Jai Kishan Prasad

The effect of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on post-thaw semen quality of buffalo ejaculates of Murrah buffalo bulls was studied. The effect of CLC on spermatozoa was showed by various physicomorphological during fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stage of cryopreservation. The ejaculates with initial progressive motility of 70% or more were utilized in the study. The fresh semen samples were evaluated for sperm concentration, initial progressive motility, viability, abnormality, HOST and acrosomal integrity. The results indicated, the mean per cent values were significantly higher for progressive motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and HOS response of spermatozoa in Group treated with highest dose (3 mg) of CLC as compared to other three groups at pre-freeze and post-thaw stages indicating its favorable effect on post-thaw semen quality parameters & hence, better post-thaw recovery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of commercial egg yolk powder as an alternative to fresh egg yolk on freezability of Murrah buffalo semen. Semen samples (12) from 3 Murrah buffaloes (4 from each bull) with mass motility (≥3+) and total motility (70% and above) were utilized in this study. Immediately after collection, each sample was divided into four groups. Groups I was diluted up to 60×106 sperm/ml with tris extender containing 10% fresh egg yolk and Groups II, III, and IV were diluted up to 60×106 sperm/ml with tris extender containing 2%, 4%, and 6% egg yolk powder, respectively. Semen samples were processed and cryopreserved followed by examination of frozen semen samples after 24 h. Semen samples from each group were evaluated for total motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, abnormality, and hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) response after dilution, pre-freeze, and post-thaw stage. Pre-freeze total motility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Groups III and IV as compared to Groups I and II, and post-thaw total motility was significantly (p<0.01) higher in Group III as compared to other three groups. Viability was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Groups II, III, and IV than Group I at the pre-freeze stage. Significantly (p<0.01) higher viability and acrosomal integrity were recorded in Group III as compared to other three groups at the post-thaw stage. Abnormality was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Group IV than other three groups. HOST response was significantly (p<0.05) higher in Groups II and III than Groups I and IV at the pre-freeze and post-thaw stages. Addition of egg yolk powder at 4% level yielded significantly better results in terms of post-thaw semen quality as compared to the fresh egg yolk and other concentrations of egg yolk powder (2% and 6%).

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor on serum nitric oxide, progesterone, estradiol profiles and estrous cycle length in buffaloes. Murrah buffaloes (n = 16) exhibiting regular estrous cycles were randomly allocated to two groups of eight animals. In the treatment group, buffaloes were administered 400 mg/h l-NAME over 2 h (total dose = 800 mg) via the coccygeal artery and the aorta abdominalis on day 15 of the estrous cycle. In the control group, normal saline was infused on the same day of the cycle by the same route. Blood samples were collected every 4 h on days 15 and 16, and once daily from days 17 to 21 of the estrous cycle for the assay of progesterone, estradiol and nitric oxide. l-NAME treatment significantly (p < 0.05) reduced serum nitric oxide concentration from 4 h of day 15 until day 20 of the cycle. Serum progesterone concentration increased significantly (p < 0.05) between 0 and 20 h post treatment on day 15. The estrous cycle length was 19.8 ± 0.36 and 23.6 ± 0.17 days for control and treated group buffalo (p < 0.05), respectively. It was concluded that treatment of buffalo with l-NAME in the late luteal phase of the estrous cycle inhibited serum nitric oxide concentration resulting in increased progesterone production and extension of the effective life of the corpus luteum, thus prolonging the estrous cycle length.