Single Layer Centrifugation Can Be Scaled-Up Further to Process up to 150 mL Semen

Abstract

Single-Layer centrifugation has been used to improve the quality of sperm samples in several species. However, where stallion or boar semen is to be used for AI, larger volumes of semen have to be processed than for other species, thus limiting the effectiveness of the original technique. The objective of the present study was to scale up the SLC method for both stallion and boar semen. Stallion semen could be processed in 100 mL glass tubes without a loss of sperm quality, and similarly, boar semen could be processed in 200 mL and 500 mL tubes without losing sperm quality. The results of these preliminary studies are encouraging, and larger trials are underway to evaluate using these methods in the field.

Stallion Sperm Selection: Past, Present, and Future Trends

“…Using the SLC-selected sperm samples from the latter resulted in pregnancies after artificial insemination (AI) [23,24]. The method has been scaled-up further, for example, into 200-mL tubes, processing 60 mL of extended semen, or into 500-mL tubes, processing 150 mL of extended (boar) semen [24]. A summary of the various SLC protocols and suggested uses for the SLC-selected sperm samples are provided in Table 2.…”

“…Initially, the scaled-up procedure used 50-mL tubes, enabled 1,500 Â 10 6 spermatozoa to be processed per tube, while a further scale-up in 100-mL glass tubes allowed 2,500 Â 10 6 spermatozoa to be processed per tube [24]. Using the SLC-selected sperm samples from the latter resulted in pregnancies after artificial insemination (AI) [23,24]. The method has been scaled-up further, for example, into 200-mL tubes, processing 60 mL of extended semen, or into 500-mL tubes, processing 150 mL of extended (boar) semen [24].…”

Colloid Centrifugation Selects Normal Spermatozoa from Polymorphic Bull Ejaculates: A Case Study

“…SLC‐selected stallion spermatozoa from problem ejaculates have generated pregnancies when used for AI (Morrell et al. ). Androcoll‐B was found to be equally effective at preparing bull spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization (IVF) when used as SLC as for DGC (Thys et al.…”

“…The SLC method has been scaled up to process larger volumes of stallion and boar semen than are possible with DGC (Morrell et al. , ). Thus, SLC with Androcoll‐B could offer a practical method for improving bull semen quality at the semen collection station.…”

Animal Reproduction Technologies—Future Perspectives

“…With SLC, it is possible to select highly motile spermatozoa with normal morphology, intact membranes and good chromatin integrity, and to separate them from seminal plasma and the rest of the ejaculate [6][7][8]. Scaling-up the original technique allows whole ejaculates to be processed, even for boars where the ejaculate is voluminous [9]. Fertility of the selected sperm samples is improved, compared to unselected samples, e.g., in problem stallions [10] as well as in "normal" ejaculates [11].…”