Effect of the addition of dimethyl sulfoxide and cholesterol on spermatic viability in the refrigeration of equine semen

• Grant number: 11/08252-3
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: August 01, 2011
• End date: July 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: José Antonio Dell'Aqua Junior
• Grantee: José Antonio Dell'Aqua Junior
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The most used biotechnique in equines in Brazil is the artificial insemination with cooled semen. Despite advances, still exist large variations of fertility results in breeding programs. There is also a great disparity between stallions in relation to semen quality after refrigeration and storage. Alternatively to this situation, the incorporation of cholesterol in the spermatic membrane and of dimethyl sulfoxide in the refrigeration extender has been studied. Whit the addition of these substances, there is the possibility to increase the time of sperm viability, maximizing the use of stallions that are far of the interest place or which semen does not support satisfactorily the refrigeration process. The present experiment has the aim to evaluate the effects of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) and cholesterol addition on spermatic viability in the equine cooled semen under 5ºC for up to 48 hours. The incorporation of cholesterol on spermatic membrane and of DMSO in the semen diluent are methods with potential to minimize deleterious effects generated by refrigeration of equine semen. However, it is necessary to create and improve protocols for the addition of these components, and a complete analysis of spermatic cell, to evaluate both cholesterol and DMSO effects on seminal characteristics of stallions. (AU)