Age‐related declines in ejaculate quality and sperm kinematics vary among strains of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

Abstract

For successful breeding programs, it is important to quantify the useful period of a male's reproductive life and it is often done simply by measurement of semen quality. This information is lacking for Japanese quail so we tested whether there is a decline in ejaculate quality and sperm kinematics with age, and whether the decline varies among strains. Nine males (n = 9) from each of 5 strains (A, B, C, D and E) were subjected to 4 semen collections (n = 16 per male) at 8, 16, 26 and 36 weeks of age. Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were measured, and sperm kinematics were analysed using a Sperm Class Analyser (SCA®). There was a significant effect of age for ejaculate volume, total sperm per ejaculate and per cent medium sperm. The effect of the interaction between age and strain was significant for percent progressive motile sperm, percent rapid sperm, velocity curvilinear, velocity straight line, velocity average path, linearity, straightness and beat cross frequency. Ejaculate volume peaked at Week 26 in all strains, while peak values for sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were observed at Week 16 for most strains. There were declines in percent motile sperm, progressive motile sperm and rapid sperm, and in velocity curvilinear velocity, velocity straight line and velocity average path, by Week 16 for most strains. Linearity declined by Week 26 in some strains, and all strains showed a significant decline in beat cross frequency by that age. In conclusion, the ability of CASA to detect age‐related changes in sperm kinematics makes it a valuable tool for identifying the best males and thus improving quail flock fertility. It is essential that breeders understand that age affects both sperm production and sperm kinematics, and that the changes vary with strain.

Age‐related changes in testicular histological structure, testosterone level, libido and semen traits in male Coturnix quail

“…These findings agree with Farooq et al. (2020), who reported that most measures of sperm quality in Japanese quail declined with age. Sperm production peaks around week 16 and decreases as the birds approach 36 weeks of age.…”

“…These data indicated that higher values of semen traits were obtained from 10 to 22 weeks compared with other ages. These findings agree with Farooq et al (2020), who reported that most measures of sperm quality in Japanese quail declined with age.…”

“…Most semen parameters, especially sperm motility and kinetics measurements, were affected by age and decreased significantly from 8 to 16 Weeks and continued to decrease to 26 Weeks (Farooq et al., 2020). The sperm concentration in chickens increased from 24 to 39 weeks of age, then stayed consistent until dropping at 72 weeks of age (Cerolini et al., 1997; Kelso et al., 1997).…”

Mobility of Japanese quail spermatozoa and its relationship to egg fertility

“…Semen was collected using teaser female and diluted twofold with collection buffer comprising 150 mM NaCl, 20 mM TES and 35 mM glucose (pH adjusted to 7.40 at 25°C) as described previously (Holm & Wishart, 1998). Sperm concentration was determined by spectrophotometer method as described by Farooq et al (2019). To record sperm motility, samples were prepared as per treatment requirement and motility was recorded in duplicate.…”

Pre-but not post-meiotic senescence affects sperm quality and reproductive success in the North African houbara bustard

“…While evidence in supporting senescence to be a widespread phenomenon in nature has been accumulating during the last decade (Nussey et al, 2013), the study of male reproductive senescence has been restricted to a narrower range of species (Lemaître and Gaillard, 2017). Despite this limited taxonomic spectrum, current evidence in humans and captive species of mammals, fish, birds and insects suggests that male age can have profound effects on several traits defining ejaculate and sperm quality (Gasparini et al, 2010;Johnson et al, 2015;Carreira et al, 2017;Herrera-Cruz et al, 2018;Colasante et al, 2019;Fricke and Koppik, 2019;Farooq et al, 2020). For instance, old males have been reported to produce lower ejaculate volume with impaired antioxidant defenses and containing sperm with reduced motility and velocity (Wolf et al, 2000;Sartorius and Nieschlag, 2010;Noguera et al, 2012;Gunes et al, 2016).…”