Viability, enzymatic activity and penetrating ability of spermatozoa into she-camel cervical mucous as affected by different extenders El-Salaam A.M. Abd1, Absy G.M.2, Gabr Sh.A.3, Zeidan A.E.B.1,,* 1Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza, Egypt 2Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt 3Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Tanta University, Egypt *Email: zeidan20102010@hotmail.com
Online published on 3 September, 2012. Abstract Five males camels at 5 to 10 years of age and 500 – 600 kg body weight, were used. Semen was collected, evaluated and extended with 7 extenders (glucose-yolk-citrate: GYC, fructose-yolk-citrate: FYC, lactase-yolk-citrate: LYC, sucrose –yolk-citrate: SYC, tris-yolk-fructose: TYF, skim- cow -milk: SCM and skim- camel -milk: SLM). The extended semen was then incubated at 37°C for up to 12 hours. After each incubation time (0, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 hours), the percentage of motile spermatozoa, dead spermatozoa, sperm abnormalities and acrosomal damage of the camel spermatozoa were recorded. Aspartate-aminotransferase (AST), alanine – aminotransferase (ALT) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) enzymes activities, were also determined. The penetrating ability of spermatozoa into she-camel cervical mucous with the different extenders, during incubation at 37°C for up to 4 hours was also assessed. The result showed that, the extended camel semen with each of LYC, SYC, TYF, SCM and SLM extenders increased significantly (P < 0.05) the percentage of sperm motility, while decreased significantly (P < 0.05) percentage of dead spermatozoa, sperm abnormalities and acrosomal damage of spermatozoa and activities of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes as compared with GYC and FYC extenders, during incubation at 37°C for up to 12 hours. The highest (P < 0.05) percentage of sperm motility was recorded with the extended semen with TYF extender and the lowest (P < 0.05) value was recorded with FYC extender. The highest (P < 0.05) percentages of dead spermatozoa, sperm abnormalitites, acrosomal damage and activities of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes were recorded with the extended semen with FYC extender and the lowest (P < 0.05) values were recorded with TYF extender. The advancement of incubation time at 37°C for up to 12 hours decreased significantly (P < 0.05) the percentage of motile spermatozoa, while increased significantly (P<0.05) the percentage of dead spermatozoa, sperm abnormalities, acrosomal damage of spermatozoa and the amount of AST, ALT and ALP enzymes released into the extraellular fluid of the extended camel semen with the all different extenders. The penetrating ability of the extended spermatozoa with TYF, SYC, SCM, SLM and LYC extenders into she-camel cervical mucous was insignificantly better than GYC or FYC extender. While, the penetration score of spermatozoa was significantly (P<0.05) decreased with the advancement time of incubation at 37°C with the different extenders. Top Keywords Camel semen, enzymes, extenders, incubation, penetration score. Top |