Effects of cactus (Opuntia ficus-indica) mucilage on boar sperm cryosurvival

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of three inclusion levels of Opuntia ficus-indica mucilage (OFM) to the lactose-egg yolk extender on the quality of frozen-thawed boar semen. Semen samples (n=22) were split into four OFM treatments: 0.0 (control), 3.3, 6.7, or 10.0% OFM. The semen was packaged in 0.5 mL straws and frozen using conventional methods. The sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity (HOST), and morphology (intact acrosome and normal sperm) characteristics were evaluated immediately post-thaw. Additionally, sperm were incubated at 37 ºC during 3.5 h and monitored hourly in a termoresistance test (TRT) to assess sperm motility, viability, and membrane integrity, The study showed that adding OFM to the freezing extender significantly improved (P < 0.05) sperm quality characteristics, without affecting (P > 0.05) acrosome integrity or sperm abnormalities. Furthermore, the OFM addition improved (P < 0.05) the sperm viability and membrane integrity for up to 3.5 h of incubation. Results indicate that OFM can be added to the extender at a 6.7% OFM inclusion level to improve the quality of cryopreserved boar sperm.