CANINE SEMEN CRYOPRESERVATION AFTER SEMINAL PLASMA REMOVAL IN DOGS WITH BENIGN PROSTATIC HYPERPLASIA

Abstract

Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) can alter the composition of canine seminal plasma (SP) and specific prostatic proteins may impair sperm cryotolerance. The present study evaluated a large-volume cryopreservation protocol with SP removal in dogs with BPH. Whole ejaculates were collected from 10 healthy dogs and 10 dogs with BPH. SP was removed by brief low-speed centrifugation. Samples were dispensed into cryovials in 500 μL aliquots and subjected to equilibration. They were then frozen using an accelerated ultralow temperature profile and subsequently thawed for computer-assisted sperm analysis. Post-thaw progressive motility declined in both groups when compared to fresh samples (p < 0.001), while linearity, straightness, and wobble remained stable within groups and were comparable between groups. Curvilinear, straight-line, and average path velocities decreased after freezing compared to fresh controls (p < 0.05) in both groups. The amplitude of lateral head displacement and beat-cross frequency exhibited significantly greater post-thaw reductions in BPH dogs than in healthy controls (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that the developed cryopreservation protocol enables effective long-term storage of canine semen from patients with BPH, while maintaining key trajectory parameters despite cryoinjury.