Freezability prediction of boar ejaculates assessed by functional sperm parameters and sperm proteins

The activity of N-acetyl-β-hexosaminidase in boar seminal plasma is linked with semen quality and its suitability for cryopreservation

“…Ejaculates with the highest sperm survival rates after cryopreservation were also characterized by high SOD activity before freezing [35]. On the other hand, Casas et al [36] reported similar Cu/ZnSOD concentrations in boar spermatozoa from ejaculates with different levels of cryotolerance. In Table 4 Correlations between N-acetyl-b-hexosaminidase (b-HEX) activity (U/L) in seminal plasma and semen parameters before freezing and after thawing (n ¼ 50 ejaculates another study investigating SOD activity in sperm cells, higher levels of SOD activity were reported in ejaculates with lower cryotolerance [4].…”

Acrosin activity is a good predictor of boar sperm freezability

“…Carvajal et al [14] and adapted in our laboratory [3,4,7]. After a holding time of 123 24 h at 15º C (Step 1: Extended) [5], the semen samples were aliquoted and 124 centrifuged at 15ºC and 640×g for 3 min and the pellets obtained from each 125 boar were pooled and diluted to 1.5 x 10 9 spz mL -1 into a freezing medium 126 containing lactose-egg yolk (LEY).…”

“…five consecutive digitalised frames were acquired in each field, and 7 motility 156 parameters were assessed [3,15]: total motility and progressive motility 157 (spermatozoa showing more than 45% of straightness), both expressed in 158 percentage, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-linear velocity (VSL) and 159 average velocity (VAP), all expressed in µm·sec -1 , amplitude of lateral head 160 displacement (ALH), expressed in µm, and beating frequency (BCF), expressed 161 in hertzs (Hz). 162…”

Sperm surface changes and physiological consequences induced by sperm handling and storage

“…In the boar, this is the major factor (70%) affecting cryosurvival , but this phenomenon is common in many species (bull (Chaveiro et al 2006), mouse (Songsasen & Leibo 1997) and dog (Yu et al 2002)) and influences whether donors can be used for cryopreservation. The reason for this significant male variation is not well understood but numerous causes, and potential markers, of freezing resistance have been investigated including regulation of cell volume (Chaveiro et al 2006), genetic factors (Thurston et al 2002), expression of housekeeping proteins (Casas et al 2009(Casas et al , 2010 and seminal plasma proteins (Jobim et al 2004, Asadpour et al 2007.…”