Quality Improvement of Post-Thawed Stallion Epididymal Spermatozoa with Single Layer Centrifugation.
Abstract: Epididymal sperm cryopreservation represents the ultimate option to preserve spermatozoa of valuable stallions. Objective: The study aims to evalute whether single layer centrifugation (SLC) prior to cryopreservation or after post-thawing improves the quality of stallion epididymal sperm. Methods: Epididymal sperms of stallions were harvested (N=20). Sperm samples were subjected to treatments: conventional centrifugation, SLC prior to cryopreservation (SLC-PC) or SLC post-thaw (SLC+). All samples were cryopreserved, thawed and evaluated. SLC+ were thawed, single layer cenrifuged and resuspended in freezing extender (SLC+F) or cooling extender (SLC+C). Total motility, progressive motility, morphology, mitochondrial functionality, membrane integrity and DNA integrity were evaluated. Results: SLC-PC and SLC+F yielded higher total motility, while SLC+F yielded the highest progressive motility. Mitochondrial functionality was significantly higher in all SLC groups. Membrane integrity was higher in SLC-PC. The percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was higher in SLC-PC and SLC+F. Conclusions: SLC prior to cryopreservation or post-thaw improves the quality of stallion epididymal spermatozoa. When SLC is performed post-thaw, freezing extender is the best medium to resuspend the pelleted semen.
Publication Date: 2020-01-01 PubMed ID: 33973978
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- Journal Article
Summary
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This study investigates the effect of single layer centrifugation (SLC) on the quality of stallion epididymal sperm cells before and after cryopreservation and thawing. The results demonstrate that using SLC both before freezing and after thawing can improve various aspects of spermatozoa health and functionality.
Objectives and Methods
- The study aimed to assess if the quality of cryopreserved stallion epididymal sperm could be improved by applying single layer centrifugation (SLC) before or after the freezing process. Cryopreservation is a method used to preserve biological materials – in this case, sperm cells – by freezing them at very low temperatures.
- Epididymal sperm cells from 20 stallions were collected and divided into groups for different treatments: conventional centrifugation, SLC prior to cryopreservation (SLC-PC), and SLC after thawing (SLC+).
- All samples were subjected to cryopreservation and thawing. The SLC+ group was thawed, undergone SLC, and resuspended either in a freezing extender (SLC+F) or a cooling extender (SLC+C).
Assessing Sperm Quality
- Different aspects of the sperm cells’ quality were evaluated, including total motility, progressive motility, morphology (shape and structure), mitochondrial functionality (necessary for energy production in the cells), membrane integrity, and DNA integrity.
Results
- The experimental process resulted in improved sperm quality for both SLC-PC and SLC+F groups in terms of total motility, with the SLC+F group showing the highest progressive motility rates.
- Mitochondrial functionality significantly improved in all SLC groups.
- Membrane integrity was highest in the SLC-PC group.
- A higher percentage of morphologically normal sperm cells were reported in the SLC-PC and SLC+F groups.
Conclusions
- The researchers concluded that using SLC either before cryopreservation or after thawing enhances the quality of stallion epididymal sperm cells.
- When SLC was applied post-thaw, the freezing extender was identified as the best medium to resuspend the semen.
Cite This Article
APA
Cunha Dos Santos FC, Morrell JM, Nunes MM, Nogueira CE, Curcio BR, Malschitzky E.
(2020).
Quality Improvement of Post-Thawed Stallion Epididymal Spermatozoa with Single Layer Centrifugation.
Cryo Letters, 41(1), 6-12.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Programa de Pos Graduacao Medicina Animal: Equinos, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. carlini@portoweb.com.br.
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
- Programa de Pos Graduacao em Medicina Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Vicosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clinicas Veterinaria, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- Programa de Pos Graduacao Medicina Animal: Equinos, Faculdade de Veterinaria, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Curso de Medicina Veterinaria, Universidade Luterana, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Centrifugation
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Horses
- Male
- Quality Improvement
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa
Citations
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