Seminal plasma affects membrane integrity and motility of equine spermatozoa after cryopreservation

Effects of seminal plasma on post-thaw motility and membrane integrity of cryopreserved horse spermatozoa were investigated. Carboxyfluorescein diacetate staining was used for the assessment of sperm membrane integrity. Adding 30% of seminal plasma from stallions with high post-thaw sperm motility to ejaculates from stallions with low post-thaw sperm motility increased progressive motility from 24.0 +/- 1.6 to 34.5 +/- 1.9% (P<0.05) and membrane integrity from 27.0 +/- 2.1 to 34.3 +/- 2.3% membrane-intact spermatozoa (P<0.05). Conversely, the addition of seminal plasma from stallions with low post-thaw sperm motility to ejaculates from stallions with high post-thaw motility decreased progressive motility from 36.0 +/- 1.6 to 30.0 +/- 2.7% (P<0.05) but did not induce changes in membrane integrity. Seminal plasma from stallions with opposite post-thaw motility therefore clearly influenced the resistance of spermatozoa to the freezing and thawing process. We conclude that the individual composition of seminal plasma affects the suitability of stallions for semen cryopreservation.