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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(19); doi: 10.3390/ani13193123

Sperm Quality Assessment in Stallions: How to Choose Relevant Assays to Answer Clinical Questions.

Abstract: Stallion sperm analysis is indicated for infertility diagnosis, pre-sale expertise, production of fresh or frozen doses, and frozen straw quality control. Various collection methods are described, and numerous assays can be performed on semen. Determining an approach for each of these cases is challenging. This review aims to discuss how to obtain relevant clinical results, answering stallion owners' concerns. Semen can be collected with an artificial vagina on a phantom or a mare, by electro-ejaculation under anesthesia, or after pharmacological induction. The collection method influences the semen volume and concentration, while the total sperm number depends on the testicular production and collection frequency. In the seminal plasma, acidity, pro-oxidant activity, and some enzymes have repercussions for the semen quality and its conservation. Moreover, non-sperm cells of seminal plasma may impact semen conservation. Motility analysis remains a core parameter, as it is associated with fresh or frozen dose fertility. Computer-assisted motility analyzers have improved repeatability, but the reproducibility between laboratories depends on the settings that are used. Morphology analysis showing spermatozoa defects is useful to understand production and maturation abnormalities. Staining of the spermatozoa is used to evaluate viability, but recent advances in flow cytometry and in fluorochromes enable an evaluation of multiple intracellular parameters. Spermatozoa protein expression already has clinical applications, for example, as a fertility and freezing ability predictor. At present, stallion semen analysis ranges from macroscopic evaluation to assessing spermatozoa proteins. However, clinically, all these data may not be relevant, and the lack of standardization may complicate their interpretation.
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Publication Date: 2023-10-06 PubMed ID: 37835729PubMed Central: PMC10571789DOI: 10.3390/ani13193123Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This research article discusses the evaluation of stallion sperm quality, which is relevant for various applications including infertility diagnosis, verifying quality prior to sale, and assessing the quality of fresh or frozen semen. The authors discuss the methods and parameters used in semen analysis, the issues associated with standardization and interpretation, and recent advances that could improve evaluation.

Collection Methods and Their Influence

  • The article discusses several methods of stallion semen collection – using an artificial vagina, electro-ejaculation under anesthesia, and pharmacological induction. These methods affect the volume and concentration of semen.
  • Total sperm number, another significant factor, is influenced by testicular production and the frequency of collection.

Assessing Seminal Plasma

  • The authors suggest that the seminal plasma – simultaneously collected with sperm – can impact the overall sperm quality and longevity. It can be analyzed for acidity, pro-oxidant activity, certain enzymes, and non-sperm cells.
  • These factors can impact the quality of semen and its ability to be preserved over time.

Role of Motility Analysis

  • Motility analysis, a measure of how sperm move, is a critical parameter contributing to the fertility of fresh or frozen semen dose.
  • Technology has improved the repeat ability of motility analysis via computer-assisted motility analyzers.
  • However, reproducibility varies between laboratories, largely based on the individual settings used.

Sperm Morphology and Viability

  • Analysis of the form and structure of sperm cells can offer insight into deficiencies in sperm production and maturation.
  • The article notes that sperm staining can be employed to assess sperm viability.
  • Flow cytometry and fluorochromes, modern techniques for studying organic materials, can simultaneously analyze a variety of internal sperm parameters, providing a more comprehensive assessment of sperm health and functionality.

Protein Expression in Spermatozoa

  • Protein expression in spermatozoa already has clinical applications, such as predicting fertilization success and the aptitude of a semen sample to be frozen and thawed successfully.

Limitations and Future Directions

  • Despite advancements, there is still a lack of standardization in stallion sperm analysis. This lack of uniformity complicates the interpretation of results across different laboratories and context.
  • The authors suggest that, while several assessments are available, not all may be clinically relevant – indicating a need for more focused and standardized analysis methods.

Cite This Article

APA
Egyptien S, Deleuze S, Ledeck J, Ponthier J. (2023). Sperm Quality Assessment in Stallions: How to Choose Relevant Assays to Answer Clinical Questions. Animals (Basel), 13(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13193123

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 19

Researcher Affiliations

Egyptien, Sophie
  • Equine Theriogenology, Equine Clinical Sciences Department, FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Liège University, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
Deleuze, Stéfan
  • Equine Theriogenology, Equine Clinical Sciences Department, FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Liège University, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
Ledeck, Joy
  • Equine Theriogenology, Equine Clinical Sciences Department, FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Liège University, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.
Ponthier, Jérôme
  • Equine Theriogenology, Equine Clinical Sciences Department, FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, Liège University, B-4000 Liège, Belgium.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 6 times.
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