Preliminary Investigations on Glycerol Entry into Bovine Spermatozoa

Abstract

In an attempt to determine whether or not glycerol enters the sperm cell during equilibration and prior to freezing, 20 ejaculates of bull semen were employed in a 10-treatment study comparing 4 and 15 hr. equilibration, glycerolation temperatures of 32 and 5C and various lengths of exposure of spermatozoa to 32C in glycerol and nonglycerol extenders. It was concluded that exposure of spermatozoa to 32C in EYC extenders plus 7% glycerol resulted in a reduction of motility, both before and after freezing in proportion to length of time exposed. Generally, equilibration for 15 hr. was less harmful than 4 hr. Considerable effort was expended to develop a gas-liquid chromatographic method for determination of free glycerol in bull semen. Problems associated with the development of such a technique are discussed.