Effect of the addition of vitamin E in semen extender on the cryopreservation of spermatic cells obtained from domestic cat epidydimides

• Grant number: 17/16762-8
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: January 01, 2018
• End date: December 31, 2018
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Maricy Apparício Ferreira
• Grantee: Bianca Ferrari
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The use of domestic cats is an excellent option as an experimental model. Cryopreservation of semen brings several benefits, especially for the conservation of wild species. The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether the addition of vitamin E in different concentrations into the extender medium is more effective for cryopreservation of domestic cat spermatozoa. Twenty-four domestic cats will be used in this study after being submitted to elective orchiectomy and the spermatozoa will be obtained directly from the tail and vas deferens of the epididymis. It will be used eight pools, constituted with the sample obtained from three animals. In control group (G0) the semen will be frozen with TRIS Equex STM extender. In the supplemented groups, TRIS Equex STM will be supplemented with vitamin E (±-tocopherol) in three concentrations: 0.3, 0.6 and 0.9 mM (G3, G6, G9, respectively). For each group, samples of fresh semen will be initially evaluated for motility, vigor and morphology to verify the minimum quality required for freezing. The same parameters will be re-evaluated after thawing and also for: Supra Vital Test, DNA Integrity Assessment and Lipid Peroxidation Reaction. The results will be evaluated by non-parametric analysis of variance and the means will be compared by the Tukey test (p <0.05). (AU)