Morphological Changes as Observed by Light Microscopy of the Acrosome of Boar Spermatozoa Subjected to Deep Freezing

Abstract

The effects of chilling (5°C) and deep freezing in liquid nitrogen (-196°C) on the acrosomal morphology of diluted boar spermatozoa were evaluated by light microscopy using Giemsa stain. A large reduction in numbers of spermatozoa with normal acrosomes was recorded as the temperature fell from 30 to 5°C but the greatest damage occurred during the freeze-thaw cycle.