Efficacious long-term cooling and freezing of Sapajus apella semen in ACP-118®

The objectives of the present study were to test the effect of coconut water solution (CWS), TES–TRIS and ACP-118® on the seminal cooling and cryopreservation of semen from capuchin monkeys (Sapajus apella). Semen was collected from six males by electro-ejaculation, diluted in TES–TRIS, CWS or ACP-118®, and maintained at 4 °C for 28 h. Semen was subsequently evaluated (Experiment I) or cryopreserved in the presence of different glycerol concentrations (3%, 5% or 7%) (Experiment II). ACP-118® was the preferred extender to preserve sperm motility and viability after 28 h incubation at 4 °C. Cooled sperm were successfully frozen–thawed in a medium containing 3% glycerol. After thawing, sperm retained the capacity to fertilize oocytes and zygotes were obtained. In conclusion, ACP-118® can be effectively and efficiently used as extender for the cooling of S. apella semen. Furthermore, cryopreservation using ACP-118® by adding 3% glycerol is suitable to maintain sperm morphology and the capacity of these cells to fertilize in vitro.