TRANSITORY ACIDIFICATION OF SEMEN AS A POTENTIAL METHOD FOR THE INACTIVATION OF SOME PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS - EFFECT ON FERTILIZATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF OVA IN SUPEROVULATED HEIFERS

The fertilizing capacity of transitorily acidified semen was investigated with respect to using acidification as a method for destroying or inactivating acid labile pathogenic microorganisms in semen prior to freezing. Ejaculates diluted 1:1 with phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were acidified to pH 5.0 for 2 or 5 minutes before being returned to their original pH. They were then frozen by commercial methods and used to artificially inseminate superovulated heifers. A total 739 ova and embryos was collected from 119 inseminated donors. The fertilization rate was 88%, and 78% of the embryos were of transferable quality. Semen acidification had no apparent effect on the post-thaw percentage of intact acrosomes.