Efeito da unidade de resfriamento e conservação, do tempo de armazenamento e diluidor sobre as características do sêmen de cães Effect of the chilling sistems, time of conservation and extender on dog's semen characteristics

The present study purposed to compare the effect of two different chilled systems (Equitainer ® II and icefoam box) and two different diluents (minimal contamination and modified lactose yolk extender), on the dog's seminal characteristics after 12 and 24 hours of conservation. Fifteen ejaculates (three of each dog) were analyzed for sperm motility, vigor, sperm defects, live spermatozoa percentage and sperm membrane integrity percentage. Samples were diluted 1:3 using both extenders. They were storied in two kinds of chilling systems and were analyzed after 12 and 24 hours of conservation. The results showed that there was no statistic difference between any characteristics of the semen conserved into Equitainer ® II and icefoam box. After 24 hours of conservation there was a significant effect (P<0.05) in all semen characteristics independent of any kind of extender or containers. But there was no significant difference in the sperm motility, vigor, sperm morphology and in percentage of live spermatozoa between fresh and the 12 hours in laktose yolk conserved semen's. The same was not observed in semen conserved in the minimal contamination extender that showed significant differences (P<0.05) for all studied characteristics, except total sperm defect. Percentages of sperm membrane integrity were the only semen characteristic different (P<0.05) between fresh and the 12 hours in lactose yolk conserved semen's. It can be conclude that the kind of used container didn't affect the semen characteristics. The time (24 hours) of conservation affected considerably the semen quality. After 12 and 24 hours of conservation the modified lactose yolk extender maintained semen parameters better than minimal contamination extender.