Description:
Cauda epididymal spermatozoa could be used as an alternative source of gamete in the application of
various reproductive technologies, since the spermatozoa is motile and has ability for fertilizing the oocyte. The
objective of this research was to examine the effectivity of maltose in maintaining viability of ettawa crossbreed
o
goat epididymal spermatozoa preserved at 3–5 C. Five testis with epididymides of ettawa crossbreed goat were
obtained from slaughterhouse. Epididymal spermatozoa was collected by the combination of slicing, flushing
and tissues pressure of cauda epididymides with physiological saline (0.9% NaCl). Collected-spermatozoa was
divided in equal volume into three tubes and diluted with Tris extender containing 20% egg yolk (control), Tris
extender + 0.3 g maltose/100 ml (M0.3), and Tris extender + 0.6 g maltose/100 ml (M0.6), respectively. Dilutedo
spermatozoa was stored in refrigerator at 3–5 C. Quality of diluted-spermatozoa including percentages of motile
o
spermatozoa (MS) and live spermatozoa (LS) were evaluated every day during storage at 3–5 C for four days.
Data were analyzed using completely randomized design with three treatments and five replicates. Means were
compared significant difference test at 0.05 significant level. Results of this study showed that mean spermatozoa
concentration, percentage of MS, percentage of LS, and percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of ettawa
crossbreed goat fresh epididymal spermatozoa were 3,220 million cell/ml, 70%, 81%, and 4.3%, respectively. At
day-5 of storage, percentages of MS and LS for M0.3 (38 and 60.4%) and M0.6 (38 and 57.2%) were
significantly (P<0.05) higher than control (32 and 55.4%). In conclusion, addition of 0.3 and 0.6% maltose in Tris
o
extender could be maintained viability of ettawa crossbreed goat epididymal spermatozoa preserved at 3–5 C for
three days.
Key words: Maltose, preservation, epididymal spermatozoa, ettawa crossbreed goat.