38 The efficacy of different concentration of coconut water on boar semen following equilibration at 18°C for different times
M. Tshabalala A , M. Mphaphathi C , C. Pilane B , K. Nephawe A and T. Nedambale AA Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria, Republic of South Africa
B Agricultural Research Council, Irene, Republic of South Africa
C University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Republic of South Africa
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 34(2) 254-254 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv34n2Ab38
Published: 7 December 2021
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the IETS
Coconut water (CCW) is a natural and abundant resource characterised by its high content of antioxidant, vitamins, amino acid, sugar and electrolyte. Furthermore, coconut water plays an essential role during in vitro sperm capacitation in swine. The objective of this study was to determine the optimum concentration (60, 80, and 100%) of coconut water that can be used to preserve boar semen following equilibration at 18°C for 8, 16, 24 and 48 h. A total of 24 ejaculates were collected from 3 boars aged 2–3 years, using a glove and hand technique. Collected raw semen samples were evaluated for sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity before dilution. Semen was randomly diluted with different concentrations (60, 80, and 100%) of coconut water and Beltsville thawing solution BTS (control). The diluted semen samples were evaluated for sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity at 8, 16, 24 and 48 h during in vitro storage at 18°C. Data were analysed with ANOVA using Stata V12 statistical software (StataCorp.), and treatments means were separated using Fishers protected t-t-test at a significant level of P < 0.05. Semen diluted with 60% CCW and equilibrated for 8 h had significantly (P < 0.05) higher sperm motility (86.13 ± 1.7), percentage of live sperm (84.5 ± 2.0), and plasma membrane (83.3 ± 2.3) and acrosome integrity (84.0 ± 2.1) compared with semen diluted with 80% and 100% CCW. Semen diluted with 80% and 100% CCW, respectively, and equilibrated for 8 h resulted in lower percentages of sperm motility (76.2 ± 2.5; 63.5 ± 2.7), live sperm (74.5 ± 2.0; 63.3 ± 2.1), plasma membrane (73.3 ± 2.3; 63.5 ± 2.0) and acrosome membrane integrity (74.0 ± 2.1; 63.5 ± 2.7) following equilibration. Semen diluted with 60% CCW and equilibrated for 48 h had higher sperm motility (43.4 ± 4.5), percentage of live sperm (43.1 ± 2.9), and plasma membrane (57.1 ± 2.5) and acrosome integrity (42.8 ± 3.2) compared with semen diluted with 80% or 100% CCW. In conclusion, equilibrated semen diluted with 60% CCW resulted in improved boar semen parameters such as sperm motility, viability, and plasma membrane and acrosome membrane integrity following 48 h of equilibration. Further studies are required to determine the in vitro and in vivo fertilising capacity of equilibrated semen diluted with CCW.
