Trehalose, Glycerol and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Supplementation for Cryopreservation Media of Honey Bee Drone Semen

Authors

  • Tsvetan Tsvetkov Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Denica Daskalova Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Nadya Petrova Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Hristina Blagova Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences
  • Detelina Vitanova University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Bulgaria
  • Rositsa Shumkova Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, Bulgaria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7546/CRABS.2024.07.06

Keywords:

drones, spermatozoa, cryoprotectants

Abstract

The cryogenic storage of honey bee drone (Apis mellifera) semen is a rapidly developing practice, driven by the need to preserve bee colonies and the decline in gamete quality following cryopreservation. Advances in cryobiology, coupled with procedural refinements and the development of new methods for cryopreservation of male gametes at different temperatures, provide promising results for improving drone semen preservation. Innovative strategies involve the incorporation of additives within preservation media to enhance important spermatozoa parameters. Our study aimed to assess the effectiveness of cryoprotectants (CPAs), namely trehalose, glycerol, and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), on the motion characteristics of honey bee drone sperm cells during cryopreservation and subsequent thawing. Using Sperm Class Analyzer (SCA) and Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA), we evaluated the impact of these supplements on sperm motility and kinetic parameters. Our findings indicated significant differences in sperm motility (non-progressiveness and progressiveness) and kinetics (curvilinear velocity and linearity) across treatments with trehalose, DMSO, and glycerol. Trehalose supplementation retained significantly higher percentages of sperm motility and kinetic parameters post-cryopreservation compared to DMSO and glycerol. Nevertheless, despite the utilization of new protocols, media, and supplementation, the results obtained are often unsatisfactory. The research provides valuable information for enhancing the efficacy of cryopreservation media to optimize the successful outcome of honey bee drone spermatozoa storage.

Author Biographies

Tsvetan Tsvetkov, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
73A Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: tsvetan_tsvetkov_88@abv.bg

Denica Daskalova, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
73A Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: denydaskalova@abv.bg

Nadya Petrova, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
73A Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: crustacea@abv.bg

Hristina Blagova, Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences

Mailing Address:
Institute of Biology and Immunology of Reproduction “Acad. Kiril Bratanov”,
Bulgarian Academy of Sciences,
73A Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd, 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: blagovahristina@gmail.com

Detelina Vitanova, University of Library Studies and Information Technologies, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
University of Library Studies and Information Technologies,
119 Tsarigradsko Shosse Blvd, 1784 Sofia, Bulgaria

E-mail: vitanovadetelina@gmail.com

Rositsa Shumkova, Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture, Agricultural Academy, Bulgaria

Mailing Address:
Research Centre of Stockbreeding and Agriculture,
Agricultural Academy,
4700 Smolyan, Bulgaria

E-mail: rositsa6z@abv.bg

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Published

30-07-2024

How to Cite

[1]
T. Tsvetkov, D. Daskalova, N. Petrova, H. Blagova, D. Vitanova, and R. Shumkova, “Trehalose, Glycerol and Dimethyl Sulfoxide Supplementation for Cryopreservation Media of Honey Bee Drone Semen”, C. R. Acad. Bulg. Sci., vol. 77, no. 7, pp. 997–1004, Jul. 2024.

Issue

Section

Biology