Abstract

In this study, the relationships between post-thaw bull sperm characteristics and hyperketonemic conditions after coincubation with cow plasma or media were determined to investigate if such a condition could affect bull sperm characteristics. Two experiments were conducted. In experiment 1, blood samples were collected from 31 cows to prepare plasma. Cows were independently categorized into two groups according to plasma beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations (above or below 1.2 mM). Thawed bull semen was diluted and incubated with diluted plasma; motility parameters were evaluated using Computer Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA). In experiment 2, a pooled sample of thawed semen was diluted and divided into three aliquots: without BHB (control) and treated with either 1.2 mM (1.2) or 3 mM (3) BHB. In addition to motility, flow cytometric analyses were carried out. In experiment 1, the overall motility decreased significantly in plasma containing high (>= 1.2 mM) BHB compared to plasma containing low (<1.2 mM) BHB. In experiment 2, the overall motility tended to be lower in BHB (3 mM)-supplemented samples. The supplementation of 3 mM BHB increased the proportion of live superoxide-positive sperm and sperm with high mitochondrial potential, while the DNA fragmentation index decreased.

Keywords

bovine; coincubation; hyperketonaemia; semen characteristics

Published in

Reproduction in Domestic Animals
2023, Volume: 58, number: 12, pages: 1732-1744
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Johannisson, Anders

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

• Morrell, Jane

  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/rda.14492

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/126889