Effects of Mineral Salts on Chilled Canine Sperm Quality

Mineral ions have essential roles for maintaining osmotic balance, forming parts of primary enzymes relating to the sperm metabolism and function. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of mineral salts as supplement to semen extender on chilled canine sperm quality during 10 days of storage. The sperm motility was performed by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The plasma membrane integrity, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential parameters were determined using a fluorescent staining combination. The results showed that although the percentage of sperm motility and sperm plasma membrane integrity in the mineral salts and the control extenders were not markedly different during the first 6 days of storage (P>0.05), the acrosome membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and the healthy sperm parameters in the mineral salts extender was substantially higher than that in the control extender during this period (P<0.05). Notably, the sperm quality of sperm in the mineral salts extender decreased rapidly after the first 6 days and evidently lower than that in the rest extender (P<0.05). In conclusion, the mineral salts extender can improve sperm quality in chilled canine sperm during 6 days of storage.