Storage resistance of bubaline epididymal spermatozoa at 5°c in modified egg yolk citrate dilutors

This study was designed to evaluate the effect of alanine, cysteine and glutamine on structural aspect and storage resistance of buffalo bull epididymal spermatozoa. The 48 testicles from slaughtered buffalo bulls were collected in 0.9% normal saline solution from slaughter house and were stored at 50C. The epididymal semen was collected from these testicles at 0 hours of storage and spermatozoa were evaluated for their initial motility, livability, abnormality and HOS reactivity. A total of four groups were studied. In group 1 epididymal semen sample were diluted with Egg Yolk Citrate (EYC) as extender and kept as control and in rest 3 groups epididymal semen samples extended with Egg Yolk Citrate (EYC) were additionally supplemented with 25mM alanine (D1), 5 mM cysteine (D2) and 25 mM glutamine (D3) and stored at 5 °C. Semen quality parameters were examined post dilution and post-thawing at 0, 24 48 and 72 hours of refrigeration storage. Results demonstrated that both cysteine (D2) and glutamine (D3) supplimentation showed significant (P<0.05) positive effects on post-thaw motility, live sperms concentration, membrane integrity and abnormality when added to EYC extender at 5 mM and 25Mm concentration respectively compared to control and alanine supplemented group (D1). Thus, it may be concluded that addition of 5mM cysteine and 25 mM glutamine in conventional storage medium enhanced post-thaw motility, percent live sperms, improved membrane integrity and significantly reduced percent abnormal sperms in buffalo bull semen.