Am. Donoghue et Mk. Walker-simmons, The influence of wheat dehydration-induced proteins on the function of turkey spermatozoa after twenty-four-hour in vitro storage, POULTRY SCI, 78(2), 1999, pp. 235-241
Dehydration-induced proteins and other osmo-protectants enable plants to su
rvive dehydration stress. The object of this study was to determine whether
dehydration-induced proteins from wheat seeds could protect turkey sperm a
nd improve survival and function after liquid storage. A partially purified
heat-soluble protein extract was isolated from dry, mature wheat seed embr
yos and added to semen diluent. Hens were inseminated with either fresh or
semen stored 24 h at 5 C and fertility and hatchability data collected. The
addition of 10% wheat protein extract to semen stored 24 h at 5 C improved
fertility and hatchability of eggs over semen stored in diluent alone (P <
0.05). The heat-soluble proteins isolated from wheat seed embryos are capa
ble of protecting turkey sperm during in vitro storage and could potentiall
y improve long-term storage of sperm from other species.