Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
8426829 | Theriogenology | 2018 | 6 Pages |
Abstract
SexedULTRA⢠is an improved method of sex-sorting sperm creating a less damaging environment to retain sperm integrity through the sorting process. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro characteristics of fresh and frozen bovine sperm using the SexedULTRA⢠method, and compare it to conventional (non-sorted) sperm. For both methods, percent total sperm motility was estimated visually and also classified into total and progressively motile using a computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA). Percent sperm with intact plasma membranes (VIA) and acrosomes (PIA) were assessed using flow cytometry and sperm DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was estimated using the Bull sperm Halomax® Kit. Two contemporaneous ejaculates from 10 bulls were processed and cryopreserved using one of the two procedures (SexedULTRA⢠and conventional). Sperm motility, VIA and PIA were assessed post-thaw (0â¯h) and post-incubation (3â¯hâ¯at 37â¯Â°C, 8â¯h and 24â¯hâ¯at 18â¯Â°C). DFI was analyzed post-thaw (0â¯h) and after 6, 24, 48 and 72â¯h of incubation at 37â¯Â°C. In a second experiment, ejaculates from 7 bulls were split sampled into the two types of processing (SexedULTRA⢠and conventional) and diluted using a fresh semen extender developed for sex-sorted bovine sperm. Sperm quality was assessed after dilution (0â¯h) and after incubation for 12, 24, 48, 72â¯hâ¯at 18°, and the same time points of incubation at 37â¯Â°C for DFI. Frozen-thawed SexedULTRA⢠sperm was significantly (Pâ¯<â¯0.05) better than conventional semen after a 3â¯h incubation at 37â¯Â°C for PIA, and after a 24â¯h incubation at 18â¯Â°C for percent visual motility and PIA. DFI was significantly lower for SexedULTRA⢠compared to conventional at all time points of incubation (37â¯Â°C). Fresh SexedULTRA⢠sperm showed improved quality compared to conventional at all time points of incubation at 18â¯Â°C for percent visual and total motile sperm, VIA, PIA, and DFI. Significant differences were also found in progressive motile sperm immediately after dilution (0â¯h), but not at any time point after incubation. The results show that the SexedULTRA⢠process maintains the quality of sex-sorted sperm and, in many cases, has better in vitro longevity than conventional semen.
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Authors
C. González-MarÃn, C.E. Góngora, T.B. Gilligan, K.M. Evans, J.F. Moreno, R. Vishwanath,