The Effect of Different Handling Methods and Added Fructose on the Fertilizing Ability of Chicken Spermatozoa after Storage

THE poor success in attempts to store chicken semen in vitro is in sharp contrast to success obtained in storing chicken spermatozoa in the hen’s oviduct and in storing bull semen in vitro. Work at this laboratory has provided evidence of the necessity of controlling the pH of semen during storage (Wilcox, 1958a). This can most easily be done by dilution of semen with a buffer. However, dilution of semen, even when inseminated fresh, results in lowered fertility, so that from the outset it can be anticipated that fertility will be lowered when semen is diluted. Evidence has been obtained (Wilcox, 1958b) that semen can be centrifuged and the seminal plasma replaced by a sodium phosphate buffer with little loss of fertilizing capacity. This suggests a procedure by which semen can be diluted and stored, and still be inseminated “undiluted” by centrifuging the diluted semen just before insemination and replacing . . .