Abstract:
The Percoll density gradient
centrifugation (PDGC) method is frequently
used in the sexing of spermatozoa. However,
this method causes damage to the spermatozoa
membranes, resulting in a decreased quality
of spermatozoa. We analysed the impacts of
phospholipid PC (phosphatidylcholine) and
EGTA (ethylene glycol bis (β-aminoethyl
ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid) Ca2+ free
buffer on the quality of bovine spermatozoa
after the PDGC process, using semen from
Friesian Holstein (FH) bulls aged 5 - 8 years.
The following variables were observed:
spermatozoa motility, spermatozoa viability,
spermatozoa membrane integrity, spermatozoa
that have not experienced capacitation,
spermatozoa that have experienced
capacitation and spermatozoa that have
undergone acrosomal reaction. The results
showed that the administration of
phospholipid PC + EGTA Ca2+ free buffer to
spermatozoa, followed by the PDGC process,
could maintain or further improve the values
of all variables. In the PDGC process,
phospholipid PC 10% + EGTA Ca2+ free
buffer at 1 mM was most suitable.
