Hypoosmotic test in equine spermatozoa.
Abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate equine sperm membrane integrity using the hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test and to correlate this test with different sperm parameters in raw and frozen thawed semen. The HOS solutions were made with fructose, sucrose, lactose and sodium citrate each at 300, 150, 100, 50 and 25 mosm. Maximum numbers of swollen spermatozoa were observed in solutions of fructose, sucrose and lactose each at 100, 50 and 25 mosm. Correlations between progressive motility, morphologically normal spermatozoa and the HOS test were r = 0.75 and r = 0.51 in raw semen and r = 0.26 and r = -0.22 in frozen-thawed semen. The correlation between HOS and percentage of intact membranes with the fluorescent stain was r = 0.32 in frozen-thawed semen. The HOS test is a simple and accessible method which could be used as a complement to routine equine semen analysis. It has the added advantages of being less susceptible to the immediate effects of cold shock and of evaluating individual spermatozoa rather than the population as a whole, as does progressive motility.
Publication Date: 2000-03-23 PubMed ID: 10728997DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(99)00021-7Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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.
The research study was done to assess how effective the Hypoosmotic Swelling (HOS) test is in checking the integrity of horse sperm membranes and how this test relates to other sperm parameters in both raw and frozen-thawed semen.
Research Objectives & Tactic
- The primary goal of the study was to understand how efficient the Hypoosmotic Swelling (HOS) test is in evaluating the integrity of the membrane of horse sperm cells. This is an essential aspect as the sperm membrane’s health is indicative of the sperm’s overall health and functionality.
- The researchers also aimed to draw correlations between this test and other sperm parameters, using both raw and frozen sperm samples. This would help them understand if the HOS test can be a viable complement to standard sperm analysis processes.
Methodology
- The HOS test is basically a swelling test that is conducted by immersing sperm cells in different solutions – in this case, solutions of different substances (fructose, sucrose, lactose, and sodium citrate) made at various concentrations (300, 150, 100, 50, and 25 mosm).
- The maximum number of swollen sperm cells, indicating a damaged membrane, were observed in solutions of fructose, sucrose, and lactose at 100, 50, and 25 mosm.
Findings & Correlations
- The correlation values (r) were determined between the HOS test and various parameters like progressive motility, morphologically normal sperm, and the percentage of intact membranes with a fluorescent stain.
- In raw semen, the correlation between the HOS test and progressive motility was 0.75, and with morphologically normal sperm, it was 0.51.
- For frozen-thawed semen, the correlation with progressive motility was less at 0.26 and negatively correlated at -0.22 with morphologically normal sperm.
- With the percentage of intact membranes with the fluorescent stain, the correlation stood at 0.32 for frozen-thawed semen.
Conclusion
- Overall, the study concluded that the HOS test is an easy, handy method that could be used to supplement routine horse sperm analysis.
- Key benefits of the test include its resistance to immediate effects of cold shock and ability to analyze individual sperm cells instead of the entire population, unlike what is done in progressive motility analysis.
Cite This Article
APA
Neild D, Chaves G, Flores M, Mora N, Beconi M, Agüero A.
(2000).
Hypoosmotic test in equine spermatozoa.
Theriogenology, 51(4), 721-727.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(99)00021-7 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Area of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Membrane / physiology
- Cold Temperature
- Fluorescent Dyes
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Osmolar Concentration
- Solutions
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 14 times.- Sharaf AE, Khalil WA, Khalifa EI, Nassan MA, Swelum AA, El-Harairy MA. The Supplementation of Bee Bread Methanolic Extract to Egg Yolk or Soybean Lecithin Extenders Can Improve the Quality of Cryopreserved Ram Semen. Cells 2022 Oct 27;11(21).
- Prochowska S, Niżański W, Fontbonne A. Hypo-Osmotic Swelling Test (HOST) for Feline Spermatozoa: The Simplified Procedure and the Aspect of Sperm Morphology. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 31;12(7).
- Hassan SA, Khalil WA, Hassan MAE, Yousif AI, Sabry OM, Wink M, Sobeh M. Antioxidant and Antiapoptotic Effects of a Turraea fischeri Leaf Extract on Cryopreserved Goat Sperm. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 29;11(10).
- Usuga A, Tejera I, Gómez J, Restrepo O, Rojano B, Restrepo G. Cryoprotective Effects of Ergothioneine and Isoespintanol on Canine Semen. Animals (Basel) 2021 Sep 22;11(10).
- Sobeh M, Hassan SA, Hassan MAE, Khalil WA, Abdelfattah MAO, Wink M, Yasri A. A Polyphenol-Rich Extract From Entada abyssinica Reduces Oxidative Damage in Cryopreserved Ram Semen. Front Vet Sci 2020;7:604477.
- Alamaary MS, Haron AW, Hiew MWH, Ali M. Effects of cysteine and ascorbic acid in freezing extender on sperm characteristics and level of enzymes in post-thawed stallion semen. Vet Med Sci 2020 Nov;6(4):666-672.
- Alamaary MS, Haron AW, Ali M, Hiew MWH, Adamu L, Peter ID. Effects of four extenders on the quality of frozen semen in Arabian stallions. Vet World 2019 Jan;12(1):34-40.
- Álvarez-Guerrero A, González-Díaz F, Medrano A, Moreno-Mendoza N. In vitro capacitation and acrosome reaction in sperm of the phyllostomid bat Artibeus jamaicensis. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2016 Apr;52(4):454-65.
- Sharma M, Singh M, Kapoor S, Jasial S. Inter relationship between some routine semen evaluation parameters in Jersey X local hill cattle crossbred bulls. Open Vet J 2012;2(1):26-31.
- Vaez A, Mardani M, Razavi S. Impact of saffron on rat sperm membrane integrity and spermatogenesis status. Adv Biomed Res 2014;3:146.
- Lee HL, Kim SH, Ji DB, Kim YJ. A comparative study of Sephadex, glass wool and Percoll separation techniques on sperm quality and IVF results for cryopreserved bovine semen. J Vet Sci 2009 Sep;10(3):249-55.
- Katila T. In vitro evaluation of frozen-thawed stallion semen: a review. Acta Vet Scand 2001;42(2):199-217.
- de Souza FKP, Chaves MS, Rodrigues CHM, Arcce IML, Kumar S, Melo LM, de Figueirêdo Freitas VJ. Efficacy of Semen Microencapsulation Technique on the Quality of Spermatozoa From Canindé Goats Kept Under Refrigeration for Three Days. Reprod Domest Anim 2025 Nov;60(11):e70141.
- Alharbi YM, Ali M, Alharbi MS. Impact of the Antioxidant Hydroxytyrosol on the Quality of Post-Thawed Stallion Semen. Vet Med Int 2024;2024:6558480.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
