Sperm morphology in Estonian and Tori Breed Stallions

• Main Authors: Aidnik M, Lundeheim N, Kavak A, Einarsson S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2004-03-01
• Series: Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica
• Subjects: semen; sperm morphology; horse
• Online Access: http://www.actavetscand.com/content/45/1/11
• ISSN: 1751-0147

<p/> <p>The standard procedure for assessing the breeding potential of a stallion includes the parameter total number of spermatozoa classified as morphologically normal. This study investigated sperm morphology of fresh semen in randomly chosen Estonian (E, n = 8) and Tori (T, n = 7) breed stallions with proven fertility. Two ejaculates were examined from each stallion. An aliquot from each ejaculate was fixed in 1 mL formol-saline immediately after collection and examined with phase-contrast microscope at a magnification 1000× for all types of morphological abnormalities. Furthermore smears were prepared and stained according to Williams (carbolfuchsin-eosin) for a more detailed examination of the sperm heads with light microscope at a magnification 1000×. Analysis of variance was applied to the data, and results are presented as LSmeans (± SE). One T stallion that had a disturbance in the spermatogenesis and one 22-year-old E stallion were not included in the analyses. The T stallions had on average 57.5 ± 4.1% and the E-stallions 74.4 ± 3.8% morphologically normal spermatozoa (p = 0.012). In 4 of 7 T stallions and 7 of 8 E stallions both ejaculates had >50% morphologically normal spermatozoa. There was a significant difference between breeds in mean percentage of proximal droplets (17.3 ± 2.7% and 2.9 ± 2.5% for T and E stallions, respectively; p = 0.003).</p>