A Novel Recombinant Eel Pout (Macrozoarces americans) Type III Antifreeze Protein Improves Cryosurvival of Buffalo Sperm
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 6, 2025
Handling and Treatment of Male European Eels Anguilla anguilla for Hormonal Maturation and Sperm Cryopreservation
Published on: January 28, 2018
S Qadeer1, M A Khan2, M S Ansari3
1Department of Biological Sciences, University of Sargodha-Mianwali Campus, Pakistan.
Background:
The quality of cryopreserved buffalo semen is low due to high susceptibility of sperm membranes to cold shock.
Objective:
The present study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant type-III antifreeze protein from the eel pout Macrozoarces americanus (rAFPIII) on freezability of buffalo semen.
Materials And Methods:
Semen was collected from three buffalo bulls for three weeks (replicates). Qualified ejaculates (N=18) were split into four aliquots and diluted in Tris-citric acid extender containing 0.0, 0.1, 1 and 10 µg mL-1 of rAFPIII. Semen was cooled to 4 C, evaluated for sperm motility and PMI, cryopreserved and assessed for post-thaw quality.
Results:
Supplementation of the extender with rAFPIII didn't affect motility and PMI of chilled semen. Post-thaw sperm motility and PMI were higher in extender supplemented with rAFPIII (10µg mL-1) compared to control. Sperm viability and acrosome integrity remained the same.
Conclusion:
Addition of rAFPIII in extender improved motility and PMI of cryopreserved buffalo semen.
