Evaluation of different hand-made semen extenders for improving sperm quality of honey bee after freezing

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc. Student, Department of Animal Science , University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

2 Assistant Professor, Department of Animal Science , University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

3 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Animal Science , University College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

The aim of this research was the collection and freezing of honey bee sperm, Apis mellifera, as a trail and evaluating different semen extenders to improve sperm quality after freeze-thawing process as a first trail in Iran. Semen was collected using artificial insemination device. In this experiment three different extenders including; egg yolk (TEY), buffer and 0.5% soybean lecithin (TSL0.5) and buffer and 2% soybean lecithin (TSL2), were used. Collected semen samples were evaluated using microscope and then were diluted with extenders. Diluted samples were gradually cooled in a refrigerator to 5°C and immediately loaded into straws and then frozen in liquid nitrogen. Data were analyzed using the GENMOD procedure of SAS software and results were expressed as least square means. The results demonstrated higher (P<0.05) fresh sperm motility in extenders containing egg yolk (4.75±0.14) and 2% soybean lecithin (4.5±0.2) in comparison to 0.5% soybean-lecithin based extender (4.12±0.12). Also, the average of cooled motile spermatozoa in TEY and TSL2 based extenders (4.5±0.2 and 4.62±0.12, respectively) was significantly higher than TSL0.5 based extender (3.87±0.24). Post-thawed sperm motility in TEY (3.6±0.24) was significantly (P<0.05) higher than soybean-lecithin based extenders. According to the results of this study, it seems that semen storage of honey bee using egg yolk and 2% soybean-lecithin based extenders would be an appropriate extender for artificial insemination in order to accelerate breeding programs.

Keywords

References

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Iranian Journal of animal Science
Volume 47, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
December 2016
Pages 329-335

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History

  • Receive Date: 26 January 2016
  • Revise Date: 19 April 2016
  • Accept Date: 22 May 2016

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