) in either species. Similarly, there were no detrimental effects after cryopreservation in either species. The fertilizing potential of encapsulated and cryopreserved semen was evaluated after AI in 25 buffalo and 113 bovine females. Pregnancy rates were not affected in either species. The results of this study show proof of concept for the use of frozen semen controlled-release devices in buffalo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Perteghella
authors.affiliation: Italian Experimental Institute Lazzaro Spallanzani, 26027 Rivolta D'Adda, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gaviraghi
authors.affiliation: Italian Experimental Institute Lazzaro Spallanzani, 26027 Rivolta D'Adda, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cenadelli
authors.affiliation: Italian Experimental Institute Lazzaro Spallanzani, 26027 Rivolta D'Adda, Italy.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bornaghi
authors.affiliation: Italian Experimental Institute Lazzaro Spallanzani, 26027 Rivolta D'Adda, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Crivelli
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vigani
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vigo
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Theodora
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chlapanidas
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Science and Public Health, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faustini
authors.affiliation: Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, 27100 Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Luisa
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Torre
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000502:physiology*; D002417:Cattle; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D007315:Insemination, Artificial / Q000662:veterinary*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D018873:Pregnancy Rate; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020723:Glucuronic Acid
keywords: alginic acid; artificial insemination; buffaloes; cryopreservation; drug compounding encapsulation