Spermatozoa Survival in Milk Diluent with and without Seminal Plasma

Abstract

Thirty semen samples from 10 bulls were used. The experiment was divided into 3 trials as follows: Trial 1 - sperm twice washed with 2.9% sodium citrate; Trial 2[long dash]supernatant plasma removed following rapid centrifugation for 6 minutes; and Trial 3 - whole semen. Seminal plasma removed in Trials 1 and 2 was replaced with sodium citrate. Aliquots of each semen sample in each trial were respectively extended in 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, and 4.0 parts of milk and 1.0 part seminal plasma and brought to a 1:4 dilution with 2.9% sodium citrate. Motility was rated initially and at 1, 2, and 3 hours of incubation at 37[degree]C. Motility initially and at 1, 2, and 3 hours of incubation was increasingly higher as the amounts of milk and plasma were increased. Trial I sperm did not maintain motility following resuspension in sodium citrate. Four parts of milk was the most suitable substrate for replacing seminal plasma in Trials 1 and 2 as compared with replacement with 1 part seminal plasma. This experiment demonstrates that sperm utilize energy sources in milk for maintenance of motility during incubation for 3 hours at 37[degree]C.