The Efficacy of In Vitro Sperm Tests in Predicting Pregnancy Success after Artificial Insemination in the Bitch

Abstract

In many species, including the dog (Canis familiaris), semen analysis protocols has improved in recent years. In vitro assessment of semen quality provides important information; however, the ultimate parameter for determining semen quality is pregnancy outcome. The objective of the present study was to investigate the efficiency of in vitro sperm tests in predicting seminal quality in dogs by correlating those results with pregnancy success after artificial insemination (AI). Forty-eight semen samples refrigerated for 24, 48 or 72 hours were examined for sperm motility and progressive motility, membrane integrity, and zona pellucida-binding capacity before being used to artificially inseminate bitches. Results indicated positive correlations between pregnancy success and sperm motility (0.77), vigor (0.72), membrane integrity (0.72) and zona pellucida-binding (0.81). Both pregnancy success and the sperm characteristics declined with increased semen storage time. In conclusion, the semen characteristics evaluated in this study can be used to predict the conception potential of semen samples in the dog.

Sperm Quality and Histology of the Testis and Epididymis in Chemical Castrated Male Cats with Intra-testicular Injection of Sodium Chloride Solution

“…Spermatozoa motility is an important attribute for assessing the fertility of spermatozoa (Puja et al, 2019). Motility is the main characteristic of live spermatozoa and the simplest parameter in the assessment of semen quality, the spermatozoa tail is the part that contains all the means needed to move (da Cunha et al, 2017). Progressive motility is the ability of spermatozoa to move straight ahead in a clear direction which is important for spermatozoa movement in the female reproductive tract.…”