Effects of Package, Extender, and Light on Stored Frozen Bull Spermatozoa

Abstract

Spermatozoa were analyzed when fresh, freshly frozen, and stored at −196 C for 6 and 18 mo after processing in egg yolk-citrate and Promine-D extender with varying exposure to light and packaging in straws or glass ampules. Over all treatments there were decreases with time in spermatozoal motility, oxygen uptake, and cellular glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase due to freezing-thawing. Percent progressive motility decreased from spermatozoa freshly frozen (36.5%) to those stored for 6 mo (33.6%). Oxygen uptake in freshly frozen samples was 8.4 μl per 108 cells per h. In frozen semen stored for 6 and 18 mo corresponding values were 12.2 and 8.3 μl. Packaging methods did not have a significant effect on oxygen uptake, but package interacted with storage. Egg yolk-citrate extender supported greater progressive spermatoal motility than did Promine-D. Extender interacted with storage for all criteria. Visible light radiation reduced progressive spermatozoal motility from 40.2 to 38.0% and oxygen uptake from 11.8 to 10.8 μl per 108 cells per h. Light interacted with storage time. Correlations between all criteria and storage times were not important practically. © 1977, American Dairy Science Association. All rights reserved.