Effect of Osmotic Pressure and Temperature Gradients on Cold Shock In Ram and Bull Spermatozoa

Abstract

Ram spermatozoa are not affected by brief hypotonicity as judged by permeability to vital stain. Cooling ram and bull spermatozoa rapidly from 30 to 8�C decreased viability but this was not influenced by the tonicity of the medium. Ram spermatozoa that were diluted during the cold shock procedure were more susceptible than spermatozoa diluted before cold shock.