The effects of different egg yolk concentrations used with soy bean lecithin-based extender on semen quality to freeze bull semen

Abstract

Aim: The centrifuged egg yolk (CEY) was added at concentrations of 0.5 or 10% to a defined soy lecithin-based extender (Bioxcell®) used to freeze bull semen and their synergistic effects on post-thaw sperm motility, morphological abnormalities and membrane integrity assessed. Materials and Methods: Ejaculates obtained from each Simmental bull (n:12) divided in three equal aliquots and diluted in CEY 5% (B5), 10% (B10) supplemented, and without any CEY (B0) in soy bean lecithin - based extender, respectively. Thereafter, they were frozen and thawed following a standart protocol. Sperm cryosurvival was evaluated in vitro by microscopic assessments of post-thaw sperm motility (by means of the CASA), acrosomal and other abnormalities (head, mid-pieces, and tail) and plasma membrane integrity (evaluated by HOST). Results: In Simmental bulls, semen extended with B5 had significantly higher CASA motility and CASA progressive motility than those extended with the rest of extenders after freezing and thawing (p0.05). For VSL (p Conclusion: The use of CEY 5% in combination with soy bean lecithin significantly improved bull semen freezability.

Keywords

• soy bean lecithin
• egg yolk
• cryopreservation
• semen parameters
• bull