47 ROLE OF INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR-I ON THE FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS AND FERTILITY OF OVINE FROZEN–THAWED SEMEN
R. Padilha A , D. Magalhães-Padilha B C , M. Cavalcante B , A. Almeida B , M. Gastal C , J. Nunes B , A. P. Rodrigues B , J. R. Figueiredo B and M. Oliveira AA Universidade Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil;
B Universidade Estadual do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil;
C Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL, USA
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 24(1) 136-136 https://doi.org/10.1071/RDv24n1Ab47
Published: 6 December 2011
Abstract
The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the effects of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) on the viability and fertility of ovine frozen/thawed semen. For evaluating the semen parameters, 5 rams were used. Before cryopreservation, semen samples from each ejaculate were divided into 4 aliquots and extended with Tris+ alone or supplemented with 1 of 3 different concentrations of IGF-I (50, 100 and 250 ng mL–1). Semen was evaluated immediately after thawing (T0), after 1 (T1) and 2 (T2) post-incubation at 37°C. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa and live cells (fluorescence analysis-calcein and ethidium), acrosome integrity (NAR) and motility were analysed and hypoosmotic swelling tests (HOST) were performed to evaluate in vitro sperm survival. This experiment was replicated 5 times. In addition, AI was performed using 121 ewes to compare the optimal concentration of IGF-I versus Tris+ alone on fertility. Data for sperm parameters were analysed by 1-way ANOVA and the differences among groups were examined by Duncan's multiple range test. Pregnancy rates were analysed by the chi-square test of independence. After 1 and 2 h post-incubation, a decrease was observed in all groups in the percentage of motility, NAR and HOST when compared to the semen at T0. The motility rate was higher (P < 0.05) in the IGF-I 100 and IGF-I 250 groups when compared to the IGF-I 50 and Tris+ alone groups (76.2 and 75% vs 66.2 and 64.4%, respectively) at T0, after 1 h (67 and 63.6% vs 57.4 and 56.2%) and 2 h post-incubation (58.2 and 55.4% vs 48 and 47.2%). Furthermore, viability was higher (P < 0.05) in the IGF-I 100 and IGF-I 250 groups than in the IGF-I 50 and Tris+ alone groups (88.7 and 88.3% vs 76.6 and 77.6%, respectively) at T0. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in NAR or HOST among groups. No significant differences (P > 0.05) in fertility were observed between IGF-I 100 and Tris+ groups. In conclusion, the supplementation of Tris extender with IGF-I (100 and 250 ng mL–1) appears to be a successful way to preserve functional parameters of ovine sperm during cryopreservation.
