The value of microscopic semen motility assessment at collection for a commercial artificial insemination center, a retrospective study on factors explaining variation in pig fertility

Broekhuijse, Marleen L.W.J.; Šoštarić, Edita; Feitsma, H.; Gadella, B.M.

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.11.016

Cited by 77 publications

(63 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…But there are certain variations in pig fertility explained by the boar and semen parameters. Many researchers have studied the relationship between semen parameters and fertility, with conflicting results (Tardif et al, 1999;Sellés et al, 2003;Popwell and Flowers, 2004;Ruiz-Sánchez et al, 2006;Broekhuijse et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in sperm characteristics of boars in southern Uruguay

2015

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-The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of season, natural photoperiod, and room temperature at the housing facility on boar semen characteristics in Uruguay (34º66'S; 56º29'W). For this purpose, 117 ejaculates, obtained from eight adult males collected through 12 consecutive months, were assessed for sperm viability, DNA integrity, abnormalities (total, primary, and secondary), ejaculate volume, and sperm concentration. Viability, total and primary abnormalities, volume, and sperm concentration were affected by season. Sperm viability, volume, and sperm concentration were affected by natural photoperiod. In general, autumn and the decreasing photoperiod had a negative impact on most of the semen characteristics, except for volume. Housing temperature did not affect semen characteristics. In boars living in temperate climates, semen quality is negatively affected during autumn and is related to photoperiod changes; however, the effects of temperature changes in housingdo not affect these seminal characteristics. In this scenario, seasonal differences in semen quality may have a negative effect on sow fertilization. Consequently, semen quality control especially during autumn is imperative for the best boar selection to be used for insemination purposes. Seasonal differences in semen quality may have a negative effect on sow reproductive performance. This issue will be addressed in a future investigation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seasonal variation in sperm characteristics of boars in southern Uruguay

2015

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“…The average litter size produced when using frozen-thawed spermatozoa is below what most of the industry will accept (Ruiz-S anchez et al, 2006). Traditional analyses of boar spermatozoa that include motility, morphology and viability, are only moderately useful for identifying boars of low fertility (Flowers, 1997;Gadea et al, 2004;Gadea, 2005;Alm et al, 2006;Lovercamp et al, 2007;Broekhuijse et al, 2012). Knowledge of the causes of reduced fertility due to cryopreservation is incomplete, although there are reductions in routinely measured sperm traits.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There are likely additional types of cellular damage due to cryopreservation that are not detected in standard semen analysis, given the low correlation between fertility and traditional microscopic evaluation. Numerous attempts have been made to identify in vitro sperm parameters that that are directly related to fertility (Holt et al, 1997;Tardif et al, 1999;Larsson & Rodrıǵuez-Martıńez, 2000;Waberski et al, 2005;Alm et al, 2006;Broekhuijse et al, 2012;Schulze et al, 2013). However, novel assays that measure sperm interactions within the female reproductive tract and with oocytes may be more predictive of in vivo function as well as useful when identifying reasons for reduced fertility (Fazeli et al, 1997;Braundmeier et al, 2004;Collins et al, 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced fertility prediction of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa using novel sperm function assessment

Daigneault

McNamara

Purdy³

et al. 2015

Andrology

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SUMMARYDue to reduced fertility, cryopreserved semen is seldom used for commercial porcine artificial insemination (AI). Predicting the fertility of individual frozen ejaculates for selection of higher quality semen prior to AI would increase overall success. Our objective was to test novel and traditional laboratory analyses to identify characteristics of cryopreserved spermatozoa that are related to boar fertility. Traditional post-thaw analyses of motility, viability, and acrosome integrity were performed on each ejaculate. In vitro fertilization, cleavage, and blastocyst development were also determined. Finally, spermatozoa-oviduct binding and competitive zonabinding assays were applied to assess sperm adhesion to these two matrices. Fertility of the same ejaculates subjected to laboratory assays was determined for each boar by multi-sire AI and defined as (i) the mean percentage of the litter sired and (ii) the mean number of piglets sired in each litter. Means of each laboratory evaluation were calculated for each boar and those values were applied to multiple linear regression analyses to determine which sperm traits could collectively estimate fertility in the simplest model. The regression model to predict the percent of litter sired by each boar was highly effective (p < 0.001, r 2 = 0.87) and included five traits;acrosome-compromised spermatozoa, percent live spermatozoa (0 and 60 min post-thaw), percent total motility, and the number of zona-bound spermatozoa. A second model to predict the number of piglets sired by boar was also effective (p < 0.05, r 2 = 0.57).These models indicate that the fertility of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa can be predicted effectively by including traditional and novel laboratory assays that consider functions of spermatozoa.

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“…Recently, boar-and semen-related parameters have been shown to explain only 4% of the variation in farrowing rates (Broekhuijse et al, 2012). Thus, other methods are needed to detect suboptimal in vivo fertilising ability.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heparin binding analysis of boar sperm and its relation with farrowing capacity

Dapino

Teijeiro

Cane³

et al. 2014

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica

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New methods for the evaluation of semen quality according to in vivo reproductive data are useful tools for identifying boars of lower fertility among individuals with standard semen parameters. In this study, indirect fluorescence microscopy was used to evaluate the heparin binding site distribution upon capacitation of sperm from eight boars arbitrarily distributed into Groups I and II according to differential farrowing rates (Group I: ≥ 70%, Group II: < 70%). Additionally, the ability of sperm to bind to solubilised zona pellucida (ZP) was assayed in the presence or absence of heparin. Samples of two individuals of Group II showed lower percentage of B pattern in relation to other individuals (P < 0.001). The number of spermatozoa attached to ZP after 2 h of incubation in capacitating conditions with heparin was significantly lower than in its absence (P < 0.0001). These results suggest that heparin binding site distribution concerning capacitation may be indicative of the availability of proteins involved in the fertilisation process, specifically at the initial sperm-oocyte recognition. Differences in heparin binding site dynamics during capacitation may help identify a subpopulation of individuals with lower fertilising capacity and normal spermiogram, which is particularly useful at high-production establishments.

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The value of microscopic semen motility assessment at collection for a commercial artificial insemination center, a retrospective study on factors explaining variation in pig fertility

Cited by 77 publications

References 45 publications

Seasonal variation in sperm characteristics of boars in southern Uruguay

Seasonal variation in sperm characteristics of boars in southern Uruguay

Enhanced fertility prediction of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa using novel sperm function assessment

Heparin binding analysis of boar sperm and its relation with farrowing capacity

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