Sperm viability in ram semen diluted and stored in three different extenders
López, A.; Söderquist, L.; Rodriguez-Martinez, H.
Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 40(1): 1-9
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0044-605X PMID: 10418191 Document Number: 505486
Semen was collected with an artificial vagina from 4 one-year-old Swedish Finewool rams, and was diluted and stored at 5 degrees C for 7 days in sodium citrate, Tris and milk-based extenders. Sperm motility was assessed subjectively and sperm membrane integrity was determined using the fluorescent probes calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer. Representative samples were also studied using scanning electron microscopy. The average percentage of motile spermatozoa decreased over time in the 3 diluents (P<0.001). However, there were no differences among diluents after storage at 5 degrees for 2 days, but the percentage of spermatozoa showing progressive motility and an intact plasma membrane was significantly higher in sodium citrate than in the other 2 extenders after 4 days of storage.