Factors Influencing the Popularity of Artificial Insemination of Mares in Europe

Kowalczyk, Alicja; Czerniawska-Piątkowska, Ewa; Kuczaj, M.

doi:10.3390/ani9070460

Cited by 12 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 24 publications

(24 reference statements)

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“…This relevance affects the sperm morphology leading to a production of longer sperms with larger mid-piece (32) and also affecting the head morphometry among close related camelids species (33). The action of humans along domestication practice implied that natural selection had been replaced by strong artificial selection (34,35). Domestication of equids took place in the Bronze Age for both horses (36) and donkeys (37).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A New Approach of Sperm Motility Subpopulation Structure in Donkey and Horse

et al. 2021

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This study aimed to characterize the sperm kinematic values with high frames per second, to define the subpopulation structure of a horse and a donkey and compare them. A total of 57 fresh semen ejaculates (26 Spanish and 16 Arabian horse breeds and 10 donkeys) were collected and subsequently analyzed for kinematic parameters using the Computer-aided sperm motility analysis ISAS®v1.2 system and using a Spermtrack® 10-μm depth counting chamber. Sequences were recorded at 250 frames per second, and eight kinematic parameters were automatically evaluated. All kinematic parameters showed significant differences between a donkey and a horse and between horse breeds. All ejaculates evaluated showed excellent semen motility characteristics, with significantly higher values for all kinematic parameters for donkeys compared with horses except for beat-cross frequency. Donkey sperm was faster and linear than the horse. Regarding horse breeds differences, the Spanish horse had higher average path velocity, curvilinear velocity, and beat-cross frequency compared with the Arabian horse. Spanish horse sperm was rapid, but Arab horse was more linear. The principal component analysis showed three sperm subpopulations in the ejaculate of donkeys and horses with a significantly different motility characteristic between them. The dominant subpopulation for both donkey and horse was for rapid, straight, and linear with a high beat sperm (38.2 and 41.7%, respectively), whereas the lowest subpopulation was for the slowest and non-linear sperms. This, plus slight differences in the distribution of these subpopulations between Arabian and Spanish horses, were found. In conclusion, higher frames permitted to have a new interpretation of motile subpopulations with species and breed differences. More so, future works on donkey and horse breed spermatozoa should take into account differences between breeds that may interfere and alter the real analysis performed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The action of humans along domestication practice implied that natural selection had been replaced by strong artificial selection ( 34 , 35 ). Domestication of equids took place in the Bronze Age for both horses ( 36 ) and donkeys ( 37 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A New Approach of Sperm Motility Subpopulation Structure in Donkey and Horse

et al. 2021

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“…In recent years, the use and development of artificial insemination (AI) in equine species has grown considerably ( Canisso et al, 2008 ; Crowe et al, 2008 ; Squires, 2009 ), and is currently being considered as the basis of modern equine reproduction worldwide ( Pagl et al, 2006 ; Kowalczyk et al, 2019 ). However, while a significant number of previous studies have described and characterized the semen of domestic horses, studies on donkey sperm are scarce ( Miró and Papas, 2018 ; Catalán et al, 2020a ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Red LED Light Acts on the Mitochondrial Electron Chain of Donkey Sperm and Its Effects Depend on the Time of Exposure to Light

Catalán

Papas

Trujillo-Rojas

et al. 2020

Front. Cell Dev. Biol.

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This work aimed to investigate how stimulation of donkey sperm with red LED light affects mitochondrial function. For this purpose, freshly diluted donkey semen was stimulated with red light for 1, 5, and 10 min, in the presence or absence of oligomycin A (Omy A), a specific inhibitor of mitochondrial ATP synthase, or FCCP, a specific disruptor of mitochondrial electron chain. The results obtained in the present study indicated that the effects of red LED light on fresh donkey sperm function are related to changes in mitochondria function. In effect, irradiation of donkey sperm resulted in an increase in mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), the activity of cytochrome C oxidase and the rate of oxygen consumption. In addition, in the absence of oligomycin A and FCCP, light-stimulation augmented the average path velocity (VAP) and modified the structure of motile sperm subpopulations, increasing the fastest and most linear subpopulation. In contrast, the presence of either Omy A or FCCP abolished the aforementioned effects. Interestingly, our results also showed that the effects of red light depend on the exposure time applied, as indicated by the observed differences between irradiation protocols. In conclusion, our results suggest that exposing fresh donkey sperm to red light modulates the function of their mitochondria through affecting the activity of the electron chain. However, the extent of this effect depends on the irradiation pattern and does not exclude the existence of other mechanisms, such as those related to thermotaxis.

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“…Artificial insemination (AI) is a tool widely used today for horse breeding, especially when looking for genetic improvement [ 1 ]. The increasing use of this technology, both in the horse and other species, has augmented the interest for semen processing techniques and their optimization, aimed at maximizing their survival and fertilization capacity [ 2 , 3 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The increasing use of this technology, both in the horse and other species, has augmented the interest for semen processing techniques and their optimization, aimed at maximizing their survival and fertilization capacity [ 2 , 3 ]. Unfortunately, semen quality often deviates from expectations and leads to unsatisfactory pregnancy rates [ 1 ]. In this context, any protocol or procedure that optimizes its use and helps increase reproductive performance should be considered; for this reason, several approaches have been undertaken in recent years [ 3 , 4 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effects of Red Light on Mammalian Sperm Rely upon the Color of the Straw and the Medium Used

Catalán

Yánez-Ortiz

Gacem

et al. 2021

Animals

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Previous research has determined that irradiation of mammalian sperm with red light increases motility, mitochondrial activity, and fertilization capacity. In spite of this, no study has considered the potential influence of the color of the straw and the extender used. Therefore, this study tests the hypothesis that the response of mammalian sperm to red light is influenced by the color of the straw and the turbidity/composition of the extender. Using the horse as a model, 13 ejaculates from 13 stallions were split into two equal fractions, diluted with Kenney or Equiplus extender, and stored at 4 °C for 24 h. Thereafter, each diluted fraction was split into five equal aliquots and subsequently packed into 0.5-mL straws of red, blue, yellow, white, or transparent color. Straws were either nonirradiated (control) or irradiated with a light–dark–light pattern of 3–3–3 (i.e., light: 3 min, dark: 3 min; light: 3 min) prior to evaluating sperm motility, acrosome and plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular ROS and calcium levels. Our results showed that irradiation increased some motion variables, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular ROS without affecting the integrities of the plasma membrane and acrosome. Remarkably, the extent of those changes varied with the color of the straw and the extender used; the effects of irradiation were more apparent when sperm were diluted with Equiplus extender and packed into red-colored straws or when samples were diluted with Kenney extender and packed into transparent straws. As the increase in sperm motility and intracellular ROS levels was parallel to that of mitochondrial activity, we suggest that the impact of red light on sperm function relies upon the specific rates of energy provided to the mitochondria, which, in turn, vary with the color of the straw and the turbidity/composition of the extender.

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Factors Influencing the Popularity of Artificial Insemination of Mares in Europe

Cited by 12 publications

References 24 publications

A New Approach of Sperm Motility Subpopulation Structure in Donkey and Horse

A New Approach of Sperm Motility Subpopulation Structure in Donkey and Horse

Red LED Light Acts on the Mitochondrial Electron Chain of Donkey Sperm and Its Effects Depend on the Time of Exposure to Light

The Effects of Red Light on Mammalian Sperm Rely upon the Color of the Straw and the Medium Used

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