Effect of viscosity in the medium for sperm cryopreservation of golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos).

BACKGROUND

The development of assisted reproduction techniques for birds is useful for ex situ conservation but is limited. For the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), only artificial insemination procedures using extenders developed over 50 years ago have been described.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the effect of the viscosity of the cryopreservation medium on the acrosomal reaction ability of A. chrysaetos sperm.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Viscosity was determined in 45 ejaculates. A design using the Lake medium, 6 % dimethylacetamide (DMA), and Ficoll (10 %, 35 %, and 45 %) was developed to create conditions of viscosity that was lower, similar, and higher than those determined in fresh semen.

RESULTS

The viscosity of fresh semen was 3.2320 mPa/s. In aliquots of the Lake medium supplemented with 6 % DMA and 10 %, 35 %, and 45 % Ficoll, the viscosities were 2.1698 mPa/s, 3.5393 mPa/s, and 6.1123 mPa/s, respectively. Post-thaw, in the aliquot with 10 % Ficoll, 74 % of sperm were alive, with 28 % mobility, and 21 % exhibited an acrosomal reaction with percentages that were significantly lower (P < 0.05) than those observed in sperm frozen with 30 % and 45 % Ficoll.

CONCLUSION

Viscosity has a positive influence on the viability of cryopreserved semen. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr24610110512.