• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.16-18
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• 2002

During the process of freezing, spermatozoa suffer cold shock which increases their susceptibility to lipid peroxidation which plays an important role in ageing of spermatozoa, shortening their life span and affecting the preservation of semen. An experiment was therefore conducted to study the effect of addition of natural antioxidants into semen diluents on the preservability of buffalo semen. Split semen samples were extended in milk egg yolk diluents fortified with vitamin E (MYE), vitamin C (MYC) and control group (MYO); Tris-egg yolk diluents fortified with vitamin E (TYE), vitamin C (TYC) and control group (TYO) and evaluated for their preservabilities at 4-7$^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$. Overall least squares mean of percent motility observed after 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of preservation at 4-7$^{\circ}C$ were 66.70, 54.00, 36.80, 21.90 and 12.50, respectively while the estimates for semen extended in MYE, MYC, MYO, TYE, TYC and TYO were 44.80, 42.70, 38.70, 36.00, 35.20 and 33.00 percent, respectively. The results showed that motility was significantly (p<0.01) affected by extender (extender-antioxidant combination) and preservation interval. Overall least squares mean percent motility observed after 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h of preservation at $37^{\circ}C$ were 68.50, 58.90, 45.00, 38.10 and 18.10 percent, respectively, while the estimates for semen extended in MYE, MYC, MYO, TYE, TYC and TYO were 48.20, 49.30, 46.80, 45.30, 42.30 and 42.50 percent, respectively. Extender and storage interval were found to be significantly (p<0.01) affecting spermatozoa motility on room temperature preservation. The results indicated that the incorporation of antioxidants, especially vitamin E, had beneficial effect on preservability of buffalo semen.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.24 no.10
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• pp.1348-1357
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to compare the effect of Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT), Pentoxifylline (PTX) and ${\alpha}$-tocopherol (Vit E) on semen quality parameters of Karan Fries bulls. The fortification of extender by various semen additives improves motility as well as fertility of spermatozoa. Split samples of 24 ejaculates of four Karan Fries bulls were extended in extender with or without various additives such as BHT, PTX and Vit E, and performance was evaluated at an interval of 0, 24, 48 and 72 h at refrigerated temperature (4-$7^{\circ}C$). Results of the present study revealed that addition of BHT, PTX and Vit E in extender improved sperm cell function, such as motility, viability, HOST, and acrosome integrity, as compared to the control during liquid storage up to 48 h of preservation at refrigerated temperature. There was no significant (p<0.05) difference between any of the additives up to 48 h of preservation. Overall, the results showed a significant (p<0.05) deterioration in motility after each storage interval. The results showed a significant deterioration in the acrosome integrity and plasma membrane integrity up to 48 h; subsequently, there was not much degradation of both the semen quality parameters. There was a significant increase in spermatozoal tail and total abnormality after each storage interval at refrigerator temperature (4 to $7^{\circ}C$); however, the head and mid-piece abnormalities were almost unaffected. Tail and total abnormality were least in extender fortified with BHT, PTX and Vit E at different hours of incubation as compared to the control. The addition of 1.5 mM BHT, 3.6 mM PTX and 1 mg/ml Vit E in the semen extender has more beneficial effect in terms of semen quality and preservability of spermatozoa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.11
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• pp.1527-1533
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• 2001

Garole is a prolific, rare, less known and small size Indian sheep breed found in low and humid Sunderban region of West Bengal. Although information on stored Garole ram liquid semen upto 24 h is available, but there is a need to further investigate the short-term and long-term preservability of Garole ram semen for extensive utilization of this valuable germplasm by artificial insemination. The aim of the present study was to apply computer-assisted sperm analysis technique for assessing the motion characteristics of Garole ram semen stored (i) in liquid state at refrigeration temperature for short-term preservation upto 48 h and (ii) in frozen state at $-196^{\circ}C$ for long-term preservation after packaging in mini straws. Short-term preservation had a significant effect on motility (p<0.01) as the motility progressively decreased from 90.1% at 0 h to 85.5% and 73.2% after 24 and 48 h of storage, respectively. Although the decline in rapid moving sperms was also significant (p<0.01) on storage but the decrease was more pronounced at 48 h as compared to 24 h of storage period. Storage of chilled semen had also a significant effect on % linearity (p<0.05), % straightness (p<0.01), sperm velocities (p<0.01), amplitude of lateral head displacement (p<0.01) and beat frequency (pO.Ol) of spermatozoa. The replication had a significant effect for all the variables except average path and straight line velocity. However, the interactions of short-term storage and replication were non-significant for most of the variables except % of medium moving sperms, sperm velocities and beat frequency. On long-term preservation of Garole ram spermatozoa under controlled conditions the mean post-thaw recovery of 70.4 and 71.4% motile spermatozoa was achieved having 48.8 and 48.9% of rapidly motile spermatozoa, respectively in both the replicates. The effect of replication on cryopreservation was significant (p<0.05) on amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat frequency, but there was no significant effect on motility, rapidly motile spermatozoa, linearity, straightness and sperm velocities of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. It can be concluded from these results that an average 70% motility can be achieved on storage of Garole ram semen in chilled liquid state upto 48 h or in liquid nitrogen after freezing under controlled conditions in straws. However, further studies are required to evaluate the fertility of short-term and long-term preserved Garole ram semen for extensive use of this prolific sheep breed.