Does the microbial flora in the ejaculate affect the freezeability of stallion sperm?
Abstract: In an attempt to evaluate the possible relationship between the microbial flora in the stallion ejaculate and its ability to freeze,three ejaculates from five stallions were frozen using a standard protocol. Before freezing, an aliquot was removed for bacteriological analysis. Bacterial growth was observed in all the ejaculates studied. The isolated microorganisms were:Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. (in all the stallions), beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (in stallions 3 and 4), Corynebacterium spp. (in stallions 1, 3-5), Rhodococcus spp. (in stallion number 2), Pseudomonas spp. (in stallion number 1) and Klebsiella spp. (in stallions 1, 3 and 5). The presence and richness of Klebsiella and beta-haemolytic Streptococcus in the ejaculate were related to two sperm variables post-thaw,namely the proportion of dead spermatozoa (ethidium+ cells; r = 0.55, p < 0.05) and the amplitude of lateral displacement of the sperm head (ALH, microm; r = -0.56, p < 0.05), respectively.The degree of growth of Corynebacterium spp. in the ejaculate was positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa showing high caspase activity post-thaw(r = 0.62, p < 0.05). The presence and number of colonies of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus were negatively correlated (r = -0.55, p < 0.05) with low sperm caspase activity. It is concluded that the microbial flora of the equine ejaculate maybe responsible for some of the sublethal damage experimented by the spermatozoa during cryopreservation.
Publication Date: 2009-08-06 PubMed ID: 19655428DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01267.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigated the link between the microbial flora in stallion semen and the semen’s freezing capacity. It concluded that the microbial flora could cause some sublethal damage to the sperm during cryopreservation.
Research Methodology
- The researchers collected semen samples from five different stallions. Three ejaculates were retrieved from each stallion.
- The samples were frozen following a standard protocol. Before the freezing process, a sample (a small portion) of the ejaculate was taken for bacterial analysis.
- Bacterial growth was observed in all the samples studied.
Findings
- Various microorganisms were isolated from the stallion ejaculates. These include Staphylococcus spp., Micrococcus spp., beta-haemolytic Streptococcus, Corynebacterium spp., Rhodococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Klebsiella spp.
- Certain correlations between the presence or richness of specific microbes and post-thaw sperm variables were found. For instance, the existence of Klebsiella and beta-haemolytic Streptococcus in the ejaculate was linked with the proportion of dead sperm cells and the range of lateral displacement of the sperm head (known as the ALH), respectively.
- A positive correlation was found between Corynebacterium spp. growth and the percentage of spermatozoa that show high caspase (a type of protein that aids in cell death) activity after thawing.
- An inverse correlation was observed between the colonies of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus and low sperm caspase activity.
Conclusion
- The researchers concluded that the microbial flora in the ejaculate could be a contributing factor for the sublethal damage sustained by spermatozoa during cryopreservation.
- Therefore, the microbiological factor should be taken into consideration during semen cryopreservation to ensure higher fertility rates.
Cite This Article
APA
Ortega-Ferrusola C, González-Fernández L, Muriel A, Macías-García B, Rodríguez-Martínez H, Tapia JA, Alonso JM, Peña FJ.
(2009).
Does the microbial flora in the ejaculate affect the freezeability of stallion sperm?
Reprod Domest Anim, 44(3), 518-522.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01267.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Laboratory of Spermatology, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Bacteria / growth & development
- Bacteria / isolation & purification
- Caspases / analysis
- Corynebacterium / isolation & purification
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Flow Cytometry
- Horses / microbiology
- Klebsiella / isolation & purification
- Male
- Micrococcus / isolation & purification
- Pseudomonas / isolation & purification
- Rhodococcus / isolation & purification
- Semen / microbiology
- Semen Preservation / methods
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / physiology
- Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
- Streptococcus / isolation & purification
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