AH Alm-Kristiansen | ER Gaustad | G Bai | FB Standerholen | G Klinkenberg | E Kommisrud | KE Waterhouse

Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 30 October, 2017

Contents
Development of new semen cryopreservation techniques improving sperm survival
and ensuring availability of viable spermatozoa for a prolonged time-period
after AI is
promising tools to reduce sensitivity of timing of AI and enhance overall fertility. The
SpermVital® technology utilizes immobilization of bull spermatozoa in a solid network
of alginate gel prior to freezing, which will provide a gradual release of spermatozoa
after AI. The objective of this study was to compare post-thaw
sperm quality and in
vitro sperm survival over time of Norwegian Red bull semen processed by the
SpermVital® (SV) technology, the first commercialized production line of SpermVital®
(C) and by conventional procedure applying Biladyl® extender (B). Post-thaw
sperm
motility was not significantly different between SV, C and B semen (p > .05). However,
sperm viability and acrosome intactness were higher for SV than C and B semen
(p < .05). Small differences in DNA quality were observed (p < .05). Sperm viability
after storage in uterus ex vivo was higher for SV than for C semen (p < .05). Furthermore,
sperm survival in vitro over time at physiological temperature was significantly higher
for SV semen than C semen as well as B semen during the incubation period of 48 hr
(p < .05). In conclusion, the SpermVital® technology is improved and is more efficient
in conserving post-thaw
sperm quality and results in higher sperm viability over time  in vitro for SV than for C and B semen.