Cholesterol-Loaded Cyclodextrin Addition to Skim Milk-Based Extender Enhances Donkey Semen Cooling and Fertility in Horse Mares

Segabinazzi, Lorenzo G.T.M.; Scheeren, Verônica Flores da Cunha; Freitas‐Dell’Aqua, Camila de Paula; Papa, Frederico Ozanam; Alvarenga, Marco Antônio; Dell’Aqua, J.A.; Canisso, Igor F.

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103719

Cited by 3 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…Incorporation of cholesterol to the sperm plasma membrane has been used to enhance the cryotolerance of sperm in many domesticated species ( 15 – 17 ). However, although sperm analytical parameters and fertility rates of donkey cooled semen were enhanced by the addition of CLC in that study ( 14 ), the overall pregnancy rates of mares inseminated with cooled jack semen remained low (47%) compared to the average pregnancy rates in clinical practice (60–70%) of mares inseminated with cooled horse stallion semen ( 18 ). Therefore, alternative methods are needed to augment the reproductive efficiency of donkeys.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 73%

“…Therefore, the authors postulate that the addition of CLC in the SC-based extender used herein was more likely to have contributed to the comparable results between SC and EY groups. Furthermore, inclusion of cholesterol to extenders has been reported to be beneficial to cooled donkey sperm ( 14 ). Further, although the cooling tolerance of donkey semen in SC extenders has not yet been evaluated, CLC and SC was found to have improved sperm characteristics for horse stallion semen when compared with INRA 96 in one study ( 29 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Sperm cryotolerance is reliant on the plasma membrane cholesterol:phospholipid ratio, which maintains fluidity and stability of the sperm membrane at low temperatures ( 15 – 17 , 30 – 32 ). Specifically in donkeys, CLC improved sperm cryo-resistance and post-thaw sperm analytical parameters ( 30 , 31 ), and cooling ability ( 14 ). Interestingly, there was no improvement in the fertility of frozen-thawed donkey semen in horse mares in one study ( 30 ), but the inclusion of CLC in milk-based extender improved fertility rates in mares inseminated with cooled donkey semen ( 14 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, even though few studies have compared semen extenders for cooling donkey sperm, there is presently no gold standard protocol for this species ( 4 – 8 , 11 – 13 ). Clinical experience and previous studies suggest that donkey sperm needs an additional source of cholesterol to preserve sperm characteristics after cooling ( 2 , 14 ). Some reports suggest that the poor cooling ability of jack semen may be circumvented by re-extending the semen in milk- or milk-protein-based extenders after removal of seminal plasma via centrifugation, or by adding 2% egg yolk to the extenders used (1, 5).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A recent publication demonstrated that the addition of cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) to a skimmed milk-based (SM) extender may feasibly circumvent the poor ability of donkey semen to tolerate cooling and improve its fertility rate ( 14 ). Incorporation of cholesterol to the sperm plasma membrane has been used to enhance the cryotolerance of sperm in many domesticated species ( 15 – 17 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Ability of donkey sperm to tolerate cooling: Effect of extender base and removal of seminal plasma on sperm parameters and fertility rates in mares

et al. 2022

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Artificial insemination using cooled-transported semen has marked importance in equine breeding programs around the world, and the high value of mules has generated avid interest in donkey semen biotechnology. However, donkey semen cools poorly in commercially available equine extenders. Therefore, this study aimed to develop approaches to improve the ability of donkey semen to tolerate cooling. Ejaculates of seven donkeys (n = 21) were cooled at 5°C for 48 h in three different extenders (milk-based, SM; sodium caseinate-based, SC; or egg yolk-based, EY) in the presence or absence of seminal plasma (centrifugation, C). Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity (PMI), plasma membrane stability (PMS), mitochondrial membrane potential (HMMP), intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and intracellular superoxide (O2−) were assessed before, 24 h, and 48 h post-cooling. In addition, 15 mares (163 estrous cycles) were randomly inseminated with semen from two jacks (Jack 1, n = 90; Jack 2, n = 73) previously cooled for 24 h under one of the treatments (SM, SC, EY, SM-C, SC-C, or EY-C). Groups EY, SC-C, and EY-C (P < 0.05) demonstrated superior sperm analytical parameters to SM at 24 and 48 h. Centrifugation positively affected sperm analytical parameters in cooled donkey semen extended in SM and SC (P < 0.05). Mares bred with semen extended in SC (67%, 18/27), SC-C (89%, 24/27), EY (89%, 25/28), or EY-C (74%, 20/27) had significantly greater conception rates than mares bred with SM (33%, 9/27; P < 0.05). Mares bred with SM-C had intermediate conception rates (59%, 16/27). In conclusion, SC and EY improved the cooling ability and fertility of donkey semen in horse mares, and centrifugation positively affected donkey semen extended in SM.

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