The Relationship of Egg Yolk and Glycerol Content of Diluters and Glycerol Equilibration Time to Survival of Bull Spermatozoa after Low Temperature Freezing

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Abstract
In a factorial design experiment with 3 levels of egg yolk (18.4, 23.0, and 27.6%), 3 levels of glycerol (6, 8, and 10%), and 4 glycerol equilibration times (2, 6, 12, and 18 hours) there was a progressive increase in sperm survival in all diluter treatments after freezing to -75oC as the glycerol equilibration time was increased from 2 to 18 hours. A significant interaction between egg yolk and glycerol levels also was found. There were no significant interactions involving glycerol equilibration time and the other variables. In a 2d factorial design experiment, 4 egg yolk levels (15, 20, 25, and 30%), 5 glycerol levels (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9%), and 3 storage times at 5oC (0, 1, and 3 days) after thawing were used. A highly significant interaction of egg yolk and glycerol levels was again found. As the egg yolk level was increased, the glycerol level had to be increased for optimal sperm survival after freezing. A diluter containing 20% egg yolk and 7% glycerol gave best sperm survival after freezing.