J Vet Sci.  2017 Mar;18(1):81-88. 10.4142/jvs.2017.18.1.81.

Alginate encapsulation preserves the quality and fertilizing ability of Mediterranean Italian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) and Holstein Friesian (Bos taurus) spermatozoa after cryopreservation

• Perteghella S
• Gaviraghi
• Cenadelli
• Bornaghi V
• Galli A
• Crivelli B
• Vigani B
• Vigo D
• Chlapanidas T
• Faustini M
• Torre ML

• KMID: 2412591
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.2017.18.1.81

Abstract

The use of artificial insemination (AI) in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is limited by poor ovarian activity during the hot season, seasonal qualitative patterns in semen, low resistance of sperm cells in the female tract, difficulties in estrus detection, and variable estrus duration. Although AI procedures are commonly used in bovine, use of AI has been limited in buffalo. In the zootechnical field, different studies have been conducted to develop techniques for improvement of fertilizing ability of buffalo spermatozoa after AI. In this study, for the first time, the use of alginate encapsulation and cryopreservation of buffalo spermatozoa is described, and the same procedure was performed with Holstein Friesian (Bos taurus) semen. Results obtained from in vitro analyses indicate that the encapsulation process does not have detrimental effects (compared to controls) on quality parameters (membrane integrity, progressive motility, path average velocity) in either species. Similarly, there were no detrimental effects after cryopreservation in either species. The fertilizing potential of encapsulated and cryopreserved semen was evaluated after AI in 25 buffalo and 113 bovine females. Pregnancy rates were not affected in either species. The results of this study show proof of concept for the use of frozen semen controlled-release devices in buffalo.

Keyword

alginic acid; artificial insemination; buffaloes; cryopreservation; drug compounding encapsulation

MeSH Terms

Alginates/*pharmacology
Animals
Biocompatible Materials/*pharmacology
Buffaloes/*physiology
Cattle
Cryopreservation/veterinary
Female
Glucuronic Acid/pharmacology
Hexuronic Acids/pharmacology
Insemination, Artificial/*veterinary
Italy
Male
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Rate
Semen Preservation/*veterinary
Spermatozoa/*chemistry
Alginates
Biocompatible Materials
Hexuronic Acids
Glucuronic Acid

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Schematic representation of the study's experimental design.

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  Fig. 2 Bar graphs (means ± SD of eight bovine bulls) of spermatozoa characteristics. (A) membrane integrity (MI), (B) progressive motility (PM), (C) total motility (TM), and (D) average path velocity (VAP) in four bovine treatment groups. C, control spermatozoa; E, encapsulated spermatozoa; FT-C, frozen-thawed control spermatozoa; FT-E, frozen-thawed encapsulated spermatozoa. Values with different letters differ significantly (p < 0.05) among groups.

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  Fig. 3 Bar graphs (means ± SD of eight buffalo bulls) of spermatozoa characteristics. (A) membrane integrity (MI), (B) progressive motility (PM), (C) total motility (TM), and (D) average path velocity (VAP) in four buffalo treatment groups. C, control spermatozoa; E, encapsulated spermatozoa; FT-C, frozen-thawed control spermatozoa; FT-E, frozen-thawed encapsulated spermatozoa. Values with different letters differ significantly (p < 0.05) among groups.

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