Extension of the equilibration period up to 24 h maintains the post-thawing quality of Holstein bull semen frozen with OPTIXcell

Semen cryopreservation in bovine livestock is well established, but logistics often require deviations from standard protocols. Extending the equilibration time to the following day is convenient in many situations. To improve our knowledge of the effects of this modification, we studied the post-th...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Animal reproduction science 2023-03, Vol.250, p.107209-107209, Article 107209
Main Authors: Salman, Amer, Fernández-Alegre, Estela, Francisco-Vázquez, Rubén, Gómez-Martín, Rubén, Fernández-Fernández, Alejandro, Areán-Dablanca, Héctor, Domínguez, Juan Carlos, González-Montaña, J. Ramiro, Caamaño, J.Néstor, Martínez-Pastor, Felipe
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bull
Cattle
Chromatin
Cryopreservation - methods
Cryopreservation - veterinary
Equilibration time
Fertility
Freezing
Male
OPTIXcell
Semen - physiology
Semen Analysis - veterinary
Semen Preservation - methods
Semen Preservation - veterinary
Sperm cryopreservation
Sperm Motility
Sperm quality
Spermatozoa - physiology
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Summary:Semen cryopreservation in bovine livestock is well established, but logistics often require deviations from standard protocols. Extending the equilibration time to the following day is convenient in many situations. To improve our knowledge of the effects of this modification, we studied the post-thawing and post-incubation (4 h, 38 °C) sperm quality after freezing with 4 or 24-h extension in the OPTIXcell extender by using an ample panel of analyses: CASA for motility; flow cytometry for viability, physiology, oxidative stress, and chromatin parameters (DNA fragmentation, chromatin compaction, and thiol groups status); and spectrometry for malondialdehyde production. Semen was obtained from 12 Holstein bulls. The 24-h equilibration time showed few significant effects, with only a tiny decrease in progressive motility and a positive impact on chromatin structure. The incubation removed some of these effects, with the pattern for chromatin compaction remaining the same. No detrimental oxidative stress or increase in apoptotic or capacitation markers was detected. Additionally, the individual bull interacted with the effects of the incubation and the equilibration, especially regarding the chromatin status. Whereas this interaction did not critically affect sperm quality, it could be relevant in practice. Bull fertility as non-return rates (NRR56) was associated with some sperm parameters (especially with an improved chromatin structure) but not in the 4-h post-thawing analysis. Our study supports that extending the equilibration time by at least 24-h is feasible for bull semen freezing with the OPTIXcell extender. •Equilibration times of 4 or 24 h were similar for freezing Holstein bull’s semen.•Sperm quality showed slight changes post-thawing and after a 4-h 38 °C incubation.•Fertility was associated with post-thawing sperm quality in the 24-h equilibration.•The 24-h equilibration could be used in AI centers as a practical alternative.
ISSN:0378-4320
1873-2232
DOI:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107209