BACKGROUND-AIM Prior to AI, semen assessment is required. In commercial practice, spermatic motility parameters are most frequently considered, though they neglect the functionality of plasma and acrosomal membranes and DNA integrity. The aim of this study was to compare data obtained with Computer – Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and data obtained by Hypoosmotic Swelling test (HOS), Eosin – Nigrosine staining (LIVE), SpermacStain (ACR) and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (DNA). METHODS We analyzed thirty - six semen samples cooled and shipped 24 hours after collection. All samples were used for artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 14 days after ovulation. Thirty - four mares were included. Pregnancy diagnosis was compared with semen quality and mare’s reproductive health. Associations between variables were assessed with Pearson correlation coefficient. T – student test was used to analyze the effect of semen quality on pregnancy and predictive values for pregnancy diagnosis were defined using ROC analysis for the variable PMS. Results were considered statistically different for p<0.05. RESULTS Significant correlations were obtained between MOT and ACR (p=0.04), MOT and head anomalies (p=0.001), PMS and HOS (p=0.037), PMS and ACR (p=0.004), ALH and LIVE (p=0.009), STR and morphologically normal sperm (p=0.016), STR and midpiece anomalies (p=0.003). PMS is the main parameter associated with pregnancy: indeed, with PMS values >31% the probability for the mare to be pregnant are 4.8 times higher. With Pearson coefficients it was possible to find a correlation between pregnancy and sperm parameters: PMS values are positively correlated with pregnancy, while lower values of ACR are negatively correlated with pregnancy. At last, a risk analysis was performed to assess if mare reproductive health was correlated to pregnancy, obtaining highly significant p – Yates (0.0007) with RR 6.50 (CI: 1.71 – 24.77): a mare with evidence of reproductive disease has a probability not to be pregnant that is 6.5 times higher compared to a healthy mare. CONCLUSIONS The importance of progressive motility and mare’s health in the determination of pregnancy expectation could help owners to take the best decision about breeding.
COMPARISON BETWEEN CASA ANALYSIS AND OTHER SPERM INTEGRITY TESTS AND THEIR CORRELATION WITH FERTILITY
E. Iacono;
2022
Abstract
BACKGROUND-AIM Prior to AI, semen assessment is required. In commercial practice, spermatic motility parameters are most frequently considered, though they neglect the functionality of plasma and acrosomal membranes and DNA integrity. The aim of this study was to compare data obtained with Computer – Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and data obtained by Hypoosmotic Swelling test (HOS), Eosin – Nigrosine staining (LIVE), SpermacStain (ACR) and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion test (DNA). METHODS We analyzed thirty - six semen samples cooled and shipped 24 hours after collection. All samples were used for artificial insemination and pregnancy diagnosis was carried out 14 days after ovulation. Thirty - four mares were included. Pregnancy diagnosis was compared with semen quality and mare’s reproductive health. Associations between variables were assessed with Pearson correlation coefficient. T – student test was used to analyze the effect of semen quality on pregnancy and predictive values for pregnancy diagnosis were defined using ROC analysis for the variable PMS. Results were considered statistically different for p<0.05. RESULTS Significant correlations were obtained between MOT and ACR (p=0.04), MOT and head anomalies (p=0.001), PMS and HOS (p=0.037), PMS and ACR (p=0.004), ALH and LIVE (p=0.009), STR and morphologically normal sperm (p=0.016), STR and midpiece anomalies (p=0.003). PMS is the main parameter associated with pregnancy: indeed, with PMS values >31% the probability for the mare to be pregnant are 4.8 times higher. With Pearson coefficients it was possible to find a correlation between pregnancy and sperm parameters: PMS values are positively correlated with pregnancy, while lower values of ACR are negatively correlated with pregnancy. At last, a risk analysis was performed to assess if mare reproductive health was correlated to pregnancy, obtaining highly significant p – Yates (0.0007) with RR 6.50 (CI: 1.71 – 24.77): a mare with evidence of reproductive disease has a probability not to be pregnant that is 6.5 times higher compared to a healthy mare. CONCLUSIONS The importance of progressive motility and mare’s health in the determination of pregnancy expectation could help owners to take the best decision about breeding.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
