Basidial fungal polysaccharides increase the quality of bovine reproductive cells when frozen

The global decline in the animal and plant species diversity is among the key environmental problems of the modern world. One possible way to solve this problem is to develop advanced reproductive technologies using gametes to restore genetic diversity. Cryobanks play an important role in this. The traditional method of long-term storage of reproductive cells is their cryopreservation at -196 OC using cryoprotective media based on synthesized substances (glycerin, dimethyl sulfoxide, etc.). The reason for searching new effective substitutes is cytotoxicity, impaired fertility and other disadvantages when using traditional cryoprotectors. In addition, it is relevant to expand the temperature range of biomaterial storage, in particular using the conditions of electric freezers. The wide range of biological effects of polysaccharides of basidiomycetes allowed us to make an assumption about the effectiveness of their use in the composition of the medium for cell cryopreservation. This paper presents the results of a comparative study of the effectiveness of polysaccharides of xylotrophic basidiomycetes in the composition of the medium for storage of the Holstein bull semen. The semen was frozen to -5 C-degrees and storaged at the specified temperature for 7 days in AndroMed (R) (Minitube, Germany) - certified extender for freezing the semen of bulls and other ruminants. Additional introduction into its composition of polysaccharides from the basidiomycetes Hericium erinaceus BP16 / Ganoderma applanatum GA significantly improves the quality of reproductive cells in the used cryopreservation technology.