Change in Morphology of Spermatozoa from Dismount Semen during the Breeding Season in Thoroughbred Stallions in Japan.
Abstract: To clarify the physiological changes of sperm morphology in active Thoroughbred stallions during the breeding season, we examined the dismount semen collected from the penile urethra immediately after service. The spermatozoa were analyzed for relationships between the morphology and the stallion's age or the number of services. Seasonal variation was apparent in the rate of the sperm tail abnormalities, spermatozoa with cytoplasmic droplets, appearance of medusa cells, and sperm head length. Area and width of the sperm head correlated negatively with age (P<0.05). The rate of appearance of medusa cells and the length of the sperm head were positively related to the number of services (P<0.05), and the aspect ratio was negatively related (P<0.01).
Publication Date: 2009-04-17 PubMed ID: 24833962PubMed Central: PMC4013956DOI: 10.1294/jes.20.1Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research discusses the variations in sperm morphology among active Thoroughbred stallions during the breeding season in Japan, based on semen collected post-mating. The study found evident seasonal changes and analyzed their potential correlation with the stallion’s age and mating frequency.
Objectives and Methodology
- The purpose of the study was to understand the physiological changes that occur in horse sperm morphology throughout the active breeding season.
- To achieve this, post-mating semen samples were collected from the penile urethra of Thoroughbred stallions.
- The researchers looked for relationships between alterations in the morphology of the spermatozoa and the age of the stallions or the number of mating instances.
Findings
- They detected clear seasonal fluctuations in the percentage of spermatozoa tail abnormalities, the occurrence of sperm cells with cytoplasmic droplets, the emergence of medusa cells, and variations in the sperm head length.
- The study discovered that the area and breadth of the sperm head had an inverse relationship with the stallion’s age (P<0.05), signifying that as the horse's age increases, the sperm head's size tends to decrease.
- Furthermore, they found that the rate of appearance of medusa cells and the sperm head’s length was directly proportional to the number of mating instances (P<0.05). This means that the more frequently a stallion mates, the greater the appearance of medusa cells and longer the sperm head.
- The aspect ratio of the spermatozoon negatively correlated with the number of mating sessions (P<0.01), indicating the sperm structure's shape considerably changes with increased mating.
Conclusion
- This research contributes valuable insights into sperm morphology changes in Thoroughbred stallions over the breeding season and their relation with stallion’s age and mating frequency.
- These findings could be crucial for breeding management strategies and improving the understanding of equine reproduction.
Cite This Article
APA
Koyago M, Nakada K, Tsunoda N, Moriyoshi M, Sawamukai Y.
(2009).
Change in Morphology of Spermatozoa from Dismount Semen during the Breeding Season in Thoroughbred Stallions in Japan.
J Equine Sci, 20(1), 1-5.
https://doi.org/10.1294/jes.20.1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
- Shadai Corporation, Abira, Hokkaido 059-1500, Japan.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Graduate School of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan.
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