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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Logan, Utah » Poisonous Plant Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #195769
Title: LAPAROSCOPIC INSEMINATION OF EWES WITH RESAZURIN-TREATED RAM SEMEN

Author
item WANG, S - USU
item HOLYOAK, R - USU
item EVANS, R - USU
item Panter, Kip
item GODFREY, R - U OF VIRGIN ISLAND
item Stellflug, John
item BUNCH, T - USU

Submitted to: Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings
Publication Type: Proceedings
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/20/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: Wang, S., Holyoak, R.G., Evans, R.C., Panter, K.E., Godfrey, R.W., Stellflug, J.N., Bunch, T.D. 1999. Laparoscopic insemination of ewes with resazurin-treated ram semen. Western Section of Animal Science Proceedings.

Interpretive Summary: Using In vitro fertilization methods, demonstrated that resazurin does not have adverse effect on fertilizing capability of bovine spermatozoa nor subsequent preimplantation embryo development. Therefore, the resazurin reduction assay may have application in noninvasive assessing of semen quality. The results from this study demonstrate that the resazurin reduction reaction is a practical method to assess the quality and viability of ram semen. The use of this assay in semen quality assessments could be beneficial to the livestock producers, veterinary practitioners and other scientists.

Technical Abstract: Resazurin (7-hydroxy-3H-phenoxazin-3-one10-oxide) is a redox dye used as an indicator for sperm activity. The reduction reaction can be quantitatively measured by spectrophotometry and correlates significantly with the concentration of motile spermatozoa. This study examined the potential use of resazurin reduction as a non-invasive assessment of ram semen quality. The semen collection of each ram was divided into two parts. To the first part, resazurin (Treatment) was added. To the second part no resazurin was added (Control). Ewes were randomly sorted into pairs. Within each pair, one ewe received resazurin-containing semen (Treatment) and the other inseminated with semen containing no resazurin (Control). The laparoscopic technique was used to inject semen into the uterine horn of each ewe via. The numbers of ewes lambed and the numbers of lambs born per ewe were recorded. The Paired t-test was used to detect differences between treatment and control. There was no significant difference in fertility and prolificacy in ewes inseminated with resazurin-treated semen compared to non-treated semen. In conclusion, resazurin reduction can be used to assess of semen quality prior to use in insemination practice or in vitro fertilization.