Effect of seminal plasma fractions on stallion sperm survival after cooled storage.
Abstract: This study aimed to evaluate stallion sperm survival after 24 h of cooled storage in the presence of seminal plasma (SP) derived from the sperm-rich fractions (SRF) or sperm-poor fractions(SPF) of the ejaculate, without SP, or in the presence of SP from other stallions. Ejaculates were collected from four stallions using an automated phantom, which separated the semen into five cups. Centrifuged and washed spermatozoa from cup 2 (SRF) were mixed with skim milk extender to a concentration of 100 x 10(6) sperm/ml and then 1:1 (v/v) with SP from the stallion's own or another stallions' second (SP-SRF) or last cup (SP-SPF). Skim milk extender (K) and skim milk extender supplemented with modified Tyrode's medium (KMT) were used as control treatments. After a 24-h storage period in a transport container, spermatozoa were evaluated for motion characteristics and plasma membrane integrity by calcein acetoxymethyl (AM)/propidium iodide staining. The percentage of spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes after storage was lower in SP-SRF than in SP-SPF, and the highest in K (P < 0.05). Progressive motility (PMOT) was lower for sperm stored in SP-SRF than for sperm stored in SP-SPF (P < 0.05), but there was no significant difference in total motility (TMOT). Sperm stored in KMT (P < 0.05) registered the highest TMOT and PMOT percentages. Osmolarity was significantly higher and pH lower in K than in KMT or SP. Treatment with SP-SPF from three stallions benefited the PMOT of sperm from one stallion. These preliminary findings suggest that SP from SRFs may be more harmful during storage than SP from SPFs. Removal of SP improves sperm survival in KMT extender, and exchanging SP between stallions seems to influence sperm survival.
Publication Date: 2006-10-24 PubMed ID: 17054486DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0442.2006.00882.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research evaluated the survivability of stallion sperm after being kept in cooled storage for 24 hours when mixed with various fractions of seminal plasma. The findings suggest that seminal plasma from sperm-rich fractions may damage the sperm during storage more than seminal plasma from sperm-poor fractions. The study also found that removal of seminal plasma improves sperm survivability and that swapping seminal plasma between stallions can influence sperm survival rate.
Explaining the Methods
- In this study, ejaculates were collected from four stallions using an automated phantom device, which separates the semen into five distinct cups for further evaluation.
- The seminal plasma (SP) fractions evaluated in the study were derived from the sperm-rich fractions (SRF) or sperm-poor fractions (SPF) of the ejaculate. Also, the effect of absence of SP or presence of SP from other stallions was analyzed.
- The centrifuged and washed spermatozoa were mixed with a skim milk extender to standardize the sperm concentration and then blended with different types of SP for storage. Two control treatments used were skim milk extender (K) and skim milk extender supplemented with Tyrode’s medium (KMT).
- The stored sperm were examined after a 24-hour period for motion characteristics and plasma membrane integrity using specific staining techniques.
Understanding the Findings
- The research showed that after the storage period, the percentage of spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes was lower in semen stored with SP from sperm-rich fractions (SP-SRF) than with sperm-poor fractions (SP-SPF).
- It also demonstrated that progressive motility (PMOT), a measure of sperm movement, was lower for sperm stored with SP-SRF than for sperm stored with SP-SPF. However, it found no significant difference in total motility (TMOT), another measure of sperm movement.
- The semen stored in the KMT medium registered the highest TMOT and PMOT percentages, indicating better sperm survival and movement.
- Interestingly, the research found that the PMOT of sperm from one stallion was improved when stored with SP-SPF from three other stallions, indicating that exchanging SP between stallions could influence sperm survival.
Conclusions
- The findings of this study suggest that SP from sperm-rich fractions may be damaging to stallion sperm during cooled storage, while SP from sperm-poor fractions might be less harmful.
- Removing seminal plasma improved sperm survival in the KMT extender. The exchange of seminal plasma between different stallions also seems to influence sperm survival, hinting at potential fertility interventions.
Cite This Article
APA
Akcay E, Reilas T, Andersson M, Katila T.
(2006).
Effect of seminal plasma fractions on stallion sperm survival after cooled storage.
J Vet Med A Physiol Pathol Clin Med, 53(9), 481-485.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0442.2006.00882.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ankara, 06110 Ankara, Turkey. akcay@veterinary.ankara.edu.tr
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cold Temperature
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Semen Preservation / adverse effects
- Semen Preservation / methods
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Sperm Count / veterinary
- Sperm Motility / physiology
- Spermatozoa / cytology
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Cheng Q, Li L, Jiang M, Liu B, Xian Y, Liu S, Liu X, Zhao W, Li F. Extend the Survival of Human Sperm In Vitro in Non-Freezing Conditions: Damage Mechanisms, Preservation Technologies, and Clinical Applications. Cells 2022 Sep 12;11(18).
- Tirpák F, Halo M Jr, Tokárová K, Binkowski LJ, Vašíček J, Svoradová A, Błaszczyk-Altman M, Kováčik A, Tvrdá E, Chrenek P, Lukáč N, Massányi P. Composition of Stallion Seminal Plasma and Its Impact on Oxidative Stress Markers and Spermatozoa Quality. Life (Basel) 2021 Nov 16;11(11).
- Tvrdá E, Arroyo F, Gosálvez J. Dynamic assessment of human sperm DNA damage I: the effect of seminal plasma-sperm co-incubation after ejaculation. Int Urol Nephrol 2018 Aug;50(8):1381-1388.
- Morrell JM, Johannisson A. Comparison of the Effect of Heterologous and Homologous Seminal Plasma on Motility and Chromatin Integrity of Stallion Spermatozoa Selected by Single Layer Centrifugation. J Vet Med 2014;2014:325451.
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