SIMPLE MODIFIED METHOD FOR CERVICAL MUCUS PENETRATION TEST FOR QUALITY ASSESSMENT OF BULL SEMEN

Abstract

A simple and easy modified method for conducting in vitro cervical mucus penetration test used for quality assessment of fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa of crossbred bulls is described. The triple crossbred bull semen had significantly lower volume but higher sperm concentration and abnormal sperms than the halfbred bulls. Sperm penetration distance (SPD) travelled by HFH and FJH was 34.71±2.51 and 29.92±2.72 mm of fresh semen and 13.14±2.16 and 10.64±1.92/mm of frozen semen in 60 min. SPD travelled by vanguard spermatozoa differed significantly (P<0.01) among the bulls and between the crosses. SPD travelled by fresh spermatozoa was significantly and positively correlated with mass motility, individual motility, live sperm, percent intact acrosome and SPD of post-thawed semen. Post-thaw SPD did not differ between both the crosses. SPD differed significantly (P<0.01) between dilutors and was higher in tris than that of MES. Addition of raffinose in the dilutor did not affect the SPD of post-thawed spermatozoa. The study indicated that initial motility had a bearing on SPD in cervical mucus and this can be used as a tool for assessment of post-thawed semen.