Journal article

Publication year: 2014

Pages: 39-39

Journal: Reproduction in Domestic Animals

Volume number: 49

Issue number: s1

ISSN: 0936-6768

eISSN: 1439-0531

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12292

Publisher: Wiley

Abstract: 
Nearly one third of all psittacine species are listed as threatened by the IUCN. Regarding species conservation and genetic management of captive populations, cryopreservation of sperm cells becomes increasingly important, ensuring permanent availability of spermatozoa for artificial insemination. Unfortunately, species-specific differences in avian sperm morphology, metabolism and osmotolerance impede the transfer of a working protocol between various bird orders. Specific research on psittacine semen was performed to develop a suitable diluent protecting the physiological properties and functions of spermatozoa. For this aim 16 pooled semen samples of 10 cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) were divided into at least four portions each and mixed 1:4 or 1:8 with three different diluents and 1:5 with glucose 1% as control respectively. After mixing, spermatozoa were investigated for motility, viability and morphology directly and four times every 30 minutes. Viability was double-checked by Eosin B-stain and the fluorescence stain SYBR® Green/propidium iodide. Subsequently three different cryoprotectants in three different concentrations were evaluated analogously. Our results demonstrate that cockatiel spermatozoa are highly sensitive to variations in pH and osmolality, requiring adjustment of commercial diluents to pH=7.42 and osmolality=300 mOsm/kg. Self-modified Lake’s diluent (1:4) maintained higher viability and motility than other diluents tested. Evaluation of cryoprotectants demonstrated that glycerol in all tested concentrations had the most negative influence on sperm viability and motility. Additionally an efficient protocol for electron microscopy was established to examine sperm membrane integrity in order to compare untreated to cryopreserved spermatozoa in cockatiels.

Harvard Citation style: Schneider, H., Fischer, D., Bergmann, M., Ehling, C., Meinecke-Tillmann, S., Wehrend, A., et al. (2014) Investigations into cryopreservation of psittacine semen : 47th Annual Conference of Physiology and Pathology of Reproduction, 39th Joint Conference on Veterinary and Human Reproductive Medicine, Giessen, 27-28 February 2014, Reproduction in Domestic Animals, 49(s1), p. 39. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12292

APA Citation style: Schneider, H., Fischer, D., Bergmann, M., Ehling, C., Meinecke-Tillmann, S., Wehrend, A., & Lierz, M. (2014). Investigations into cryopreservation of psittacine semen : 47th Annual Conference of Physiology and Pathology of Reproduction, 39th Joint Conference on Veterinary and Human Reproductive Medicine, Giessen, 27-28 February 2014. Reproduction in Domestic Animals. 49(s1), 39. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.12292