SCSA is a useful tool in andrological diagnosis and contributes with a prognosis for the fertility outcome of conventional IVF. Although full-term pregnancy can be achieved with assisted reproductive techniques with a DFI >27%, the probability of a successful pregnancy may be reduced.

No abstract

No abstract

A new flow cytometric method has been developed to rapidly determine sperm concentration and viability in semen from bulls and boars. Sperm viability was determined on the basis of staining with SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI), and this allowed detection of live (membrane-intact) sperm, dying (moribund) sperm, as well as dead cells. Fluorescent microspheres (beads) were used to determine sperm concentration. The use of SYBR-14 at 50 nM and PI at 12 micro M in combination with the FACSCount diluent in the counting tubes resulted in a uniform staining after 2.5-5 minutes at room temperature. Reagent staining was reproducible enough to allow subsequent semiautomated analysis of data using Attractors software. In experiment 1, this method was used to analyze semen from boars, rams, rats, rabbits, humans, and turkeys. In experiment 2, Attractors analysis was performed by the FACSCount AF flow cytometer, and sperm concentration determination with this system was compared with results obtained by a spectrophotometer and an electronic cell counter, which is routinely used by bull artificial insemination centers. When compared to microscopic counting in a hemocytometer, the FACSCount AF flow cytometer was two and four times more accurate than the spectrophotometer and the electronic cell counter, respectively. In addition, the FACSCount AF flow cytometer determined both sperm concentration (coefficient of variation 3.3%) and sperm viability (coefficient of variation 0.7%) with high precision.

ContentsThe value of routine evaluation of bull semen was analysed for 006 AI bulls placed in two studs[ Data from semen analysis of a total of 0524 ejaculates was compared statistically with the nonreturn rates of the bulls[ The semen parameters which were signi_cantly correlated to nonreturn rates were the motility of the freshly collected ejaculates "p 9[9039# and post!thaw motility "p 9[9964#[ The total number of motile sperm in the inseminate ranged from 09[8 to 08[2 × 09 5 and according to previous reports the e}ects of low motility should be fully {compensated| when doses above 09 × 09 5 sperm:dose are used for insemination[ In conclusion\ the motility of freshly collected semen does not appear to be {compensation| and a low per! centage of motile sperm in an ejaculate may indicate other dysfunctions of the population of motile cells[ Furthermore\ post!thaw motility appears to correlate signi_cantly with non! return rates[ The largest proportion of the variation was explai! ned by the breed of the bull and stud "31[1) of the variation#\ whereas the two motility parameters explained 09) of the total variation in nonreturn rates[ Objective and precise evaluation of sperm motility in combination with other semen traits are needed to improve breeding e.ciency[ Although microscopic evaluation of sperm motility correlates with nonreturn rates of bulls\ the methods are subjectively assessed and inaccurate and therefore do not allow a satisfactory prediction of fertility[