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Preliminary Trial: Motility Comparisons of a Unique Freezing Technology (UFT) to Liquid Nitrogen Mist Methodology for Cryopreservation of Porcine Spermatozoa
Author(s) -
Goolsby HA,
Blanton JR,
Cotter PZ,
Prien SD
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
reproduction in domestic animals
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.546
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1439-0531
pISSN - 0936-6768
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2004.00518.x
Subject(s) - cryopreservation , mist , liquid nitrogen , motility , vitrification , andrology , biology , chemistry , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , meteorology , physics , embryo , organic chemistry
Contents The motility outcomes of boar semen frozen with newly developed freezing techniques using a new unique freezing technology (UFT) compared with traditional liquid nitrogen methodology were investigated with the intent of improving current fertility outcomes using semen. The UFT is an electronically controlled cooling chamber that houses an organic fluid bath that can be maintained at temperatures below 0°C without solidifying to freeze samples. Four ejaculates from four different boars were collected for this trial. Samples were handled consistently during the pre‐ and post‐freeze processing. From each ejaculate, samples were separated into eight cryopreservation treatment groups, six UFT variations and two control liquid nitrogen groups, immediately before freezing, in replicates of two. After the initial cryopreservation was complete, all samples were stored in liquid nitrogen for at least 48 h. Post‐thaw motilities and original motility return percentages were assessed on a random, individual‐sample basis. After the initial evaluations, samples from two boars were recollected and frozen using the UFT for breeding purposes. Four sows were bred with the UFT frozen semen to confirm fertility capability. When assessing the individual UFT techniques, all of six UFT techniques had improved post‐thaw motilities. However, treatments F ( μ = 29%, return μ = 37%) and J ( μ = 27%, return μ = 34%) showed the highest statistical improvement for post‐thaw (p < 0.05) and original motility percent returns (p < 0.05) when compared with either the control cryo‐tube ( μ = 15%, return μ = 19%) or straw groups ( μ = 12%, return μ = 16%). The UFT semen had a 50% conception rate, with an average of seven piglets from the sows that farrowed. Our preliminary data suggest a higher motility return with a slower pre‐freeze phase below the freezing point before the acceleration to liquid nitrogen temperatures. The preliminary data suggest that the UFT could be utilized as a potential cryopreservation option for boar semen.