Johannisson, Anders
- Department of Animal Biosciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
Review article2011Peer reviewedOpen access
Flow cytometry for the assessment of animal sperm integrity and functionality: state of the art
Johannisson, Anders; Wallgren, Margareta; Rodriguez-Martinez, Heriberto
Abstract
Flow cytometry is now a recognized methodology within animal spermatology, and has moved from being a research tool to become routine in the assessment of animal semen destined to breeding. The availability of 'bench-top' flow cytometers and of newer and versatile markers for cell structure and function had allowed the instrumentation to measure more sperm parameters, from viability to reactiveness when exposed to exogenous stimuli, and to increase our capabilities to sort spermatozoa for potential fertilizing capacity, or chromosomal sex. The present review summarizes the state of the art regarding flow cytometry applied to animal andrology, albeit keeping an open comparative intent. It critically evaluates the present and future capabilities of flow cytometry for the diagnostics of potential fertility and for the development of current reproductive technologies such as sperm freezing, sperm selection and sperm sorting. The flow cytometry methods will probably further revolutionize our understanding of the sperm physiology and their functionality, and will undoubtedly extend its application in isolating many uncharacterized features of spermatozoa. However, continuous follow-up of the methods is a necessity owing to technical developments and the complexity of mapping spermatozoa. Asian Journal of Andrology (2011) 13, 406-419; doi:10.1038/aja.2011.15; published online 11 April 2011
Keywords
animals; fertility; flow cytometry; semen analysis; spermatozoa; sperm functionality; sperm intactness
Published in
Asian Journal of Andrology
2011, volume: 13, number: 3, pages: 406-419
Publisher: SHANGHAI INST MATERIA MEDICA
SLU Authors
Wallgren, Margareta
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
- Quality Genetics
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
UKÄ Subject classification
Animal and Dairy Science
Veterinary Science
Publication identifier
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/aja.2011.15
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/58356