Membrane alterations in bull spermatozoa after freezing and thawing and after in vitro fertilization

Membrane alterations in bull spermatozoa after freezing and thawing and after the process of in vitro capacitation and fertilization were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Even if the majority of the spermatozoa exhibited intact membranes after freezing and thawing (90%), one could distinguish between 3 types of membrane defects depending of the different structures involved. The first type showed loss of plasmalemma over the entire acrosome. In the second category the anterior part of the outer acrosomal membrane exhibited a pronounced extension, but was covered by a partly intact plasmalemma. The last category consisted of spermatozoa with extensive vesiculation and disruption of plasmalemma and the outer acrosomal membrane. This type of defect could not easily be distinguished from a true acrosome reaction. The cumulus cells showed an active phagocytosis of both intact and acrosome reacted spermatozoa.