The influence of cryopreservation on parameters of energetic metabolism and motility of fowl spermatozoa.

The objective of this study was to estimate the effect of cryopreservation on the main pathways of energetic metabolism and motility of fowl spermatozoa. Sperm diluted 1:5 with the cryoprotective medium containing ethylene glycol (1.4 M final concentration) was frozen at the rate of 2-3 degrees C/min to -25 degrees C with a pause on the plateau of crystallization and then at an exponentially increasing rate to -196 degrees C. The frozen sperm was thawed in two successive water baths at 0 and at 41 degrees C. After cryopreservation, the rate of radioactive glucose oxidation to 14CO2 slightly decreased, the rate of labeled glutamate oxidation remained unchanged, and the rate of labeled succinate oxidation increased two-fold. After freeze-thawing, the rates of endogenous respiration with and without 2,4-dinitrophenol decreased; the oxidation rate of exogenous succinate in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol, rotenone, and digitonin slightly decreased; and the rate of respiration in the presence of ascorbate, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-p-phenylenediamine, antimycin A, 2,4-dinitrophenol, and digitonin did not differ from that seen in control. Sperm respiration was highly sensitive to rotenone; antimycin A and cyanide blocked oxygen consumption completely. Succinate, added after 2,4-dinitrophenol and rotenone, stimulated respiration of thawed spermatozoa, which indicated plasma membrane damage. The addition of exogenous malate in the presence of 2,4-dinitrophenol and digitonin restored the respiration rate of thawed spermatozoa to that of unfrozen cells. The rate of respiration of thawed spermatozoa with oligomycin was higher than that of control cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)