Comparison of in vitro laboratory analyses with the fertility of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa.
Abstract: Assessing the fertilizing potential of a semen sample is important for effective stallion management and for rapid progress in evaluating new cryopreservation technologies. Unfortunately, sperm motility does not estimate fertility well. These experiments established assays to measure cell viability, acrosomal integrity and mitochondrial function for cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa, using flow cytometry, and determined the variability associated with these assays. Correlations between results for these laboratory assays and stallion fertility were also determined. The inter-assay variability for visual motility, computer assisted motility, and sperm velocity, sperm viability, percent viable-acrosome intact cells and mitochondrial function of cells were all similar, however, intra-assay variability was lower for flow cytometric assays than for motility assays. The reliability of all assays were >0.72, except for sperm velocity (0.32). Although visual motility and the straightness of sperm motility conducted 90 min after thawing were correlated with seasonal fertility (0.56 and 0.55, respectively), data from no single assay were correlated with first-cycle fertility rates (P > 0.05). Best models using data from multiple assays explained 66 to 73, 76 to 89 and 79 to 94% of the variability in fertilizing potential, when two, three and four variables were included, respectively. Caution is required in interpreting these data, as only a few stallions were evaluated and relatively few mares were bred to each stallion, however, they do indicate that using a few rapid and inexpensive sperm assays, we can begin to understand factors important in stallion sperm fertilizing capacity, and we can use these assays to more effectively evaluate new methods for cryopreserving stallion spermatozoa.
Publication Date: 2005-04-07 PubMed ID: 16139616DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.03.006Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research investigates the correlation between laboratory-assay results and the fertility of cryopreserved (frozen) stallion spermatozoa. Its findings suggest that a combination of different assays can explain a high percentage of the variability in the sperm’s fertilizing potential.
Objective of the Study
- The purpose of this research was to determine effective ways of assessing the fertility of cryopreserved stallion sperm by studying the relationship between laboratory assay results and the actual fertility exhibited by the horses.
- Given the shortcomings of current methods (like sperm motility) of determining fertility, the study sought to establish assays (tests) measuring cell viability, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial function with the help of flow cytometry techniques.
Research Methodology
- The study utilized visual and computer-assisted motility assessments along with flow cytometry to evaluate key characteristics such as cell viability, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial function of the cryopreserved spermatozoa.
- The researchers conducted the assays and determined the variability associated with these tests.
- Correlations between the outcomes of these assays and actual stallion fertility were assessed to measure their effectiveness.
Findings
- The study found that while the variability between different assay techniques was similar, the within-assay variability was lower with flow cytometric tests.
- All assays exhibited a high reliability (greater than 0.72) except for the sperm velocity measurement which only had a reliability coefficient of 0.32.
- Though certain tests like visual motility and the straightness of sperm movement were moderately correlated with seasonal fertility rates, no single assay showed a correlation with first-cycle fertility rates.
Implications
- Despite the limited number of stallions and mares evaluated, the findings imply that using a combination of assays can help us understand the key factors affecting the fertilizing capacity of stallion sperm.
- By combining two to four different variables from these assays, 66 to 94% of the variability in sperm fertilizing potential could be accounted for, indicating a promising approach towards more effectively evaluating new cryopreservation methods.
Cite This Article
APA
Kirk ES, Squires EL, Graham JK.
(2005).
Comparison of in vitro laboratory analyses with the fertility of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa.
Theriogenology, 64(6), 1422-1439.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2005.03.006 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory, Department of Physiology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome / physiology
- Animals
- Cell Survival
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Fertilization in Vitro / veterinary
- Flow Cytometry / methods
- Flow Cytometry / veterinary
- Horses
- Male
- Mitochondria / physiology
- Sensitivity and Specificity
- Sperm Capacitation / physiology
- Sperm Motility / physiology
- Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Suliman Y, Becker F, Tuchscherer A, Wimmers K. Seasonal variations in quantitative and qualitative sperm characteristics in fertile and subfertile stallions.. Arch Anim Breed 2020;63(1):145-154.
- Sharma M, Singh M, Kapoor S, Jasial S. Inter relationship between some routine semen evaluation parameters in Jersey X local hill cattle crossbred bulls.. Open Vet J 2012;2(1):26-31.
- Berlinguer F, Madeddu M, Pasciu V, Succu S, Spezzigu A, Satta V, Mereu P, Leoni GG, Naitana S. Semen molecular and cellular features: these parameters can reliably predict subsequent ART outcome in a goat model.. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2009 Nov 9;7:125.
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