Short-Term Chilled Storage of Cat Semen Extended with and Without Taurine Containing Milk Extenders

Abstract

The aim of this study was to observe the effects of taurine containing and non-containing milk extenders on the spermatological characteristics of chilled stored male cat semen. Semen was collected from 4 cats of 2-3 ages under general anesthesia (xylazine-ketamine HCl) by an electro-ejaculator during the study. Total 5 ejaculates with a weekly basis were collected from each male cat. The semen was split into 2 portions and one was extended with taurine containing Skimmed Milk-Glucose (SMG-T) extender at 26 degrees C (egg yolk (10 mL)-D (+) glucose (1.00 g)-taurine (50 mM)-skimmed milk (to 100 mL)-penicillin-G (1000 IU mL(-1))streptomycin sulphate (1000 mu g mL(-1))) the other portion was extended with Skimmed Milk-Glucose extender (SMG) (egg yolk (10 mL)-D (+) glucose (1.00 g)-skimmed milk (to 100 mL)-penicillin-G (1000 IU mL(-1))streptomycin sulphate (1000 mu g mL(-1))). The extended semen samples were chilled to 5 C in an hour (0.35 C min(-1)). Spermatological investigations such as motility (%) and abnormal spermatozoon rates (%) (acrosome, head, mid-piece, tail and total) were done at dilution, cooling to 24 h, 48 h and 72 h at 5 C. Morphological defect rates were examined by staining with Spermac (R) stain by a light microscope at 1000 magnification. The mean motility of cooled semen in the SMG-T extender at the 24 h was the highest with 75.50 +/- 5.82% and this value was 66.25 +/- 12.86% in the SMG extender (p<0.05). During the above time period, the mean acrosome and total abnormal spermatozoon rates in the SMG-T extender were lowest with 18.55 +/- 3.15 and 32.70 +/- 4.59%, respectively, these averages were highest in the SMG extender with 19.60 +/- 5.67 and 40.15 +/- 9.10%, respectively (p<0.05). The motility and morphologic defect rates at the 48 h were similar in the SMG-T and SMG extenders. At the 72 h, acrosome and tail defect rates in the SMG-T extender were lowest with 33.50 +/- 4.36 and 15.65 +/- 6.26%, respectively whilst, these values were highest in the SMG extender with 40.45 +/- 8.76 and 17.65 +/- 3.84%, respectively (p<0.05). At the conclusion of the study, it can be said that SMG-T and SMG extenders can be successfully employed to store cat semen for shorter periods (24-48 h), also, SMG-T extender is superior to the SMG extender in cooled storage of cat semen for 24 h.