Livestock Studies 2016, Vol 56, Num, 1     (Pages: 032-039)

Effects of Cryopreservation on Sperm Quality and Fertility

Nurdan Coşkun 1 ,Fikret Karaca 1

1 MKÜ Veteriner Fakültesi Dölerme ve Suni Tohumlama Anabilim dalı Hatay - The cryopreservation protocols have a number of potentially damaging stresses such as the change in temperature, the osmotic and toxic stresses presented by exposure to molar concentrations of cryoprotectants and the formation and dissolution of ice in the extracellular environment. Various sperm organnels have been known to be affected due to the detrimental effects of cryopreservation. Induction of prematüre acrosomal reaction, altered mitochondrial function, reduction of motility, failure of choromatin decondensation, change chromatin structure and originate DNA alterations all of which influnce the viability and fertility of the sperm cells. Addition of cryoprotectant agents in extenders have been used in an attempt to providing some protection to spermatozoa and minimizing the adverse effects of cryopreservation. The success of cryopreservation depend upon many factors, including interactions among cryoprotectants, type of extender, cooling rate, thawing rate and freezing techniques as well as variation among individual animals. Because fertility of frozen thawed semen is poorer than fresh semen, proper evaluation of the post thaw quality of spermatozoa is very significant. In this review, it was made a general evaluation with the effects on semen quality and fertility of the cryopreservation. Keywords : Semen cryopreservation, fertility, sperm quality