Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to J W Macpherson.
A field trial was conducted to compare the routine frozen semen methods presently used at this laboratory with those reported by French workers. When the extender used was sterile milk both methods resulted in fertility equal to the standard. Fertility results obtained with the French method employing Lactiphos extender were significantly lower than the standard.
A specific method for measuring the component parts of the bovine female reproductive tract is outlined. Three hundred specimens, recovered from animals within an age group of 15 to 30 months, were examined. Means and standard deviations on recorded measurements as well as abnormalities and pregnancies are presented in tabular form.
Alkaline phosphatase activity was recorded in forty ejaculates of the sperm rich fraction of boar semen as 9,790 +/- 5,250 Klein-Babson-Read units per 100 ml. of seminal plasma. Acid phosphatase activity in the same ejaculates was 681 +/- 304 Babson-Read units per 100 ml. of seminal plasma. No alkaline phosphatase activity was detected in the seminal plasma of vasectomized boars. The pH of the sperm rich fractions was 7.69 +/- 0.33 and the osmotic pressure was 313.56 +/- 7.98 milliosmols.
A successful method for low temperature preservation of bull semen was modified for use with boar semen. Observations were made on the effects of varying cooling rate, equilibration time, freezing rate, glycerol concentration, method of glycerol addition, packaging containers, extender pH and tonicity. Observations indicate that boar semen should be cooled and frozen at a slower rate than bull semen. Within the ranges or methods examined, the other factors had little effect on recovery of motility after freezing.