Viability of pony stallion semen in different temperature and dilution

ABSTRACT

Background: Artificial insemination and transport of cooled semen has been routinely used in equine industry in the past 20 years. However, more investigations are needed regarding the methods for long time storage in pony stallion semen. The effect of dilution and cooling temperature on pH, sperm motility, membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity were investigated before and after cooling of stallion semen.Materials, Methods & Results: Two ejaculates each from nine Brazilian ponies were diluted in a nonbuffered powder milk extender cooled at 5°C or 15°C for 48 h using three different dilutions (11, 12 or 13). Data were assessed by analysis of variance and the rate comparison was performed using the Duncan test. Samples diluted 11 at 5o C or 15°C showed higher pH values (7.63 ± 0.34 e 7.57 ± 0.27) and lower progressive motility (10.3 ± 11.05, 17.08 ± 9.95). All samples cooled at 15°C also showed lower incidence of morphologically altered spermatozoa (11 = 55.84%; 12 = 51.84%; 13 = 49.95%) [P 0.05) despite time and temperature. The pH, progressive motility, mitochondrial activity and membrane integrity remained similar (P > 0.05) on fresh semen samples independent of the dilution grade used. The best results were obtained when semen was diluted 13 and cooled at 15°C. All dilution grades were safe for fresh semen and pH wasincreased when semen was diluted and cooled for 48 h.[...]