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Home / Equine Research Bank / Reprod Domest Anim / Identification of sperm subpopulations in stallion ejaculate...
Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene2008; 44(3); 419-423; doi: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01097.x

Identification of sperm subpopulations in stallion ejaculates: changes after cryopreservation and comparison with traditional statistics.

Abstract: In an attempt to improve the information obtained after computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), data from five stallions (three ejaculates from each) were analysed before (fresh, extended semen) and after cryopreservation using traditional statistics as well as a cluster analysis. The data matrix consisted of 13 987 observations of individual spermatozoa for fresh, extended semen, and 8305 for frozen-thawed samples. As expected, freezing and thawing resulted in a marked decrease of CASA-derived variables of sperm kinematics. All sperm velocities were significantly lower in frozen-thawed samples than in samples before cooling. Using sperm velocities, six sperm subpopulations were identified in fresh semen (S1-S6). As such, subpopulations S1 and S2 were characterized by low sperm velocities, subpopulations S3 and S4 corresponded to spermatozoa depicting medium speed values, and finally, subpopulations S5 and S6 were those depicting the highest velocities. After freezing and thawing, four sperm subpopulations were identified, listed as nr FT1 to FT4. While subpopulations FT1-FT3 were characterized by low sperm velocities, and thus corresponded speed-wise to those listed as S1-S4 for fresh, extended semen, the one called number FT4 in frozen semen was characterized by high velocities, of the same range as that of the subpopulations S5 and S6 for fresh spermatozoa. The sperm subpopulation structure varied among stallions, but the cluster analysis hereby assayed was able to provide valuable information about the freezability of the samples that the customary statistics did not reveal.
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Publication Date: 2008-11-28 PubMed ID: 19055563DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01097.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • 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 article examines sperm subpopulations in stallion semen, particularly how these change following cryopreservation—a technique for freezing and preserving sperm. The findings reveal significant changes in sperm movement and speed after freezing and thawing, and highlight the distinct sperm subpopulations in fresh and cryopreserved semen.

Objective of the Research

  • The researchers aimed to enhance the insights gleaned from computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) by analyzing the sperm data from five stallions before and after cryopreservation.
  • The analysis encompassed both traditional statistics and cluster analysis—a statistical technique used to group similar data subsets.

Research Findings

  • The analysis included almost 14,000 observations for fresh semen and over 8,300 observations for frozen-thawed samples.
  • The team noted a considerable decrease in CASA-derived sperm kinematics—measures connected to sperm movement—after cryopreservation. Specifically, all sperm velocities were significantly slower in the frozen-thawed samples than in the fresh ones.
  • The researchers identified six distinct sperm subpopulations in fresh semen (S1 to S6), categorized by their velocities. S1 and S2 had low velocities, S3 and S4 showed medium speed values, while S5 and S6 showed the highest velocities.
  • After freezing and thawing, they identified four sperm subpopulations (FT1 to FT4) characterized by lower velocities, except for FT4, which shared a similar velocity range with the fastest fresh sperm subpopulations (S5 and S6).

Significance of the Findings

  • The findings demonstrated that the structure of sperm subpopulations differs among stallions.
  • The cluster analysis was valuable in providing information about the freezability of sperm samples—information that traditional statistics could not reveal.
  • These insights could help enhance sperm freezing and preservation methods, potentially improving the success rates of reproductive technologies in equine breeding.

Cite This Article

APA
Ortega-Ferrusola C, Macías García B, Suárez Rama V, Gallardo-Bolaños JM, González-Fernández L, Tapia JA, Rodríguez-Martinez H, Peña FJ. (2008). Identification of sperm subpopulations in stallion ejaculates: changes after cryopreservation and comparison with traditional statistics. Reprod Domest Anim, 44(3), 419-423. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2008.01097.x

Publication

Reproduction in domestic animals = Zuchthygiene
ISSN: 1439-0531
NlmUniqueID: 9015668
Country: Germany
Language: English
Volume: 44
Issue: 3
Pages: 419-423

Researcher Affiliations

Ortega-Ferrusola, C
  • Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Laboratory of Spermatology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Extremadura, Avd de la Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain.
Macías García, B
    Suárez Rama, V
      Gallardo-Bolaños, J M
        González-Fernández, L
          Tapia, J A
            Rodríguez-Martinez, H
              Peña, F J

                MeSH Terms

                • Animals
                • Cryopreservation / veterinary
                • Horses
                • Hot Temperature
                • Male
                • Semen Preservation / veterinary
                • Sperm Motility / physiology
                • Spermatozoa / cytology
                • Spermatozoa / physiology

                Citations

                This article has been cited 16 times.
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                16. Gallardo Bolaños JM, Miró Morán Á, Balao da Silva CM, Morillo Rodríguez A, Plaza Dávila M, Aparicio IM, Tapia JA, Ortega Ferrusola C, Peña FJ. Autophagy and apoptosis have a role in the survival or death of stallion spermatozoa during conservation in refrigeration. PLoS One 2012;7(1):e30688.
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