Effects of Washing Protocols on Cryosurvival of Spermatozoa from West African Dwarf Goat Bucks

BACKGROUND: Sperm washing in some species helps remove the detrimental effect of enzymes secreted from the bulbourethral gland, but such an effect has not been evaluated for cryopreserved sperm obtained from West African Dwarf (WAD) goat bucks. OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effects of washing protocols on the viability parameters of spermatozoa obtained from WAD goat bucks prior to cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples collected from WAD goat bucks with the aid of artificial vagina were subjected to washing protocols by centrifuging once, twice and thrice while the control group was not washed. Following washing semen samples were diluted in Tris-based extenders, cryopreserved for 30 days in liquid nitrogen. RESULTS: Sperm motility, acrosome integrity, live spermatozoa and arginase activity were higher, and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was reduced in semen washed prior to cryopreservation compared to the control. CONCLUSION: Semen washing improved the quality.