Challenges in the development of sperm cryopreservation protocols for snakes
Carly Young
A B , Nicole Ravida A and Barbara Durrant A
A San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, Beckman Center for Conservation Research, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92027, USA.
B Corresponding author. Email: cyoung@sdzwa.org
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 33(9) 605-609 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD21038
Submitted: 1 February 2021 Accepted: 6 May 2021 Published: 1 June 2021
Abstract
Snake populations are declining worldwide, but research devoted to the development of sperm cryopreservation techniques for this taxon is very limited. Spermatozoa were collected postmortem from snakes of four squamate families (Elapidae, Colubridae, Viperidae and Pythonidae). Viability assessment was performed before and after cryopreservation. Spermatozoa were extended in TES and Tris (TEST) yolk buffer with 12% dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) or 12% glycerol and frozen at a rate of 0.3°C min−1. The sperm quality index (SQI), representing three viability parameters (motility, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity), was determined. Despite some species differences, glycerol was a more effective cryoprotectant for Colubridae, whereas DMSO provided greater cryoprotection for spermatozoa of members of the other three families.
Keywords: endangered species, freezing, reptile, semen, squamates.
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