Effect of cryoprotectant on the cryopreservation of South African Kolbroek pig semen

The study evaluated the effect of different cryoprotectants on post-thaw survival and motility of Kolbroek sperm. Semen from Kolbroek boars was collected with the gloved hand technique. Ejaculates were diluted with Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) at a ratio of 1: 1 prior to freezing. Semen was diluted with egg yolk tris; thereafter, one of the three cryoprotectants (14 % glycerol, 14 % DMSO or 7 % glycerol + 7% DMSO) were added. Diluted samples were then loaded into 0.5 mL straws and cooled with a programmable freezer. Thereafter the semen straws were plunged directly into liquid nitrogen (-196 °C) and stored for 48 h. Frozen straws were thawed at 39 °C for a minute and evaluated for sperm motility and survival at 0, 30, 60 and 90 min post-thaw. The post-thaw sperm survival frozen using glycerol as a cryoprotectant was significantly higher immediately after thawing, compared to DMSO, however, similar to the combination of glycerol and DMSO. There was no significant difference on motility rate immediately (0 min) post-thaw between the three cryoprotectants. Sperm cryopreserved with glycerol exhibited a significantly higher percentage motility at 30, 60 and 90 min post-thaw than in the other cryoprotectants. Based on sperm motility, glycerol was a better cryoprotectant for cryopreservation of Kolbroek boar sperm. _______________________________________________________________________________