Testing Usability of Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA) for Preservation of Egyptian Buffalo Semen

The present study was conducted to test the post-thaw sperm characteristics (motility, viability, acrosomal and plasma membranes integrity) through addition of different concentrations of BSA (0.50, 1.00, 5.00, 10.00 and15.00 %) to semen diluents lacking egg yolk. Semen was collected from four mature buffalo bulls, twice weekly using artificial vagina. Sperm characteristics (motility, viability, sperm cell abnormalities, acrosomal and plasma membranes integrity) were examined in diluted, cooled and frozen-thawed semen as well as during incubation for 9 h Post-thawing. In the 10.00 and 15.00 % BSA, the post-thaw sperm motility (58.20±4.60 and 59.40±4.80 % ) and sperm viability (69.30±4.10 and 69.20±4.20 %) were significantly higher (P < 0.05) than in the tris egg yolk (control) and other (0. 50, 1.00, 5.00 %) treated samples. Sperm cell abnormalities were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the 10.00 and 15.00 % BSA containing samples (16.80±1.60 and 16.42±1.40 %, respectively) than in the control (22.24±1.89%) and other treated samples with 0.50, 1.00 and 5.00 % BSA (23.26±2.70, 21.62±2.20 and 22.40±2.30 %, respectively). There were no significant differences in the percentages of intact plasma membrane between the control and samples containing 0.50, 1.00 and 5.00 % BSA. The percentages of intact acrosome were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the semen samples containing 10.00 % BSA (65.48±2.40%) and 15.00% (66.46±2.40 %). In conclusion, addition of 10 or 15% BSA to semen diluent lacking egg yolk improve the post thawing sperm characteristics and fertility of buffalo semen.