Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques

Post-thaw incubation survival of spermatozoa at 37 degree centigrade

POST THAW INCUBATION SURVIVAL OF SPERMATOZOA AT 37⁰C

• Thaw the frozen semen straw at a water bath of 37⁰C for 30 seconds
• Wipe the straw and cut the ends of the straw and collect the semen in a small test tube.
• Keep a small drop on a clean, grease free glass slide.
• Cover it with cover slip and examine under the phase contrast microscope and estimate the post thaw motility.
• Incubate the semen in the test tube in the same water bath at 37⁰C.
• Estimate the progressive motility at every half an hour interval till the motility completely ceases.

Longer the survival, greater the chance for the sperm to survive in the female genitalia on insemination resulting in better fertility.

• Individual variations among bulls have been observed for post thaw survival of spermatozoa.