Effect of season on fresh and cryopreserved stallion semen.
Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of season on sperm quality variables, expression of the fertility-related protein SP22 and selected mRNA transcripts in fresh and cryopreserved stallion sperm. Four stallions were collected in each of the four seasons: summer, fall, winter and spring. Ejaculates were divided and then evaluated for motility, morphology, SP22 staining and expression of selected mRNAs as either fresh semen samples or cryopreserved samples. A significant interaction between season and cryopreservation status was found for total and progressive sperm motility. RNA yield from sperm was not affected by any variable examined. There was no effect of season or cryopreservation on the relative amounts of mRNA for PGK2, TPX1, TIMP3 or ACTB. There was a tendency (P=0.1) for an effect of stallion on the relative amount of ACTB mRNA. The proportion of sperm immunostained for SP22 over the equatorial segment was affected (P<0.05) by stallion. In addition, there was an interaction (P<0.05) between season and cryopreservation status on the percentage of sperm staining for SP22 on the equatorial segment. The correlation among total motility, progressive motility and SP22 immunostaining was much greater (P<0.05) during the breeding season (March and June) than during the non-breeding season (September and December). Based on data analyzed, semen collected in the Northern Hemisphere between March and June may be best suited for cryopreservation.
Copyright (c) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-02-16 PubMed ID: 20227205DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.02.007Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates how the season affects the quality and performance of fresh and cryopreserved stallion sperm. It concludes that stallion sperm collected in the Northern Hemisphere between March and June (the breeding season) is best suited for cryopreservation.
Research Objective
The aim of the study was to identify the impact of different seasons on sperm quality, SP22 protein expression (a protein related to fertility), and certain mRNA transcripts in both fresh and cryopreserved stallion sperm.
Experiment Procedure
- Semen samples were collected from four stallions in each of the four seasons – summer, fall, winter, and spring.
- The ejaculates were then divided and evaluated for parameters like motility, morphology, staining of SP22, and expression of selected mRNAs.
- These analyses were carried out on both fresh and cryopreserved semen samples.
Major Findings
- A significant interaction between season and semen preservation status was found with regard to total sperm motility and progressive sperm motility. In simple terms, the season in which the sperm was collected and its preservation status (fresh or cryopreserved) affected how well the sperm were able to move.
- The study found no significant impact of either season or cryopreservation on the relative amounts of certain mRNAs (PGK2, TPX1, TIMP3, or ACTB).
- The proportion of sperm with SP22 staining on the equatorial segment was found to be influenced by the specific stallion. Furthermore, an interaction between the season and the cryopreservation status significantly affected the percentage of sperm staining for SP22 on the equatorial segment.
- The correlation among parameters like total sperm motility, progressive sperm motility and SP22 immunostaining was much stronger during the breeding season (March and June) compared to the non-breeding season (September and December).
- Importantly, based on the data analyzed, the study concluded that semen collected in the Northern Hemisphere between March and June is best suited for cryopreservation.
Cite This Article
APA
Wrench N, Pinto CR, Klinefelter GR, Dix DJ, Flowers WL, Farin CE.
(2010).
Effect of season on fresh and cryopreserved stallion semen.
Anim Reprod Sci, 119(3-4), 219-227.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.02.007 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Actins / genetics
- Animals
- Breeding
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Horses
- Hot Temperature
- Male
- Microtubule-Associated Proteins / analysis
- RNA, Messenger / analysis
- Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
- Seasons
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / abnormalities
- Spermatozoa / chemistry
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Senra RL, Ramírez-López CJ, Magalhães-Júnior MJ, Neves JGDS, Barros E, Waddington B, Guimarães SEF, Guimarães JD, Baracat-Pereira MC. Kallikrein proteoforms and reproductive parameters in stallion are conditioned by climate. Sci Rep 2022 Nov 4;12(1):18690.
- Leme DP, Papa FO, Roser JF. Reproductive characteristics of stallions during the breeding and non-breeding season in a tropical region. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012 Oct;44(7):1703-7.
- Ullah A, Chen W, Shi L, Wang M, Geng M, Na J, Akhtar MF, Khan MZ, Wang C. Challenges and Enhancing Strategies of Equine Semen Preservation: Nutritional and Genetic Perspectives. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 25;12(9).
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