RESUMEN
In a preliminary study, it was found that aeration of turkey semen diluted 1:2 with a phosphate buffer diluent (PD) and stored for 24 h at 12 to 13 C improved the fertilizing capacity relative to that obtained from PD-diluted semen that was not aerated (63.8 and 14.0%, respectively). Emulsifying PD with an equal volume of the oxygen carrier perfluorobutyltetrahydrofurane (FC-80) and using the resulting emulsion as a diluent further increased the fertility (86.6%), but the best fertility was from unstored, undiluted semen (98.0%). The efficacy of using emulsions of aqueous diluents with FC-80 for 24-h cold storage of turkey semen was studied in detail. When semen diluted with PD:FC-80 emulsions received varying levels of O2 for aeration, the fertilizing capacity of semen aerated with 60 or 100% O2 (86.1 and 89.6%, respectively) was significantly greater (P < or = .05) than that obtained using 20% oxygen (78.5%). The FC-80 emulsions that were made using commercially available diluents in place of the PD were tested with 100% O2 aeration during storage. The percentage fertility obtained from emulsions made with Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender or Lake's 7.1 "mm" Diluent was significantly greater (P < or = .05) than that for PD or Minnesota Turkey Growers Association Extender (90.5 and 90.2% vs 77.6 and 72.6%, respectively). This research demonstrates that perfluorochemicals may be useful for cold storage of turkey semen when emulsified with optimum diluents and aerated with > or = 60% O2.
Asunto(s)
Criopreservación , Fertilidad/efectos de los fármacos , Fluorocarburos , Furanos , Oxígeno/farmacología , Preservación de Semen/métodos , Pavos , Animales , Portadores de Fármacos , Femenino , Masculino , Proyectos Piloto , Factores de TiempoRESUMEN
The perfluorochemicals (PFC) have a high capacity for dissolving oxygen and carbon dioxide. Two experiments were conducted using PFC as diluent components to assess their effect on the fertilizing capacity of, and the hatchability of eggs from hens inseminated with, turkey semen stored for 30 min or 3 h. Two PFC were tested for the 30-min experiment: perfluorohexane (FC-72) and perfluorobutyltetrahydrofurane (FC-80). For the 3-h experiment, these PFC plus bis-1,2-(F-butyl)-ethene (F-44E) were studied. The PFC were emulsified with an equal volume of a standard aqueous salt diluent, Beltsville Poultry Semen Extender (BPSE). The BPSE alone was used as a control in both experiments. Semen was diluted 1:2 with oxygen-saturated extender and stored in closed tubes at 20 to 30 C prior to insemination. For the 30-min study, PFC diluents resulted in fertility rates comparable to (FC-72) or significantly greater than (FC-80) BPSE alone (P < or = .05). There was no significant difference in hatchability due to any semen treatment. When semen was stored for 3 h, PFC diluents resulted in comparable (FC-80) or significantly higher (F-44E and FC-72) fertility and hatchability rates. Significantly lower embryonic deaths at Day 10 of incubation were noted for all PFC diluents. These findings provide evidence that PFC emulsions are not toxic and prolong fertilizing capacity of turkey sperm during short-term storage, and suggest that providing oxygen carriers such as PFC in semen diluents may be beneficial.