Comparison of the ‘influence of egg yolk of different avian species on cryopreservation of canine semen

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University

2 Animal Reproduction Research Institute, Giza

Abstract

Egg yolk is one of the most widely used as a constant components for sperm preservation and a
wide range of factors affect ‘ts action on sperm motility, viability and fertilizing ability. The aim of
this experiment was Co determine the effect of egg yolk from different species, namely the domestic
chicken, goose, duck and ostrich on sperm quality following cryopreservation of dog semen.
Ejaculates were collected using digital manipulation from five fertile dog. Semen samples were
extended with a Tris-citric acid-fructose extender containing the different avian egg yolk (20%) and
glycerol (7°C). Straws were equilibrated at 4 °C for 2h, frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor for 10 min
and stored in liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). After thawing (37 °C for 30 s), sperm motility, viability,
abnormal acrosome and membrane integrity (HOST) were evaluated. Results showed that the duck
egg yolk have the best cryoprotective effect ‘n terms of the highest (p < 0.05) post thaw motility and
viability percentage (60.00+0.30'% and 161.00+5.05, respectively) compared to the other avian egg
yolks. The percentage of acrosomal abnormalities after thawing was significantly (p < 0.05) the
lowest (19.20+0.41°%) and sperm membrane integrity and alkaline phosphatase enzyme
concentration were the highest (78.00+0.89% and 23,33+1.181U/cm3, respectively) in the duck egg
yolk compared to other species. Results suggested that duck egg yolk could be used as an alternative
for chicken egg yolk, in a semen extender for the cryopreservation of dog semen, but it requires
further evaluation in fertility trials

Main Subjects