Supplementation of extender with chamuangone-enriched Garcinia cowa leaf extract improves quality parameters and longevity of cold-stored cat semen.

BACKGROUND: Semen preservation by cooling is less expensive, simpler and results in less sperm damage than freezing does. However, spermatozoa can only be preserved for a short period due to the excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Although several antioxidants can protect sperms from ROS damage during storage at low temperatures, the use of natural antioxidants derived from plants would be a better alternative. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effects of chamuangone, which can reduce oxidation reactions in cells, on cat semen quality after preservation at 4 degree C for 15 days. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Epididymal sperm samples were collected before being diluted with tris-citric-fructose-egg yolk (TCFE) extender containing different concentrations of chamuangone (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ug/mL) and preserved at 4 degree C. Semen samples were evaluated before chilling and then every 3 days after chilling for up to 15 days. Each sample was assessed for sperm motility, viability, DNA integrity, plasma membrane integrity and percentage of spermatozoa with intact acrosomes. RESULTS: A significantly higher sperm motility was observed in the group supplemented with 100 ug/mL chamuangone compared to the control after 6 days of storage. However, the chamuangone concentration at 200 ug/mL did not significantly increase the sperm motility when compared to the control for the entire storage period. CONCLUSION: 100 µg/mL chamuangone can improve sperm characteristics during 15 days of preservation at 4 degree C, keeping sperm alive (49.3 ± 5.2%) and moving (7.1 ± 2.4%). These results can be used for the development of breeding programs using technologically advanced reproductive procedures in domestic and wild cats. https://doi.org/10.54680/fr24110110212.

On-farm lambing outcomes after transfer of vitrified and slow frozen embryos.

The aim of the present study was to determine the most suitable embryonic stage and embryo freezing technique for commercial implementation of frozen embryo trading by small-scale sheep producers. There was a 2 × 2 factorial design utilized for conducting the study consisting of two embryo stages (2-8 cells or morula/blastocyst) and two cryopreservation protocols (vitrification or slow-freezing). For the in vivo produced embryos, there were treatments of crossbred donor ewes to induce superovulation. Embryos were recovered surgically on either Day 2 or 5.5 after estrous onset. The embryos were cryopreserved using either a vitrification or slow-freezing method before there was transfer to recipients. Ovarian response, embryo survival and lambing outcomes were analyzed. There were no differences in number of recovered and fertilized embryos at the two embryonic developmental stages. There were no effects of embryonic stages and cryopreservation methods on pregnancy rate, twinning rate, fetal birth weights and lamb weight at 1 month of age. When there was use of vitrified embryos for transfers, there was a greater lamb weight at 2 months of age (8.38 ± 0.20 compared with 7.78 ± 0.21 kg; P = 0.044) than when there was transfer of embryos cryopreserved using slow freezing procedures. Considering economic and practical benefits to small-scale sheep farms, morula/blastocyst stage-embryo collection and transfer into the uterus is more efficacious than transferring 2-8 cells embryos into the oviduct. Results of this study may contribute to the genetic improvement in the flocks of small-scale sheep producers.