Understanding Freezing
The success of freezing stallion sperm depends on the interaction of extender, cryoprotectant, cooling/freezing rate,warming rate, packaging system dimensions and stallion. Damage from cold shock, formation of ice crystals and dehydration will damage the sperm and reduce fertility.
For sperm to fertilize an oocyte after freezing, these four criteria must be met:
- metabolism for the production of energy
- progressive motility
- acrosomal enzymes essential for the penetration of the oocyte
- membrane proteins that are important for survival of the oocyte in the tract and attachment of sperm to the oocyte.
