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Submitted to: Small Ruminant Research
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Publication Acceptance Date: 2/10/2005 Publication Date: 4/5/2005 Citation: Purdy, P.H. 2005. A review on goat sperm cryopreservation. Small Ruminant Research. Interpretive Summary: The results of recent goat sperm cryopreservation research are highly variable. Frozen-thawed goat sperm motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and fertility differ dramatically between reports. Therefore, research should focus on obtaining a better understanding of goat sperm physiology so that assays can be developed to better assess the sperm cell quality and its fertility following cryopreservation. In addition, producers and scientists need guidelines for goat semen handling and cryopreservation, and culling of males based on reproductive characteristics. A concerted effort between producers and scientists that incorporates these guidelines should result in a better understanding of goat reproduction and consequently increased reproductive efficiency. This manuscript discusses the present state of goat sperm cryopreservation and its uses. Technical Abstract: The ability to cryopreserve spermatozoa from all of the domestic species is challenging. Even though all of the cells must endure similar physical stresses associated with the cryopreservation processes, sperm from the different species are very different in size, shape and lipid composition, all of which affect cryosurvival. Therefore, when a cryopreservation protocol has been optimized for sperm from one species it may not be ideal for other sperm from other species. For example, bovine and caprine sperm freezing diluents contain similar ingredients, but interactions between goat seminal plasma and egg yolk are deleterious to the sperm, a situation not observed with bovine seminal plasma and egg yolk. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the specifics of freezing sperm from a particular species will lead to future research specifically designed to improve the cryosurvival of sperm from that species. This review updates the information relating to cryopreserving goat semen, with emphasis on the peculiarities specific to these sperm. In addition, suggestions for creating a standardized freezing protocol for goat semen are also presented. |
