Advanced fertility diagnosis in stallion semen using transmission electron microscopy.
Abstract: Routine semen analysis of stallions is based on light microscopy (LM). However, there are still a number of animals that are subfertile or even infertile not being identified with conventional semen analysis. The objective of this study was to investigate the suitability of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for advanced fertility diagnosis in stallion. We examined ejaculates of 46 stallions with known fertility. Animals were divided into three different groups: group 1, fertile stallions (pregnant mares> or =70%, n=29); group 2, subfertile stallions (pregnant mares 10-69%, n=14); group 3, infertile stallions (pregnant mares<10%, n=3). Ejaculates were collected in spring 2002. Conventional semen analysis (volume, sperm concentration, motility, live:dead ratio and percentage of morphologically normal sperm) was immediately performed after semen collection. Ultrastructural analysis included the evaluation of 200 acrosomes, heads, midpieces and cross-sections of tails as well as 100 longitudinal sections of tails from every ejaculate. Using LM, we found a significant increase of morphological deviations from 24.5% (x ) in group 1 to 34.5% in group 2 and 73.5% in group 3. Using TEM, we found a significant increase of detached acrosomes from 6.1% in group 1 to 7.6% in group 2 and 21.4% in group 3. Deviations in tubule pattern were also increased (but not significant) from 2.7% in fertile and 2.8% in subfertile to 11.4% in infertile stallions as well as multiple tails from 1.9% in fertile to 2.0% in subfertile and 8.9% in infertile. Our data indicate that TEM is suitable for advanced fertility diagnostic in stallions, giving a connection between fertility and morphology. It suggests that the most likely reason for sub- and infertility in stallion in case of increased LM pathomorphology of semen are acrosomal alterations, especially detached acrosomes.
Publication Date: 2005-05-31 PubMed ID: 15925461DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.04.004Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article investigates the use of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) for advanced fertility diagnosis in stallion semen and presents findings that suggest a correlation between fertility and morphology, particularly noting that detached acrosomes might be a primary cause for sub- and infertility.
Objective of the Study
- The study was designed to explore the potential of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) as a tool for advanced fertility diagnosis in stallions. The researchers wanted to identify potential causes of subfertility and infertility that may not be detected by conventional semen analysis methods.
Research Methodology
- The researchers examined 46 stallions’ ejaculates, known for their fertility status. The stallions were split into three groups: fertile, subfertile, and infertile.
- The conventional semen analysis was immediately performed after semen collection, assessing aspects like volume, sperm concentration, motility, live:dead ratio, and percentage of morphologically normal sperm.
- An ultrastructural analysis was also carried out using TEM, evaluating several parts of the sperm structure, including acrosomes, heads, midpieces, and cross-sections of tails, and longitudinal sections of tails.
Key Findings
- The researchers observed a significant increase in morphological deviations using light microscopy (LM) from the fertile to the infertile group.
- With the use of TEM, a significant rise was identified in the number of detached acrosomes from the fertile group to the infertile group.
- Other detected structural changes also showed an increase from the fertile to the infertile group but were not identified as significant.
- The results showed that TEM could be effective in advanced fertility diagnostics in stallions, by explicating the link between fertility and sperm cell morphology.
Conclusion
- The research implies that in cases of increased pathomorphology of semen detected via LM, the most probable cause of subfertility and infertility is the alteration of the acrosomes, specifically their detachment. Hence, TEM serves as a substantial tool for identifying such morphological deviations.
Cite This Article
APA
Pesch S, Bostedt H, Failing K, Bergmann M.
(2005).
Advanced fertility diagnosis in stallion semen using transmission electron microscopy.
Anim Reprod Sci, 91(3-4), 285-298.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.04.004 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Justus-Liebig-University, Frankfurter Str. 106, 35392 Giessen, Germany. Sandra.Pesch@vetmed.uni-giessen.de
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome / ultrastructure
- Animals
- Female
- Fertility
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Infertility, Male / pathology
- Infertility, Male / veterinary
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron
- Pregnancy
- Semen / physiology
- Sperm Head / ultrastructure
- Sperm Tail / ultrastructure
- Spermatozoa / ultrastructure
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