Determination of daily sperm production in stallion testes by enumeration of germ cells in homogenates.
Abstract: Thirty adult stallion testes were selected with high (n = 15) and low (n = 15) Daily Sperm Production (DSP)/testis. Parenchymal samples were prepared for morphometric analysis, and the numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells were determined. Testicular samples were homogenized, and germ cells and Sertoli cells were enumerated using phase contrast microscopy. Numbers of germ cells and Sertoli cells and potential DSP during spermatogenesis were determined. Significant correlations existed between morphometric and homogenate determinations of number per testis of preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.58; P < 0.001), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), all primary spermatocytes (r = 0.67; P < 0.0001), round spermatids (r = 0.72; P < 0.0001), and Sertoli cells (r = 0.70; P < 0.0001). Significant correlations (P < 0.0001) existed between morphometric and homogenate determination of DSP/testis based on preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.78), pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes (r = 0.88), and round spermatids (r = 0.85). Using morphometric determination as the standard, the sensitivity (i.e., ability to detect low DSP/testis) and specificity (i.e., ability to detect high DSP/testis) by homogenate enumeration of germ cells was 81 and 93% for round spermatids, 100 and 24% for pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes, and 67 and 87% for preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes, respectively. Enumeration of primary spermatocytes in homogenates was less accurate than enumeration of round or elongated spermatids. Enumeration of round and elongated spermatids in homogenates was a rapid and useful method for determining DSP in horses, and it may prove to be a useful technique for quantitating potential DSP from testicular biopsies.
Publication Date: 1997-02-01 PubMed ID: 16728018DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00024-1Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research investigates the daily sperm production (DSP) in stallion testes through counting germ and Sertoli cells in testicular samples. It finds that this procedure offers an efficient and potentially insightful method for estimating DSP, potentially useful for analyzing biopsy specimens.
Subject and Methods
- The study involved 30 adult male horses (stallions). The animals’ testes were categorized based on high (15 cases) and low (15 cases) DSP per testis.
- Parenchymal tissue samples were prepared from each testis for morphometric analysis, which involves measuring the shape, size, and structural characteristics of cells.
- Following preparation, samples were homogenized to break down complex structures into a mixture. The homogenate allowed researchers to enumerate (or count) the germ cells and Sertoli cells under a phase-contrast microscope.
Germ and Sertoli Cells Relationship with DSP
- The investigation observed the count of germ cells and Sertoli cells in connection with potential DSP during spermatogenesis, the process where mature sperms are produced.
- Substantial correlations were discovered between the determination of cell numbers through both morphometric analysis and homogenate.
- The correlations applied to various stages of germ cells including preleptotene, leptotene plus zygotene primary spermatocytes, pachytene plus diplotene primary spermatocytes, as well as round spermatids and Sertoli cells.
Finding of the Study
- The study found that there were significant correlations between cell counts determined by morphometric analysis and homogenization of the testis.
- The sensitivity (i.e., capacity to detect low DSP/testis) and specificity (i.e., capacity to detect high DSP/testis) of homogenate enumeration was most effective for the count of round spermatids.
- Counting primary spermatocytes in homogenates turned out to be less accurate than counting round or elongated spermatids.
Conclusion
- The study suggests that the enumeration of round and elongated spermatids in homogenates offers a quick and helpful method for estimating DSP in horses.
- This approach might be a useful tool for quantifying potential DSP from testicular biopsy samples, which could contribute significantly to animal breeding practices and reproductive biology research.
Cite This Article
APA
Blanchard TL, Johnson L.
(1997).
Determination of daily sperm production in stallion testes by enumeration of germ cells in homogenates.
Theriogenology, 47(3), 655-664.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(97)00024-1 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Citations
This article has been cited 1 times.- Tripathi UK, Chhillar S, Kumaresan A, Aslam MK, Rajak SK, Nayak S, Manimaran A, Mohanty TK, Yadav S. Morphometric evaluation of seminiferous tubule and proportionate numerical analysis of Sertoli and spermatogenic cells indicate differences between crossbred and purebred bulls. Vet World 2015 May;8(5):645-50.
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