Effect of taurine on bovine spermatozoa motility parameters following cryopreservation

Abstract

The use of artificial insemination in animal production and especially in cattle breeding is an important intensification factor. For the purpose of maximal use of genetic potential, importance is always put on the creating conditions for effective insemination. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the taurine addition to bovine ejaculates in the process of cryopreservation on the spermatozoa motility. Taurine was dissolved in a saline to obtain various concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mM) and added to the extender. Fresh ejaculates collected from six breeding bulls were used in the experiment. Ejaculates were placed to the prepared extender. The control sample consisted of the extender only. After four hours of exposure at 4 °C, the ejaculates were put into straws with a volume of 0.5 ml. The semen was then exposed to freezing temperature of nitrogen vapour for 10 min. The straws were stored for one month in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C. Thereafter, the spermatozoa motility parameters were analyzed using the CASA method. This assay was repeated four times in the intervals of 0, 30, 60 and 90 min at 39 °C. The correlation between the time after thawing and spermatozoa motility shows a regressive character in the curve. In semen doses with taurine at 200 mM significant increase in the motility and progressive motility, in comparison to the control sample, was recorded. The results show that the addition of taurine increases total motility and progressive motility of bovine spermatozoa.