Laparoscopic intrauterine insemination of frozen sheep semen in a gel solvent based on the Aloe vera plant

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evalúate the fertilizing capacity of deep-frozen ram spermatozoa diluted with an egg yolk-citrate semen extender containing 34% aloe vera gel, and 6% glycerol. Semen ejaculates were collected from three rams using artificial vagina, and processed in two control diluents {I and II) and in the extender containing aloe vera gel (III). All semen was frozen in pellet form on dry ice and stored in liquid nitrogen for two weeks. The fertility tria! included 343 Targhee and Columbía ewes randomly assigned to the three diluents (±114 ewes/diluent). Estrous cycles of ewes were synchronized with vaginal sponges, followed by an i.m injection of 400 I.U. of PMSG at sponge removal. Ewes were inseminated via laparoscopy, 52 to 56 h following pessary withdrawal, using 0.15 mi of semen containing 45-60 X 106 motile spermatozoa. Pregnancy rates were 68.5, 73.5 and 70.3 for diluents I, II and III, respectiveíy (P>.70). The average conception rate was 70.7%. This study demonstrated that satisfactory reproductive performance of sheep can be obtained with frozen semen diluted with an aloe vera gel-based extender.