Influence of the Time between Removal and Cooling of the Canine Epididymis on Post-Thaw Caudal Epididymal Sperm Quality

The effects of the time period between canine epididymis removal and cooling on post-thaw caudal epididymal sperm quality were investigated. Sperm recovered from the epididymis stored for 6 hr at 4 or 20 degrees C exhibited similar motility. However, when the epididymis was stored for 12 hr or longer at 20 degrees C, sperm motility was significantly lower than that at 4 degrees C (p<0.01). The post-thawed qualities of sperm recovered from the caudal epididymides that had been stored at 20 degrees C for 0 or 6 hr and then at 4 degrees C for 24 hr after removal were not significantly different. Therefore, leaving the canine epididymis at 20 degrees C for up to 6 hr after its removal may have little effect on the post-thaw quality of recovered caudal epididymal sperm.