Criopreservación de espermatozoides en especies domésticas y silvestres: estado actual de los avances tecnológicos

During the last decades, developments in reproductive biotechnologies contributed to an improved efficiency of the management of genetic resources and to the development of cryobanking, increasing the capacity of restoring breeds’ genetic diversity when needed. However the efficiency of the conservation methodologies applied to sperm is extremely variable depending on the species/breeds and in many cases individuals. The usual low fertility rates in many species, like wild and domestic small ruminants, using frozen-thawed sperm, determines that a new sperm cryobiology approach should be made to know the physiological changes in sperm and male reproductive system during the annual reproductive cycle, and their relationship with sperm cryoresistance. In addition, the develop of new cooling protocols and additive supplies, and combinations of cryoprotectants, should be a priority in the spermatology laboratories in order to better protect the plasma membrane and cellular compartments of sperm and to get higher and less variable results of fertilizing ability.