Effects of varying aeration treatment on fertilizing capacity of semen diluted with perfluorochemical emulsion and stored for twenty-four hours.

The effects of perfluorochemical (PFC) oxygen carriers in turkey semen diluents on fertility and hatchability was measured for a 10-wk period. Semen was diluted (1:1) with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE) or BPSE:FC-75, an emulsified mixture of BPSE and perfluorobutyltetrahydrofuran (technical grade) (FC-75) and stored for 24 h at 5 C with agitation (150 rpm) and aeration with either air, nitrogen (100%), or oxygen (100%). Sperm concentration and percentage of dead sperm were determined prior to and after storage. Sperm concentration (8.35 to 9.21 x 10(9) per milliliter) was not significantly affected by the type of diluent or aeration gas, and only stored semen diluted with BPSE: FC-75 and aerated with nitrogen had increased percentage of dead sperm. Diluent type did not affect the percentage of fertilized eggs; however, fertility and hatchability for both diluent treatments with nitrogen aeration was significantly lower (P < or = 0.05) than for the semen treatments with air or oxygen aeration. Hatchability for semen diluted with BPSE:FC-75 and aerated with oxygen (63.7%) was significantly higher (P < or = 0.05) than that for BPSE-diluted semen aerated with oxygen (43.2%). Although use of oxygen carrying fluorocarbon emulsified with BPSE did not further improve fertility when the semen was stored for 24 h while oxygenated and mechanically agitated, a beneficial effect was noted for hatchability. The fact that nitrogen severely depressed fertility confirms that the beneficial effects of agitation are due to oxygenation of the spermatozoa. Therefore, further studies of oxygen carriers in semen are warranted.