Bovine epididymal spermatozoa: Resistance to cryopreservation and binding ability to oviductal cells.
In this study we examined quality, longevity and ability of epididymal sperm (EP) to bind to oviduct explants (OE) after cooling and cryopreservation. Ejaculated (EJ) and EP sperm from seven bulls were evaluated before, during and after cryopreservation for total (TM), progressive motility (PM), sperm morphology, plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and acrosome integrity (ACI). For longevity, cryopreserved EP, EJ and a third group of cells in which EP spermatozoa were incubated with seminal plasm (SP) for 10 min after thawing (EPP group), were compared, and the groups were analyzed at 0, 3, 6, and 24 h for all parameters. Sperm from each group were co-incubated with OE for 30 min, 6 h, and 24 h for binding evaluation. Data were analyzed by the generalized linear models SAS 9.1 (P < 0.05). After cooling, EP displayed higher TM, higher PMI, and higher ACI (P < 0.05) than EJ. No differences were noted in the percentage of spermatozoa with PMI and AI between EJ and EP for fresh, cooled or cryopreserved sperm. However, a reduction in motility occurred in the EJ sperm after cooling, while in EP group such reduction occurred only after cryopreservation. At 6 h of incubation EP and EPP had higher PMI and ACI than EJ (P < 0.05). The number of spermatozoa bound to OE was similar P > 0.05) for all groups either at 30 min or 24 h. We conclude that EP are more resistant to cooling than EJ, and can bind to OE similarly to EJ.
School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: andriellethaina@hotmail.com.
A T M
ATM
Cunha
Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, ES, Brazil. Electronic address: joseocneto@hotmail.com.
J O
JO
Carvalho
School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, MG, Brazil. Electronic address: nayarakussano@hotmail.com.
N R
NR
Kussano
Embrapa - Technology Center of Dairy Zebu Breeds, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: fredmartins@yahoo.com.
C F
CF
Martins
Brazil School of Animal Science and Grasslands, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: gbmourao@usp.br.
G B
GB
Mourão
School of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasília, DF, Brazil; Embrapa - Genetic Resources and Biotechnology, Brasília, DF, Brazil. Electronic address: margot.dode@embrapa.br.
M A N
MAN
Dode
D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods*; D004542:Ejaculation; D004822:Epididymis / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects
Isthmus; Kinetics; Proteins; Spermatozoa