Effect of Semen Extenders and Storage Time on Sperm Morphology of Four Chicken Breeds

Abstract

A wide range of extenders are available for storing fowl semen. Three of them (the Lake extender, the EK extender described by Łukaszewicz, and an extender described by Tselutin et al.) were tested for their suitability to store semen of 4 fowl breeds: Green-Legged Partridge, Black Minorca, White Crested Black Polish, and Italian Partridge. Changes in spermatozoa viability and morphology were evaluated in fresh neat semen and in semen diluted 1:4 and stored for 3, 6, and 24 h at 4°C. During the time of semen storage, a decrease in the number of live, morphologically normal spermatozoa and an increase in dead spermatozoa and spermatozoa with bent necks were observed. The EK extender was found to be the most suitable regardless of the fowl breed because the number of live spermatozoa did not decrease as much as in semen diluted with the other extenders. The Lake extender had the least beneficial effect on stored sperm morphology in every breed.