Department of Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproduction, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok 10330, Thailand.
Theriogenology. 2011 Jun;75(9):1742-9. doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.01.014. Epub 2011 Mar 31.
Cryopreservation of stallion semen is often associated with poor post-thaw sperm quality. Sugars are among the important components of a freezing extender and act as non-permeating cryoprotectants. This study aimed to compare the quality of stallion sperm frozen with glucose, fructose or sorbitol-containing freezing extenders. Semen was collected from six stallions of proven fertility and cryopreserved using a freezing extender containing different types of monosaccharide sugars (glucose, fructose or sorbitol). After thawing, the semen was examined for sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, plasma membrane functionality and sperm longevity. The fertility of semen frozen in the presence of sorbitol was also tested by artificial insemination. Sperm quality was significantly decreased following freezing and thawing (P < 0.05). Fructose was inferior for protecting sperm during cryopreservation when compared to sorbitol and glucose (P < 0.05). Although the viability, motility and acrosome integrity of sperm cryopreserved with a glucose-containing extender did not significantly differ from sperm frozen in the sorbitol-based extender when examined at 2 and 4 h post-thaw, all of these parameters plus plasma membrane functionality were improved for sperm frozen in the sorbitol extender than in the glucose extender when examined 10 min post-thaw. Two of four mares (50%) inseminated with semen frozen with a sorbitol-containing freezing extender became pregnant. It is concluded that different sugars have different abilities to protect against cryoinjury during freezing and thawing of stallion sperm. This study demonstrated that an extender containing sorbitol as primary sugar can be used to successfully cryopreserve equine sperm; moreover, the quality of frozen-thawed sperm appeared to be better than when glucose or fructose was the principle sugar in the freezing extender.
精子的冷冻保存常常与解冻后精子质量差有关。糖是冷冻液的重要组成部分之一，作为非渗透型抗冻保护剂。本研究旨在比较含有葡萄糖、果糖或山梨糖醇的冷冻液冷冻保存种公马精子的质量。从 6 匹有生育能力的种公马采集精液，使用含有不同类型单糖（葡萄糖、果糖或山梨糖醇）的冷冻液进行冷冻保存。解冻后，检查精子的活力、活力、顶体完整性、质膜功能和精子寿命。还通过人工授精测试了含有山梨糖醇的冷冻精液的生育能力。冷冻和解冻后精子质量显著下降（P < 0.05）。与山梨糖醇和葡萄糖相比，果糖在冷冻保存过程中对精子的保护作用较差（P < 0.05）。尽管在解冻后 2 和 4 小时检查时，含有葡萄糖的冷冻液冷冻保存的精子活力、运动能力和顶体完整性与山梨糖醇基冷冻液中冷冻的精子没有显著差异，但在解冻后 10 分钟检查时，所有这些参数加上质膜功能都得到了改善，在山梨糖醇冷冻液中冷冻的精子优于在葡萄糖冷冻液中冷冻的精子。用含有山梨糖醇的冷冻液冷冻的精液给 4 匹母马中的 2 匹（50%）授精后怀孕。结论是，不同的糖在冷冻和解冻种公马精子过程中具有不同的抗冷冻损伤能力。本研究表明，含有山梨糖醇作为主要糖的冷冻液可成功地冷冻保存马精子；此外，与葡萄糖或果糖作为冷冻液中的主要糖时相比，冷冻解冻后精子的质量似乎更好。
