Preserving Endangered Species: Sperm Extraction Breakthrough Extends Genetic Legacy
Post-mortem sperm recovery in rams is crucial for preserving genetic material from valuable or endangered animals. The study looked at how the time between an animal's death and sperm collection, as well as the storage temperature of the epididymes, affected the quality of the sperm. Results showed that storing epididymes at 5 °C and collecting sperm within 24 hours of death produced the best quality sperm with good motility and fewer abnormalities. Sperm collected up to 48 hours post-mortem can still be viable but with reduced quality. This research suggests that preserving epididymes at a cool temperature and collecting sperm promptly after death can yield high-quality sperm for future use.