Effects of sulfanilamide on boar sperm quality, bacterial composition, and fertility during liquid storage at 17°C

Abstract

Sulfanilamide (SA) is an effective broad‐spectrum antibacterial agent in human and veterinary medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of SA on boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17°C and determine the optimal concentration of SA and its effects on bacterial growth, microbial composition, and maternal fertility. Boar ejaculates were diluted with a basic extender, containing different concentrations of SA, and stored in a 17°C incubator for 6 days. The sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity were measured daily. The results showed that when the concentration of SA was 0.02 g/L, the sperm quality parameters were significantly higher than those of all other treatment groups (p < .05). We also monitored the bacterial growth and compared the differences in the microbial species between the 0.02 g/L SA group and the control by 16S rDNA sequencing. The results revealed that some bacteria, such as Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas, were considerably lower in the 0.02 g/L SA group than in the control group (p < .05). In addition, preserved semen was used for artificial insemination, and results showed that 0.02 g/L SA group had a higher litter size, and its pregnancy rate was 92.5%.

Bacteria and Boar Semen Storage: Progress and Challenges

“…Sulfanilamide has also been tested for porcine semen storage at 17 °C for 6 days, where concentration of 0.02 g/L is optimal for maintaining the quality parameters. This antibiotic controls the growth of Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas and enables an increase in litter size and pregnancy rate [ 44 ]. In addition, with traditional antibiotics, such as gentamicin, half a dose can reduce the bacterial load to preserve sperm quality and be safe for sow [ 45 ].…”

Rosmarinic acid improves boar sperm quality, antioxidant capacity and energy metabolism at 17°C via AMPK activation

“…The methods of plasma membrane and acrosome integrity assessment were based on a previous study (Feng et al., 2019). Plasma membrane integrity of boar sperm was measured by SYBR‐14/propidium iodide (PI) fluorescent staining (LIVE/DEAD Sperm Viability kit; Thermo Fisher Scientific).…”

“…The methods of plasma membrane and acrosome integrity assessment were based on a previous study (Feng et al, 2019).…”

Extend the Survival of Human Sperm In Vitro in Non-Freezing Conditions: Damage Mechanisms, Preservation Technologies, and Clinical Applications

“…Therefore, three different storage temperature ranges, ambient temperatures (25 °C), 10–17 °C, and refrigeration temperature (2–5 °C) are employed in most research, which is associated with the susceptibility to the cold shock among different species. For instance, boar sperm must be stored at 17 °C due to its extreme vulnerability to low temperatures [ 163 , 164 , 165 ]. The ram or stallion sperm are allowed to be stored at lower temperatures (2–5 °C), while the decline of sperm quality is inevitable [ 16 , 166 ].…”