Samouilidis S., Saratsis Ph., Saoulidis K., Tselkas K.

Semen from 5 bucks was frozen in pellets. Two extenders were used (A and B). Extender A consisted of Tris-buffer plus 3% glycerol, while extender B had the same composition plus 3% Dimethyl-Sulfoxyd (DMSO). The average post-thaw sperm motility using extender B (55%) was significantly higher than the one using extender A (48%). The semen of the buck with the best sperm motility before and after thawing (diluted in the two extenders) was used for the artificial insemination of two groups consisted of 20 does (group A and group B). The fertility rate of the animals of group B, 12/20 (60%), was significantly higher (P<0,05) than the one of group A, 10/20 (50%), while the average litter size did not differ (P>0,05) between the two groups (7,5±3,2 for group A, 7,2±2,2 for group B). It is concluded that the addition of the cryopreservative DMSO in the extender of semen frozen in pellets, increased significantly both sperm motility and semen fertility.

Keywords: frozen semen, rabbit, artificial insemination