Viability of equine epididymal sperm after 48 hours of refrigeration at 4ºC

• Grant number: 13/10123-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2013
• End date: November 30, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Valeria Amorim Conforti
• Grantee: Luiz Roberto Pena de Andrade Junior
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this study is to assess the viability of sperm recovered from the epididymi of stallions immediately after orchiectomy and after a 48-hour period of refrigeration. Twelve pairs of testicles from private-owned stallions will be used in this study. After elective orchiectomy, the testicles with the epididymi will be immersed in lactated Ringer's, chilled (4°C) and taken to the laboratory. One pair (testicle/epididymis) will remain refrigerated (4°C); the contralateral pair will be dissected and the epididymal tail will be separated from the remaining parts, and the sperm cells will be recovered via retrograde flow in a warm petri dish. Semen will be evaluated for motility, vigor, membrane integrity, concentration, and morphology. After recovery of sperm cells, the testicle will be sectioned longitudinally and a tissue imprint will be made. A small fragment of testicular tissue will be collected for histological evaluation. The same procedures will be performed in the contralateral testicle after 48 hours of refrigeration at 4°C. Sperm viability and testicular tissue integrity will be compared between the freshly collected samples and those collected after a 48-hour refrigeration period.