A study on the use of unfrozen, diluted semen for the in vitro fertilisation of bovine oocytes matured in vitro : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Agricultural Science in Animal Science at Massey University
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Date
1991
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Massey University
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Abstract
The study investigated the use of unfrozen, diluted semen for in vitro fertilisation of
bovine oocytes matured in vitro. In experiment 1, semen from each of two bulls was used on
two consecutive days ("day-old" and "two-day-old" sperm) to explore the effect of sperm
concentration on oocyte penetration rates. The sperm concentrations used were 0.125, 0.25,
0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0xl06/ml. Penetration rates were uniformly high when day-old sperm was
used, but low penetration rates were obtained below 1xl06/ml with two-day-old sperm.
Unfrozen spem1 appeared to give better penetration rates than frozen-thawed sperm at
concentrations of 0.5-2.0x106/ml. There was no relationship between sperm concentration and
incidence of polyspermy. In experiment 2, sperm from the same two bulls were used to
investigate the presence of Caprogen extender in the fertilisation medium. Caprogen inhibited
penetration when present in concentrations greater than 1 Oml/litre. Experiments 3 and 4
studied the effect of heparin on penetration rates. In experiment 3, sperm from one bull was
used to inseminate oocytes in medium containing 0, 1, 5, 10, 20, 30 or 50!Jg/ml heparin.
There was no relationship between penetration rates and heparin concentrations in the
medium, and average penetration rates were high for all concentrations. In experiment 4, five
bulls were used to investigate penetration rates at heparin levels of O!Jg/ml (frozen-thawed and
unfrozen sperm) and lO!Jg/ml (unfrozen sperm). The results obtained in experiment 3 with
sperm from one bull were confirmed; penetration was obtained in the absence of heparin with
all five bulls.
Good penetration can be obtained in vitro with unfrozen sperm, and its greater
longevity and viability make it a useful alternative to frozen semen for both commercial and
research in vitro fertilisation programmes.
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Keywords
Livestock, Reproduction, Physiology, Cattle