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Research article2024Peer reviewedOpen access

Sperm quality and in vitro fertilizing ability of boar spermatozoa stored at 4 °C versus conventional storage for 1 week

Hallberg, Ida; Morrell, Jane M.; Malaluang, Pack; Johannisson, Anders; Sjunnesson, Ylva; Laskowski, Denise

Abstract

Introduction Since boar spermatozoa show a marked deterioration in sperm quality when cooled, insemination doses are usually stored at 16-18 degrees C. However, maintaining this temperature during transport of semen doses is challenging, particularly during the summer months. An alternative could be to store the doses at 4 degrees C if cold-shock to the sperm could be prevented. The objective of this study was to evaluate boar sperm quality and fertility in in vitro fertilization after storage in AndroStar Premium at 4 degrees C for 1 week. Methods Insemination doses (n = 9) in AndroStar Premium from a commercial boar semen collection station were transported to the laboratory at approximately 20 degrees C. At the laboratory, sperm quality evaluation and was preformed and each dose was split; half of each ejaculate was stored in a climate-controlled box at 16-18 degrees C, the other was slowly cooled to 4 degrees C. Both samples were stored for 1 week before further sperm quality evaluation and in vitro fertilization (IVF) were performed. Mean values were tested using generalized linear regression, with treatment and boar as fixed factors; p <= 0.05 was considered significant. Results Sperm membrane integrity (mean +/- sem: 91 +/- 0.05 and 83 +/- 0.09% for 16 and 4 degrees C, respectively) and superoxide production (6.79 +/- 2.37 and 13.54 +/- 6.23% for 16 and 4 degrees C, respectively), were different between treatments. The DNA fragmentation index was lower in cold-stored samples than in conventionally stored samples (3.74 +/- 2.25 and 7.40 +/- 3.36% for 4 and 16 degrees C, respectively). The numbers of oocytes developing to blastocyst on Day 6 (mean +/- sd: 9.0 +/- 8.0 and 6.0 +/- 5.0%, for storage at 16 and 4 degrees C, respectively) were not different between treatments. Discussion Therefore, storage of boar semen doses in AndroStar Premium at 4 degrees C for up to 7 days would be a viable alternative to current praxis.

Keywords

porcine; in vitro embryo production; semen storage; artificial insemination; long term boar semen storage

Published in

Frontiers in Veterinary Science
2024, volume: 11, article number: 1444550
Publisher: FRONTIERS MEDIA SA

SLU Authors

UKÄ Subject classification

Clinical Science

Publication identifier

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2024.1444550

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/132865