The qualities of cryopreserved epididymal sperm collected from feline epididymides stored at low temperature.

We observed the influences of low-temperature storage of the feline epididymis on the epididymal semen qualities before and after cryopreservation to identify the optimal duration for low-temperature storage of the epididymis. After excision, the feline epididymis was stored at 4 degrees C for 0-72 hr and then subjected to epididymal sperm collection. When sperm from the refrigerated cauda epididymis were frozen and thawed, there was no significant difference in sperm motility between the 0- and 24-hr low-temperature storage groups, but sperm motility was significantly decreased in the 48-hr storage group. The above findings suggested that low-temperature storage of the epididymis until 24 hr is useful for frozen sperm collected from the feline cauda epididymis.