Acrosome damage of ram spermatozoa during dilution, cooling and freezing

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Abstract
Although a fertilization rate similar to that of fresh semen was obtained with frozen ram semen, a low lambing rate is reported in the majority of the present studies. The low fertility of the frozen ram semen was attributed to a failure of sperm transport in the female, a reduced viability of the sperm in the ewe genital tract or at least in part to the acrosomal damage caused by freezing. An attempt was made to determine how much damage is caused to ram spermatozoa during each of the dilution, cooling and freezing-thawing stages. Sperm damage was determined by light microscopy and EM. The fertility of the frozen-thawed sperm was determined in a small-scale insemination trial. The low conception rate with frozen semen can apparently be explained by considerable sperm damage and the need to increase the inseminate volume for thawing beyond the holding capacity of the female genital tract.

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