Preliminary Research on Evaluation of Sperm Morphometry and Chromatin Structure in the Semen of Silver Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

Andraszek, Katarzyna; SZELESZCZUK, Olga; Niedbała, Piotr; Kuchta-Gładysz, Marta

doi:10.21005/aapz2016.38.2.01

Cited by 6 publications

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“…Some morphometric data obtained in our study for specific elements of sperm are partly consistent with data reported by Andraszek et al, (2016), who investigated the morphometric features of spermatozoa from silver fox (Vulpes vulpes). Compared to silver fox, sperm from Arctic fox had thinner heads (by about 0.63 μm for the blue colour morph and by 0.48 μm for the white colour morph).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Spermatozoon head size – the main differentiating feature between spermatozoa of blue and white Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

2021

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Morphology and sperm morphometry, this is an important determinant of male reproductive capacity. Morphometric data may provide relevant information in studies focused on evolutionary biology, sperm quality assessment, including prediction of the potential fertility, semen cryopreservation, or the effect of reprotoxicants. The paper presents the morphometric analysis of spermatozoa from two colour morphs of Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus), and attempts to determine the relationship between selected quality indicators and dimensions and shape of spermatozoa. The research material consisted of ejaculates collected once by manual stimulation from 20 one-year-old Arctic foxes (10 individuals of the blue morph and 10 of the white morph). Ejaculates were analysed for standard parameters (volume, sperm concentration, total number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate) and used for the preparation of microscopic specimens. It was found that, the dimensions of spermatozoa from Arctic foxes depend on the male colour morphs. Spermatozoa from white Arctic foxes were significantly longer (by 1.82 µm) and had larger heads (0.32 µm longer and 0.15 µm wider) compared to spermatozoa from blue Arctic foxes (P<0.05). The interactions between particular sperm dimensions indicated the occurrence of gametes differing in shape. The all correlation coefficients between the morphometric traits of spermatozoa were statistically significant. Our research proved that in the blue Arctic foxes, sperm dimensions (tail length and total sperm length) can be related to the percentage of spermatozoa with primary changes (respectively: r = -0.68 and r = -0.75; at P <0.05). However, in the case of white Arctic foxes, these characteristics depend on the ejaculate volume (respectively: r = 0.65 and r = 0.68; at P <0.05).

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 92%

Spermatozoon head size – the main differentiating feature between spermatozoa of blue and white Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

2021

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“…There are studies indicating a relationship between sperm dimensions and fertility in horses [ 15 , 43 , 44 , 70 , 71 ] in which fertility disorders are positively correlated with enlarged sperm heads. The relationship between sperm morphology and fertility has also been studied in boars [ 10 , 25 , 72 ], bulls [ 42 , 73 ], dogs [ 17 ] and foxes [ 68 ]. Differences in the size of the sperm heads in fertile and infertile males have been detected in various species, and males whose semen contained sperm with smaller heads have been found to be more fertile.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although this staining method is used to identify abnormal chromatin condensation, it has been used successfully for detailed morphometric measurements of fox sperm. [ 68 ] Unfortunately, in the case of boars and bulls, this staining method does not identify the details of the sperm head.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Researchers increasingly stress the sensitivity and suitability of sperm morphological assessment as a prognostic factor in diagnosing fertility, especially when using the strict Tygerberg criteria for characterizing the sperm head. [ 43 – 45 , 56 , 67 , 68 ] The Tygerberg criteria specify four shape indices of the spermatozoa head: ellipticity, elongation, roughness and regularity. The ellipticity index differentiates thin and conical sperm heads, with higher index values indicating a thinner sperm head.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of the staining technique on morphological and morphometric parameters of boar sperm

et al. 2019

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Sperm morphology and morphometry are important parameters in predicting fertility. Sperm are considered to be normal if the shape and size of the head, midpiece and tail fall within the classification for a given species. It is important to select the appropriate technique for staining the semen of a given species, because, as many authors have pointed out, some methods work well for one species but are not suitable for analysing another. The aim of the study was to assess the morphometric parameters of boar sperm following the use of different staining techniques and to verify the hypothesis that the staining technique affects the morphometric parameters of sperm. The staining method was found to significantly affect the dimensions of the boar sperm head. The semen stained by the SpermBlue technique had the closest morphometric sperm head parameters to those of the unstained sperm, so this technique, rather than the routinely used eosin and gentian complex, should be the leading technique in the evaluation of boar sperm morphometry. Silver nitrate staining reveals the structure of the sperm in the most detail; this method can be considered universal, and can be used independently or to supplement routine diagnostics. As the staining technique should interfere as little as possible with the structure of the sperm, while revealing its morphology in as much detail as possible, it is crucial to establish the natural dimensions of the unstained sperm head before determining the optimal technique and its reference values. The recommended or most commonly-used techniques are not always the best options for the staining and analysis of sperm of a given species.

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“…Not only the staining of the cells themselves is important, but also the background on which they are seen, which may interfere with the assessment. As silver nitrate is an alkaline dye, it is mainly used to identify acidic chromatin proteins and the chromatin of nucleolus organizer regions in mitotic chromosomes (Andraszek, Horoszewicz, & Smalec, ), as well as nucleoli during meiosis (Andraszek, Gryzińska, Wójcik, Knaga, & Smalec, ; Andraszek, Szeleszczuk, Niedbała, & Kuchta‐Gładysz, ). The basic methodology has been modified in our Department (Department of Animal Genetics and Horse Breeding, University of Natural Sciences and Humanities in Siedlce) and successfully used to identify morphological details of spermatozoa from fresh, frozen or fixed semen samples, from mammals (Andraszek, Banaszewska, et al, ; Andraszek & Smalec, ; Banaszewska, Andraszek, Czubaszek, et al, ; Banaszewska, Andraszek, Szostek, et al, ; Banaszewska, Andraszek, Zdrowowicz, et al, ) birds (Andraszek et al, ) and insects (Gontarz, Banaszewska, Gryzińska, & Andraszek, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of the structure of chinchilla sperm isolated from semen and from the tail of the epididymis

Andraszek

Banaszewska

Szeleszczuk

et al. 2020

Reprod Domestic Animals

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Sperm cells isolated from the tail of the epididymis and from the semen of the same individuals were analysed. The use of silver nitrate to stain sperm cells isolated from the tail of the epididymis made it possible to identify structures that were not visible in the sperm from semen. Silver nitrate very clearly distinguished the acrosomal and distal parts of the sperm head. Following silver nitrate staining, the sperm isolated from the tail of the epididymis were characterized by dark ‘collars’ in the distal part of the head. These ‘collars’ are not visible in the sperm cells isolated from semen. The results of the study indicate differences in the dimensions of sperm isolated from the tail of the epididymis and sperm in semen. Sperm isolated from the tail of the epididymis had smaller heads, despite their longer length, and had longer midpieces and tails than ejaculate sperm. Silver nitrate staining is a simple and fast technique. Silver nitrate makes it possible to identify the acrosome and post‐acrosomal region of the sperm head and to clearly identify the midpiece. Therefore, it can be successfully used to supplement routine techniques for evaluating sperm morphology or as an independent technique.

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Preliminary Research on Evaluation of Sperm Morphometry and Chromatin Structure in the Semen of Silver Fox (Vulpes Vulpes)

Cited by 6 publications

References 0 publications

Spermatozoon head size – the main differentiating feature between spermatozoa of blue and white Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

Spermatozoon head size – the main differentiating feature between spermatozoa of blue and white Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus)

The effect of the staining technique on morphological and morphometric parameters of boar sperm

Comparison of the structure of chinchilla sperm isolated from semen and from the tail of the epididymis

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