title: Developmental competence of Dromedary camel oocytes fertilizedin vitroby frozen-thawed ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa.
abstract: The present study aimed to compare thein vitrofertilizing capacity of frozen-thawed ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa in order to standardize the semen preparation protocol for camelin vitrofertilization (IVF). Semen samples were collected from 7 Dromedary camels by means of artificial vagina (AV). Ten cauda epididymes were obtained from slaughtered adult camels, isolated, incised and rinsed for obtaining the sperm rich fluid. Ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa were processed for cryopreservation. Fresh and frozen-thawed ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa were evaluated for motility, livability, membrane and acrosomal integrities. Frozen-thawed ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa were used to fertilize camel mature oocytesin vitro. The results showed that, the progressive motility of freshly collected epididymal spermatozoa was significantly (P<0.05) higher than ejaculated spermatozoa (49.25 ± 1.75 vs. 38.50 ± 1.50%, respectively). The viability index of epididymal spermatozoa was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that of ejaculated spermatozoa (96.63 ± 2.45 vs. 84.00 ± 4.08, respectively). The post-thaw acrosome and membrane integrities of epididymal spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of ejaculated spermatozoa. Morula and blastocyst rates of camel oocytesin vitrofertilized by frozen-thawed epididymal spermatozoa (59.4 ± 0.8, 19.12 ± 0.7 and 10.29 ± 0.7%, respectively) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those fertilized by frozen-thawed ejaculated spermatozoa (48.27 ± 3.1, 11.63 ± 1.1 and 5.43 ± 0.8%, respectively). In conclusion, the Dromedary camel frozen epididymal spermatozoa have the capacity to endure cryopreservation, fertilize oocytes and produce embryosin vitrobetter than ejaculated sperm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Field Investigations, Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Scholkamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Agriculture Research Center, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: El-Badry
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, National Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: K Gh M
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Mahmoud
keywords: Camel; Ejaculated semen; Epididymal spermatozoa; In vitro fertilization