Selenium in blood, semen, seminal plasma and spermatozoa of stallions and its relationship to sperm quality.

This study reveals that selenium, an essential trace element, is vital for male fertility in mammals and shows a significant association with improved sperm quality and fertility in stallions. Selenium levels in stallion’s sperm were found to have no correlation with selenium levels in their blood, indicating that blood selenium levels don’t adequately depict selenium supply for spermatogenesis.

Understanding the Importance of Selenium

• The trace element selenium plays a crucial role in male fertility in mammals, which is underpinned by the fact that it forms an indispensable part of certain enzymes involved in sperm formation.
• Past research showed little data about how selenium affected sperm quality in stallions, which this study aimed to address.

Study Methodology

• The researchers measured selenium levels in different components namely, red blood cells, semen, seminal plasma, and spermatozoa, in 41 stallions.
• They also analysed sperm quality by evaluating various parameters such as progressive motility, intact membranes, acrosomal status, and DNA damage.
• The pregnancy rate per oestrus cycle was used as a measure of fertility.

Key Findings

• Maintaining sufficient selenium levels in the diet is critical for stallion fertility. However, all stallions in the study displayed adequate selenium levels in their blood, and therefore, any potential adverse impact on fertility was eliminated from considerations.
• The researchers discovered that the blood selenium levels and the selenium levels in seminal plasma or spermatozoa exhibited no significant correlation. Based on these findings, they concluded that measuring blood selenium levels cannot serve as an accurate indicator for adequate selenium supply to support spermatogenesis, the process of sperm cell production.
• A correlation was found between selenium levels in spermatozoa and various sperm quality indicators, including sperm with intact membranes, progressive motility, and acrosomal status. The positive correlation indicates that higher selenium levels in sperm cells are associated with better sperm quality.
• Selenium concentration in spermatozoa was positively correlated with the pregnancy rate per oestrus cycle. Therefore, a higher selenium concentration in sperm cells was associated with increased fertility.

Conclusion

• This research concluded that analysis of selenium in spermatozoa is required to determine adequate selenium status for male equine reproduction accurately.
• Moreover, the study confirms the crucial role selenium plays in enhancing sperm quality and overall fertility in stallions. This can offer implications in equine health management and breeding programs.