Motion and kinematics parameters of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa assessed by Biovis CASA

This study was carried out on semen of nine healthy mature breeding bulls (3 each of Gir, Surti and Murrah breed) to evaluate the motion characteristics and kinematics of their frozenthawed sperms by using computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA). A total of 24 ejaculates from each breed were frozen in Tris fructose yolk glycerol extender using biofreezer. The motion characteristics of frozen-thawed semen assessed by CASA revealed same pattern as of fresh semen. The mean values of total motile vs. immotile sperms in Gir, Surti and Murrah bulls’ frozen-thawed semen were 58.22 ±1.71 vs. 41.95±1.71, 64.44±1.58 vs. 35.56±1.58, and 67.84±1.54 vs. 31.73±1.62%, respectively. The corresponding mean values of rapid, slow and non-progressive motile sperm in Gir, Surti and Murrah bulls’ semen were 17.93±1.56, 17.13±2.49 and 21.47±2.70 %; 23.90±1.70, 30.64±2.06 and 30.47±2.25 %; and 16.23±1.24, 16.70±1.58 and 15.90±1.52 %, respectively. The overall mean velocity/ kimematics parameters based on total motile sperms of Gir, Surti and Murrah bulls were: average path velocity (VAP) 42.14±1.21, 40.15±1.58 and 42.41±1.62 μm/s; curvilinear velocity (VCL) 78.22±2.01, 76.52±2.31 and 80.25±2.25 μm/s, straight line velocity (VSL) 35.60±1.18, 33.69±1.59 and 36.19 ±1.58 μm/s; linearity 45.21±1.62, 44.38±2.05 and 44.96±1.35 %; straightness 78.53±1.17, 78.75±1.40 and 80.24±1.13 %; wobbling index 57.86±1.69, 56.78±1.88 and 56.55±1.29 %; beatcross frequency (BCF) 11.77±0.67, 12.08±0.72 and 12.64±0.86 hz; amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) 2.18±0.17, 2.30±0.15 and 2.35±0.15 μm; dancing frequency (DNC) 185.08 ±15.96, 183.90±14.22 and 198.44±15.64 μm/s, and dancing mean (DNM) 4.96±0.51, 5.35±0.54 and 5.32±0.51 μm/s, respectively. None of these traits differed significantly between breeds/ species or between bulls in any of the breed. The sperm velocity parameters recorded based on progressively motile sperms revealed almost similar pattern and variation to those found based on total motile sperms, but the values of all velocity parameters for progressive motile sperms were higher than those of total motile sperms in all three breeds when assessed through CASA. It was concluded that frozen-thawed sperm of cattle and buffalo breed show identical CASA traits.