Abstract: This study evaluated the effects of Glutathione (GSH) supplemented in the semen extender during the buffalo sperm sorting process on sperm quality, embryonic development after IVF and pregnancy rate after AI. The percentage of sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and DNA fragmentation were detected by flow cytometry or by microscopy in stained, sorted and frozen semen treated with or without 0.75 mM GSH during the flow sorting procedure. The cleavage and blastocyst rates were examined at day 2 and 6-8 after IVF with frozen semen treated with or without 0.75 mM GSH. Pregnancy diagnosis was determined by transrectal palpation at 90 day after AI with frozen semen treated with or without 0.75 mM GSH. The percentage of sperm with Progressive Motility (MP, %) was significantly higher (p<0.05) in sorted semen supplemented with 0.75 mM GSH than that in the control. The percentages of moribund, dead and Phosphatidylserine (PS) translocated sperm detected by flow cytometry were significantly decreased (p<0.05) in frozen semen supplemented with GSH compared to the control. Higher blastocyst and pregnancy rates (p<0.05) were found after IVF and AI with frozen sperm treated with 0.75 mM GSH than that in the control group. In conclusion, addition of 0.75 mM GSH to the semen extenders (stained, sorted and frozen) during the sperm sorting process can improve sperm quality in vitro embryonic development and in vivo fertility after AI thus indicating potential for commercial application in buffalo sperm sorting.
X.M. Song, S.S. Lu, M. Wang, Q.Y. Li, D. Li, X.G. Yang, Y.Q. Lu, M. Zhang and K.H. Lu, 2012. Addition of Glutathione to Semen Extender During Sperm Sorting can Improve in vitro Embryonic Development and in vivo Fertility in Buffalo. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 11: 4482-4488.