Effect of Media for in- vitro Capacitation of Swamp Buffalo Spermatozoa

Abstract

Freshly ejaculated spermatozoa of eight Swamp buffalo bulls were capacitated by incubating in TALP, MCM and KRB media at a sperm concentration of 6×10⁹ spermatozoa/ml at 37ºC for six hours. The hyperactivated motility, acrosome membrane integrity, total HOST reacted spermatozoa, activity of ALT and AST, sperm membrane protein and cholesterol content were estimated from 40 ejaculates, 5 ejaculates from each bull at one hour interval starting from zero hour to six hours. The results revealed that the highest hyperactivation of spermatozoa was recorded on 4 hours of incubation in TALP than MCM and KRB media. The hyperactivated motility of the spermatozoa significantly (P<0.01) increased irrespective of media upto 4 hours then it decreased upto 6 hours. The significantly (P<0.01) highest live acrosome reacted spermatozoa were recorded on 4 hours of incubation in TALP than MCM and KRB media. The total HOST reacted spermatozoa were significantly (P<0.01) decreased under increased incubation period in all three media. The ALT and AST activity also increased significantly (P< 0.01) under increased incubation period in all three media. The sperm membrane protein and cholesterol levels decreased significantly (P< 0.01) at each period of incubation i.e. 2, 4, 6 hrs in all three media. In conclusion, though TALP is the best media, however MCM and KRB are also comparable.