Effect of Extender and Thawing Methods on Post Thawing Preservation

Twenty four ejaculates obtained from 4 native buffalos were used to study the effect of extender and thawing methods on sperm motility and acrosomal integrity during post thawing preservation for 4 h at 5 C. The extenders used were Tris Egg Yolk Citric Acid Fructose Glycerol (TEYCAFG), Illinois Variable Temperature Egg Yolk Glycerol (IVTEYG), Cornell University Extender Egg Yolk Glycerol (CUEEYG) and Minnesota Egg Yolk Glycerol (MEYG). The semen was frozen in 0.5 mL French straws using liquid nitrogen vapor. The thawing of frozen semen was made by immersing the straws in water at 37 C for 12-15 sec (rapid) and in water at 5 C for 2 min (slow). During the post thawing preservation at 5 C. The percentages of motile sperm and damaged acrosomes differed significantly (p< 0.01) between extenders and between preservation periods. It was observed that the semen frozen in TEYCAFG extender maintained the highest sperm motility and lowest acrosomal damage. Rapid thawing resulted significantly in higher (p< 0.01). Sperm motility during post thawing preservation at 5 C than did slow thawing there was no significantly difference in percentage of damaged acrosomes between thawing methods.