Association of Vitamin E with Rapid Thawing on Goat Semen

Abstract EN

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vitamin E associated with rapid thawing on cryopreserved goat semen.

Two bucks were used and eight ejaculates per animal were collected using artificial vagina.

Semen was diluted with the following treatments: BIOXCELL (control), BIOXCELL + Equex (sodium lauryl sulphate) and BIOXCELL + vitamin E 100 μM.

Semen was packaged into 0.25 mL straws and cooled at 5°C for 1 hour.

Freezing was performed in liquid nitrogen vapor (−155°C) during 15 minutes.

Then, the straws were immersed in liquid nitrogen (−196°C).

Straws were thawed at 38°C/60 seconds or at 60°C/7 seconds with immediate sperm analysis.

Hypoosmotic swelling test was performed adding a 20 μL aliquot of thawed semen to 1 mL of hypoosmotic solution (100 mOsm·Kg−1) followed by incubation during 60 minutes in water bath (38°C).

Vitamin E did not affect any studied parameters ( P > 0.05 ).

Nevertheless, defrosting rate of 60°C/7 seconds improved sperm membrane functional integrity ( P < 0.05 ).

Current knowledge about goat semen cryopreservation is not sufficient to ensure high post-thawing recovery rates; thus, this study brings important data about using antioxidants and different thawing rates on cryopreservation process.