Stallion Sperm Integrity After Centrifugation to Reduce Seminal Plasma Concentration and Cool Storage for 4 days.

The research seeks to understand if a single cycle of centrifugation can effectively maintain the quality of stallion extended semen stored under cool conditions for up to 4 days. The results indicate that a single centrifugation cycle indeed preserves sperm integrity for up to 4 days of storage, showing better motility and plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity compared to non-centrifuged control group.

Research Methodology

• The study started by extending the collected semen to 25 x 10 sperm/mL. The extended semen was then classified into three groups: the control group which was not centrifuged, a group centrifuged for 10 minutes at 900 x g, and a third group centrifuged for 10 minutes at 1800 x g.
• The researchers partially removed the supernatant (the liquid lying above a solid residue after crystallization, precipitation, sedimentation, or centrifugation). After this, the remaining sperm pellet was reconstituted and extended once more.
• The resuspended semen was placed in a passive cooling device overnight and then transferred to a refrigerator for the remainder of the cooling period.

Research Results

• At day 0, 2, and 4, total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and plasma (PLM) and acrosomal membrane integrity of the sperm were assessed.
• The research showed that the centrifuged groups maintained higher TM and PM at day 4 compared to the control group (P < .05). Likewise, centrifuged groups had higher intact PLM on day 4 (P < .05).
• These results suggest that a single centrifugation cycle to reduce seminal plasma concentration is sufficient to preserve sperm integrity acceptable for artificial insemination up to 4 days of cool storage.

Research Conclusions

• The findings provide useful insight for professionals in animal reproduction and artificial insemination, demonstrating that a single centrifugation process can efficiently maintain the quality of stallion extended semen for up to 4 days under cool storage.
• This can have significant implications in the artificial insemination industry, making the storage and transportation of sperm more efficient, while ensuring high-quality samples.