Effects of Sugar Type on Viability of Frozen-Thawed Canine Spermatozoa

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of type of the sugar supplemented to the extender on the vigor, viability and intact acrosomal rates of frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa. The ejaculated semen was diluted with TRIS-citric acid extender containing 200mM TRIS, 73mM citric acid, 6% (v/v) glycerol, 20% (v/v) egg yolk, 1% (v/v) antibiotics (streptomycin/penicillin), 44 mM sugar, which was either glucose, fructose or glucose-fructose combination, and distilled water to make the final volume of 100ml. Extended semen samples were cooled at $4^{\circ}C$ for an hour, packaged in 0.25ml straws, equilibrated for 10 minutes in liquid nitrogen vapor, and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Samples were thawed by placing straws into $37^{\circ}C$ water for 120 seconds. After thawing, vigor, viability and intact acrosomal rates of frozen-thawed semen were compared according to type of sugar. No significant differences were observed between glucose and fructose groups. In addition, combination of the 2 sugars also did not show any significant differences in the vigor, viability and intact acrosomal rates. In conclusion, glucose and fructose were equally efficient as sugar supplements for freezing extender.