ROLE OF TREHALOSE IN THE PROTECTION OF THE REFRIGERATED BUCK SEMEN

Andreea Anghel, Dorina Nadolu, B. Tamaianu

Abstract
    The biotechnologies of reproduction, that also involves the artificial insemination at goats, have been rapidly developed after the optimization of producing and preserving the semen methods and of those of synchronizing the females` estrum. In order to obtain an acceptable fertility is necessary that optimum methods of preserving the semen in refrigerated form to be developed, which can be easily and fast integrated into insemination methodologies. The aim of the study was to test a new medium of dilution which contains a diglucide trehalose as cryoprotectant substance, for the purpose of replacing (to replace) the usual glycerol that has been used until present, which was proved to have negative effects upon spermatic cell during preservation. Also the extender contains a low concentration of egg yolk of 5%, in order to eliminate a processing-centrifugation step, which leads to an additional mechanical stress with negative effects on fecundity.
    Our experiments demonstrated that the trehalose added in the dilution medium maintains the structural and functional stability of the plasmatic membrane of the spermatic cell during liquid conservation at 4 degrees C, similar results being obtained also in other experiments done on buck semen. At 48 hours from collection, the semen diluted in the control extender registered a motility of 64.1% while the semen diluted in the experimental extender registered a motility of 67.4%. At 48 hours from collection, the semen in the control extender registered a viability of 66.4% while the semen in the experimental extender registered a viability of 69.5%.

Key words: seminal material, buck, trehalose extender