[Effect of temperature decrease on the intactness of the cell membrane of ejaculated bull spermatozoa].

Abstract

Respiration of washed ejaculated bull spermatozoa with exogenous succinate is drastically increased after a sudden cooling of spermatozoa (cold shock). Loss of intactness of the cellular membrane occurs in a small temperature range between about 16 degrees C and 8 degrees C. A low cooling rate in critical temperature range connected with a sufficient equilibration time at this temperatures strongly restricts the damage of the spermatozoal membrane.