<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This study has been designed to optimize the semen freezing protocol in rabbits, in this regard we compared a Tris-citrate-glucose (TCG) extender with a commercial one (Cortalap®), that to the best of our knowledge has never been used up to now on the <italic>in vitro</italic> freezability and fertilizing ability of cryopreserved rabbit semen. Two different inseminating semen doses were considered. Five pooled semen samples were divided into two subsamples and each of them were diluted to a ratio 1:1 (v:v) with a freezing extender composed of TCG or Cortalap® containing 16% of dimethylsulfoxide and 0.1 mol/L of sucrose. The extended semen was filled into 0.25 mL plastic straws and frozen above a liquid nitrogen surface. After thawing (50°C/10 seconds) we determined sperm motility, viability, membrane functionality, acrosome and DNA integrity. Our results showed that the Cortalap® extender significantly improved the <italic>in vitro</italic> post-thaw sperm quality, in comparison to TCG. When we compared the extenders <italic>in vivo</italic>, no significant differences in the reproductive performances were observed independently by inseminating doses used. In this study we demonstrated that Cortalap® extender can be used as an alternative to TCG. Thus, the Cortalap® being a ready to use extender, implies a reduction of time, mistakes and microbial contaminations during its preparation. This discovery results as significant because it provides beyond an important contribution to the creation of the first Italian semen cryobank of rabbit breeds and also for livestock rabbit farms based on artificial insemination (AI) program.</abstract>

This study has been designed to optimize the semen freezing protocol in rabbits, in this regard we compared a Tris-citrate-glucose (TCG) extender with a commercial one (Cortalap®), that to the best of our knowledge has never been used up to now on the in vitro freezability and fertilizing ability of cryopreserved rabbit semen. Two different inseminating semen doses were considered. Five pooled semen samples were divided into two subsamples and each of them were diluted to a ratio 1:1 (v:v) with a freezing extender composed of TCG or Cortalap® containing 16% of dimethylsulfoxide and 0.1 mol/L of sucrose. The extended semen was filled into 0.25 mL plastic straws and frozen above a liquid nitrogen surface. After thawing (50°C/10 seconds) we determined sperm motility, viability, membrane functionality, acrosome and DNA integrity. Our results showed that the Cortalap® extender significantly improved the in vitro post-thaw sperm quality, in comparison to TCG. When we compared the extenders in vivo, no significant differences in the reproductive performances were observed independently by inseminating doses used. In this study we demonstrated that Cortalap® extender can be used as an alternative to TCG. Thus, the Cortalap® being a ready to use extender, implies a reduction of time, mistakes and microbial contaminations during its preparation. This discovery results as significant because it provides beyond an important contribution to the creation of the first Italian semen cryobank of rabbit breeds and also for livestock rabbit farms based on artificial insemination (AI) program.

Improving the Rabbit Semen Cryopreservation Protocol: Comparison Between Two Extenders and Inseminating Doses

Department of Animal Production, Agricultural

Italian National Rabbit Breeders (ANCI-AIA), 71030 Volturara Appula (Foggia),

Annals of Animal Science

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

This study has been designed to optimize the semen freezing protocol in rabbits, in this regard we compared a Tris-citrate-glucose (TCG) extender with a...

Improving the Rabbit Semen Cryopreservation Protocol: Comparison Between Two Extenders and Inseminating Doses

Published Online: Aug 01, 2020

Page range: 887 - 898

Received: Oct 28, 2019

Accepted: Feb 14, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0023

Keywords
rabbit sperm, based extender, fertility, prolificacy, inseminating dose

© 2020 Michele Di Iorio et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Improving the Rabbit Semen Cryopreservation Protocol: Comparison Between Two Extenders and Inseminating Doses

Published Online: Aug 01, 2020

Page range: 887 - 898

Received: Oct 28, 2019

Accepted: Feb 14, 2020

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/aoas-2020-0023

Keywordsrabbit sperm, based extender, fertility, prolificacy, inseminating dose

© 2020 Michele Di Iorio et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
rabbit sperm, based extender, fertility, prolificacy, inseminating dose