Ejaculates of two donkeys were split and frozen in an INRA96® - 2% egg yolk extender added of either 2.2% glycerol (GLY) or 1.4% ethylene glycol (EG). Fertility and post-insemination endometritis were evaluated after artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen further diluted either with INRA96® (Groups GLY-INRA and EG-INRA, 8 cycles each) or with seminal plasma (Group GLY-SPL, 8 cycles). Jennies, aged 8.0±4.5 years, were inseminated twice in each cycle, 20 hours apart, with 500x106 spermatozoa (250x106 from each donkey), at fixed times after induction of ovulation. Uterus was flushed 6 and 10 hours after first and second AI, respectively. Cells in the recovered fluid were counted with a Thoma chamber and distinguished as polymorphonuclear (PMN) or other cells in Diff-quik®-stained smears. Pregnancies were diagnosed by ultrasound examinations at 14 and 16 days. Pregnancy rate was 2/8 (25%) in both GLY-INRA and GE-INRA, while it was 5/8 (62.5%) in GLY-SPL, including a twin pregnancy. PMN concentration was higher after the first AI (median: 341x103/ml), compared to the second (median: 128x103/ml), and in pregnant jennies (median: 523x103/ml), compared to the non pregnant (median:199x103/ml), while there was no statistical difference between treatments. These results indicate that it is possible to obtain pregnancies both using GLY or EG as a cryoprotectant for donkey semen. The effect of the post-thaw dilution in seminal plasma on fertility needs to be investigated on a larger number of cycles.
Uterine response and fertility after artificial insemination with frozen-thawed donkey spermatozoa.
ROTA, ALESSANDRA;PANZANI, DUCCIO;CAMILLO, FRANCESCO
2011-01-01
Abstract
Ejaculates of two donkeys were split and frozen in an INRA96® - 2% egg yolk extender added of either 2.2% glycerol (GLY) or 1.4% ethylene glycol (EG). Fertility and post-insemination endometritis were evaluated after artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen further diluted either with INRA96® (Groups GLY-INRA and EG-INRA, 8 cycles each) or with seminal plasma (Group GLY-SPL, 8 cycles). Jennies, aged 8.0±4.5 years, were inseminated twice in each cycle, 20 hours apart, with 500x106 spermatozoa (250x106 from each donkey), at fixed times after induction of ovulation. Uterus was flushed 6 and 10 hours after first and second AI, respectively. Cells in the recovered fluid were counted with a Thoma chamber and distinguished as polymorphonuclear (PMN) or other cells in Diff-quik®-stained smears. Pregnancies were diagnosed by ultrasound examinations at 14 and 16 days. Pregnancy rate was 2/8 (25%) in both GLY-INRA and GE-INRA, while it was 5/8 (62.5%) in GLY-SPL, including a twin pregnancy. PMN concentration was higher after the first AI (median: 341x103/ml), compared to the second (median: 128x103/ml), and in pregnant jennies (median: 523x103/ml), compared to the non pregnant (median:199x103/ml), while there was no statistical difference between treatments. These results indicate that it is possible to obtain pregnancies both using GLY or EG as a cryoprotectant for donkey semen. The effect of the post-thaw dilution in seminal plasma on fertility needs to be investigated on a larger number of cycles.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
