Extenders for alpaca epididymal spermatozoa: Comparison of INRA96 and andromed
Al-Essawe, Essraa M; Abraham, Maria Celina; Kunkitti, Panisara; Axner, Eva; de Verdier, Kerstin; Båge, Renee; Morrell, JaneAbstract
Artificial insemination would be a useful technique for alpaca breeders to use as an aid to breeding to increase fleece quality. The technique, however, is not well developed in alpacas, partly because of the viscous nature of their seminal plasma. Castration conducted for husbandry purposes can provide a source of epididymal spermatozoa to test semen extenders or handling regimens, thus circumventing the problem of the viscous ejaculate. In this experiment, two semen extenders (Andromed and INRA96) developed for other species (bovine and equine, respectively) were tested with alpaca spermatozoa derived from the cauda epididymis. Sperm total motility (mean ± SEM A: 29.1 ± 4.8 % compared with I: 35.4 ± 4.8 %; NS), membrane integrity (A: 58 ± 9% compared with I: 56 ± 9%; NS) and acrosome integrity (A: 65 ± 7% compared with I: 54 ± 7%; NS) were not different between the two extenders. Progressive motility with use of INRA96 was greater after incubating for 30 min than after incubating for 10 min (35 ± 4% vs. 12 ± 4%, respectively; P = 0.03). In conclusion, viable epididymal spermatozoa could be extracted from the castrated organs after overnight transport. There were no differences in sperm quality between the two extenders; therefore, it appears that either extender could be used for alpaca spermatozoa. These results could help in the development of a technique for artificial insemination in alpacas.
Keywords
Vicugna pacos; Camelid; Sperm handling; Sperm qualityPublished in
Animal Reproduction Science2020, volume: 223, article number: 106629
Authors' information
UKÄ Subject classification
Genetics and Breeding
Clinical Science
Publication Identifiers
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106629
URI (permanent link to this page)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/108267