Authors : Alper Baran , Kamber Demir , B. Evrim Sahin , Mithat Evecen , Suleyman Bacinoglu , Serhat Alkan and Irfan Kamuran Ileri
Abstract: The aim of this study was to observe the effects of taurine containing and non-containing milk extenders on the spermatological characteristics of chilled stored male cat semen. Semen was collected from 4 cats of 2-3 ages under general anesthesia (xylazine-ketamine HCl) by an electro-ejaculator during the study. Total 5 ejaculates with a weekly basis were collected from each male cat. The semen was split into 2 portions and one was extended with taurine containing Skimmed Milk-Glucose (SMG-T) extender at 26°C (egg yolk (10 mL)-D (+) glucose (1.00 g)-taurine (50 mM)-skimmed milk (to 100 mL)-penicillin-G (1000 IU mL-1)-streptomycin sulphate (1000 μg mL-1)) the other portion was extended with Skimmed Milk-Glucose extender (SMG) (egg yolk (10 mL)-D (+) glucose (1.00 g)-skimmed milk (to 100 mL)-penicillin-G (1000 IU mL-1)-streptomycin sulphate (1000 μg mL-1)). The extended semen samples were chilled to 5°C in an hour (0.35°C min-1). Spermatological investigations such as motility (%) and abnormal spermatozoon rates (%) (acrosome, head, mid-piece, tail and total) were done at dilution, cooling to 24 h, 48 h and 72 h at 5°C. Morphological defect rates were examined by staining with Spermac® stain by a light microscope at 1000 magnification. The mean motility of cooled semen in the SMG-T extender at the 24 h was the highest with 75.50±5.82% and this value was 66.25±12.86% in the SMG extender (p<0.05). During the above time period, the mean acrosome and total abnormal spermatozoon rates in the SMG-T extender were lowest with 18.55±3.15 and 32.70±4.59%, respectively, these averages were highest in the SMG extender with 19.60±5.67 and 40.15±9.10%, respectively (p<0.05). The motility and morphologic defect rates at the 48 h were similar in the SMG-T and SMG extenders. At the 72 h, acrosome and tail defect rates in the SMG-T extender were lowest with 33.50±4.36 and 15.65±6.26%, respectively whilst, these values were highest in the SMG extender with 40.45±8.76 and 17.65±3.84%, respectively (p<0.05). At the conclusion of the study, it can be said that SMG-T and SMG extenders can be successfully employed to store cat semen for shorter periods (24-48 h), also, SMG-T extender is superior to the SMG extender in cooled storage of cat semen for 24 h.
Alper Baran , Kamber Demir , B. Evrim Sahin , Mithat Evecen , Suleyman Bacinoglu , Serhat Alkan and Irfan Kamuran Ileri , 2009. Short-Term Chilled Storage of Cat Semen Extended with and Without Taurine Containing Milk Extenders. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 8: 1367-1371.