Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Preservation of Bull Semen at Sub-Zero Temperatures
John Stuart Mill · en
=Adding the glycerol.= The glycerol solution is prepared by adding 14
volumes of glycerol (reagent grade) to 86 volumes of yolk-citrate
diluent (same as yolk-citrate used for original dilution). This solution
may be added dropwise with constant gentle mixing to the already diluted
semen, or one-third at a time at 10-minute intervals with gentle mixing
during each addition. Either method should take about 20 to 30 minutes.
The total volume of glycerol-yolk-citrate solution added should be equal
to the volume of the original diluted semen. In this way a concentration
of 7 percent glycerol is obtained in the final mixture that is to be
frozen. Care must be taken to keep the temperature at 5 deg. C. (41 deg. F.)
during the time the glycerol is being added. (A cold room is best for
maintaining a temperature of 5 deg. C., but with care the operation can be
carried out at room temperature by using pans of ice water and a
refrigerator.)
=Equilibration.= The results presented in this bulletin suggest that
little or no time need be allowed after the glycerol is added before
freezing. However, results obtained by other workers show improved
fertility with at least 12 hours equilibration. Some units getting good
fertility results with frozen semen also are allowing the semen to stand
at 5 deg. C. for 12 to 18 hours before freezing. After the semen has
equilibrated with the glycerol, 1-milliliter portions of the mixture are
placed in 1.2- to 2-milliliter vials or ampules which are then sealed.
Ampuling can be done with an automatic syringe or pipette, provided a
large gage needle is used. Also, it is important not to force the fluid
mixture rapidly through the syringe or the sperm may be injured.
=Freezing.= The vials or ampules of diluted semen are placed in a bath
of isopropyl alcohol which has been cooled to 5 deg. C. (41 deg. F.). This bath
can be a wide-mouth thermos bottle or an insulated container of almost
any sort with a large opening at the top. The size needed depends on the
number of ampules being frozen. Some sort of convenient tray for holding
the ampules in an orderly fashion and enabling the samples to be
completely submerged is desirable. A few ampules can be kept together
easily by placing them in a polyethylene freezer bag that has had many
small holes cut in it to let the alcohol of the bath contact the
ampules. The ampules must be completely covered by the alcohol to insure
uniform cooling.