The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of addition of two steroid
namely progesterone and testosterone, to the extender of ram semen on
:uality, maintenance and storageability of pelleted rams spermatozoa. The effects
:fferent incubation periods, at 37°C were also studied. Two successive semen
lates were collected twice weekly for 16 weeks from eight sexually mature rams
.arki and 4 Awassi).
Results showed that breed of rams have no significant effects on sperm motility,
reaction (AR) or percentage of dead spermatozoa. Progesterone had on
g significant effects on sperm motihty whether added to the extender at pie-cooling
;ost-thawiflg. Adding testosterone at pie-cooling or postthaWing maintained sperm
iity. Acrosomal reaction was affected significantly by adding either progesterone
estosterOfle whether at pre-cooling or postthawiflg as compared to cotroI. Percentage
r dead spermatozoa significantly increased by addition of progesterone at post-thawing
-c testosterone at pie-cooling as compared to control while adding testosterone at post
1"zwing was sjnif1cantly decrease the percentage of dead spermatozoa in ram sperm.
Srrn motility decreased significantly by using progesterone or testosterone addition 1t
re-cooling or postthaWiflg as incubation at 37°C advanced. Adding testosterone
r progesterone at pie-cooling or post-thawing did not drastically affect acrosome reaction.
t differences were significant as compared to control. Dead spermatozoa were also
cnificanUy increased by the different treatments compared to control.