Physiological studies on rabbits
Abstract: This work was carried out at Sakha experimenta1 station belong to Animal Production Research Institute, Ministry of Agriculture, Egypt .A total 12 male rabbits, six from each local breed ( Baladi ) and Bouscat breed were used. The animals were about 1-1.5 years old with an average body weight of 3.750 kg. Throughout the whole experimental period, each animal was offered a concentrate Commercial diet ad libitum in addition about 400 g of berseem clover was offered daily to each animal in the morning. Semen ejaculates were collected twice weekly at 8- 10 am. by mean of artificial vagina using a live doe. The temperature of inner lining rubber sleeve of artificial vagina was adjusted to 1-43°C
Experimental designs and procedures:
The present study includes four experiments.
Experiment 1: was designed to study the effect of breed on semen characteristics.
Experiment 2: was assigned as 2 x 3 x 2 factorial design to study the effect of two extenders (Tris and sodium citrate), three dilution rates( 1:2, 1:4 and 1:6) on the motility of spermatozoa from different breeds (Ba1adi and Bouscat) after various storage periods at room temperature (20 - 25°C) .Experiment 3: was assigned as 2 x 3 x 2 factorial design to study the effect of two extenders (Tris and sodium citrate), three dilution rates( 1:2,1:4 and 1:6) on the motility of spermatozoa from different breeds (Baladi and Bouscat) after various storage periods at refrigerator temperature ( 5°C).
Experiment 4: was assigned as 3 x 2 x 2 x 2 to study the effect of glycerol levels (2,4 and 6%), two extenders (Tris and sodium citrate) and two equilibration periods (1 and 2 hours) on motility of spermatozoa from Baladi and Bouscat breeds pre and post freezing.
RESULTS
Experiment 1:
1-Breed showed nonsignificant variation in all semen characteristics studied except in abnormal sperm (%).
2-The overall mean of ejaculate volume for both breeds of rabbits was 0.36 ml. Ejaculate volume of the Baladi red was 0.35 ml while that of the bouscat was 0.38 ml.
3- The overall average sperm motility was 50.29 %. The percentage of motile sperm cells in the Baladi was 49.92 % and that for than that in the Bouscat was 50.65%.
4- The overall percentage live sperm was 58.28 %. The percentage live sperm in Baladi (57.76%) was not significant than that in the Bouscat (58.79 %).
5- The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa ranged from 20 to 30 % in both breeds, but was slightly higher in the Bouscat than Baladi.
6- Sperm concentration in semen of Bouscat bucks was higher than of the Baladi, but differences was not significant.
Experiment 2:
1- Sperm motility at room temperature was highly significant (P<0.01) affected by duration of storage.
2- The analysis of variance of data revealed non significant differences between Tris and yolk sodium citrate extender.
3-The highest survival rate was recorded in dilution rate of 1:4 followed by1:2 in storage period at room temperature .
4-The analysis of variance of data revealed significant (P<0.05) difference motility sperm between baladi and Bouscat.
6-The overall keeping quality (motile spermatozoa %) of rabbit buck semen at room temperature until 6 hours in all diluents and at different dilution rates.
Experiment 3:
1- sperm motility at 5°C was significantly (P<0.01) affected by duration of storage.
2- The analysis of variance of data revealed non significant differences between tris and sodium citrate extender.
3- The highest survival rate was recorded in dilution rate of
1:4 and 1:2 followed by 1:6 in all storage case. The differences among dilution rates was significant (P<0.0l).
4- The analysis of variance of sperm motility data reveled highly significant (P<0.0l) difference sperm between baladi
and Bouscat in all extenders and storage intervals at 5°C.
5- The overall keeping quality (motile spermatozoa %) of bucks semen at refrigerator temperature until 24 hours in all extenders and dilution rates.
Experiment 4:
1-The effect of adding different glycerol levels was significant on pre and post freezing sperm motility (p<0.05) at 4% and 2% glycerol level.
2-Results of one hour equilibration period was significantly superior of two hours.
3- The percentage of sperm motility after equilibration periods was significantly better (p<0.05) when using sodium citrate than tris.
4- statistical analysis revealed that survival rate of buck spermatozoa at post-freezing were significantly (p<0.0l) when Bouscat buck semen was diluted with different extender.
Publication year 1994
Pages PP. 94
Availability location مكتبة معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى-شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number 986
Organization Name
Country Egypt
Author(s) from ARC
Agris Categories Animal physiology - Reproduction
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Breeds (animals). Glycerol. Movement. Rabbits. Semen.
Publication Type Master Thesis
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