Effect of Bovine Serum Albumin on Motility, Plasmalemma, Viability and Chromatin Integrity of Buffalo Bull Spermatozoa

The present work was designed to study the effect of different concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in extender on post-thaw quality of buffalo spermatozoa. Semen was collected from three buffalo bulls with artificial vagina (42 degrees C) for three weeks (replicates). Qualifying semen ejaculate from each bull was Split into five aliquots and diluted in iris-citric egg yolk extender containing either 0.0 (control) or 1.0 or 2.0 or 3.0 or 4.0 mg/ml BSA. Diluted semen was cooled to 4 degrees C in 2 h and equilibrated for 4 h at the same temperature. Cooled semen was filled in 0.5 ml plastic straws at 4 degrees C, kept over liquid nitrogen vapours (5cm) for 10 min and then plunged in the liquid nitrogen for storage. Frozen straws were thawed at 37 degrees C for 30 seconds in duplicate for the assessment of sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability and chromatin damage at 0, 2 and 4 h post-thaw. Sperm motility and chromatin damage remained similar in all experimental extenders at 0, 2 and 4 h post-thaw. However, higher (P>0.05) values of sperm chromatin damage were observed in extender without BSA supplementation. Sperm plasma membrane integrity and viability were observed higher (P<0.05) in extenders containing BSA compared to control at 0 h post-thaw. However, aforementioned parameters were similar in all extenders at 2 and 4 h post-thaw. The results of this study suggest protective role of BSA in cryopreservation of buffalo semen and needs further investigations.