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Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2023; 58(11); 1569-1575; doi: 10.1111/rda.14472

Evaluation of domestic animal sperm head morphology via flow cytometric DNA labelling and pulse shape analysis using bull and stallion spermatozoa as model species.

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to test a rapid, robust flow cytometric technique for the detection of sperm head abnormalities of domestic bulls and stallions. The so-called PulSA approach detects the pulse profiles of propidium-iodide labelled spermatozoa. In the first experiment, species-specific threshold values were established on sperm samples that were tested for sperm head abnormalities with a classic visual morphology analysis. In the second experiment, serial mixtures of bull and stallion spermatozoa mimicking different percentages of sperm head abnormalities were analysed. Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed a clear separation between the normal and mixed samples. The PulSA approach may be a useful tool in identifying sub- or infertile breeding males as well as in studying the evolutionary aspects of sperm morphology and morphometry.
© 2023 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.
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Publication Date: 2023-09-14 PubMed ID: 37706243DOI: 10.1111/rda.14472Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research article explores a new flow cytometric technique called PulSA for identifying abnormalities in the sperm head of domestic bulls and stallions. The technique has the potential to identify sub-fertile or infertile breeding males and investigate the evolution of sperm morphology and morphometry.

Objective and Methodology

  • The aim of this research was to test a new, robust, and rapid flow cytometric technique – PulSA (Pulse Shape Analysis) – for detecting abnormalities in the head morphology of domestic bull and stallion spermatozoa. The PulSA method uses propidium-iodide-labelled spermatozoa to obtain pulse profiles.
  • Two experiments were conducted as part of the study. The first experiment involved establishing species-specific threshold values for detecting sperm head abnormalities in bull and stallion sperm using conventional visual morphology analysis.
  • In the second experiment, a series of mixes of bull and stallion semen mimicking varying percentages of sperm head issues were analysed to further test and validate the accuracy and effectiveness of the PulSA approach.

Results and Findings

  • The non-metric multidimensional scaling applied to the results obtained showed a clear demarcation between the normal samples and the mixed samples. This indicates that the PulSA method was capable of correctly identifying sperm at abnormality levels in the mixed samples.

Conclusion and Future Applications

  • The research concludes that the PulSA technique could be a useful tool in both identifying potentially subfertile or infertile breeding males in domestic animal populations, and also for investigating evolutionary aspects of sperm form and size.
  • Further studies could be performed to ascertain the general applicability of this approach to other species and establish its operational parameters.

Cite This Article

APA
Nagy S, Kovacs B, Johannisson A. (2023). Evaluation of domestic animal sperm head morphology via flow cytometric DNA labelling and pulse shape analysis using bull and stallion spermatozoa as model species. Reprod Domest Anim, 58(11), 1569-1575. https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14472

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 58
Issue: 11
Pages: 1569-1575

Researcher Affiliations

Nagy, Szabolcs
  • Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Animal Sciences, Keszthely, Hungary.
Kovacs, Barnabas
  • Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Institute of Animal Sciences, Keszthely, Hungary.
Johannisson, Anders
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
  • Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Male
  • Horses
  • Cattle
  • Animals, Domestic
  • Semen
  • Fertility
  • Spermatozoa
  • Sperm Head
  • Infertility, Male / veterinary
  • DNA
  • Sperm Motility
  • Cattle Diseases
  • Horse Diseases

Grant Funding

  • FORMAS
  • National Scientific Research Fund, Hungary

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