The influence of air contact on the quality of extended boar semen
Ribeiro, Caroline de VeronezMoroni, Júlia LinckMenegat, Mariana BoscatoMellagi, Ana Paula GonçalvesBernardi, Mari LourdesWentz, IvoBortolozzo, Fernando Pandolfo
Background: The extensive use of artificial insemination in the swine industry emphasizes the need for distribution of good quality semen doses by the artificial insemination centers. A factor that could modify seminal quality is the contact of extended semen with environmental air. However, only few studies have investigated the effects of air presence on semen parameters. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the influence of different amounts of air on porcine semen quality during the storage period. Materials, Methods & Results: Four ejaculates from five sexually mature boars were used. Each ejaculate (n = 20) was isothermically diluted (30 x 106 /mL) in a BTS-extender and assigned to three groups differing on the amount of air entrapped within the polystyrene tubes (100 mL). In group AIR-0 the tubes were completely filled with extended semen (0% air); in group AIR-25, 75% of the tube volume was filled with extended semen and 25% with air; in group AIR-50, 50% of the tube volume was filled with extended semen. The semen doses were stored at 17.3 ± 0.5ºC for 120 h. The motility parameters were assessed at 24, 72 and 120 h of storage using a CASA system. The evaluation of acrosomal integrity was performed by examining formalin-fixed samples under phase-contrast microscopy (1000 x) at 72 and 120 h of storage. The pH was measured at 24, 48, 72, and 120 h of [...](AU)
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