Objective analysis of stallion sperm motility.

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Animal Science

Background:

• Accurate assessment of stallion sperm motility is crucial for reproductive success.
• Traditional methods for evaluating sperm motility can be subjective and time-consuming.
• Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) offers a more objective and efficient approach.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the precision and reliability of an image-analysis system (CellSoft) for assessing stallion sperm motility characteristics.
• To determine the intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation for key motility parameters.
• To establish the system's suitability for detecting differences in stallion semen samples.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a microcomputer with CellSoft CASA software for sperm analysis.
• Analyzed stallion semen at 37°C on glass slides, assessing motility parameters including percentage of motile cells, mean velocity, mean linearity, and mean angular head displacement.
• Employed a nested statistical model with multiple slides and cell groups per ejaculate from three stallions.

Main Results:

• The CASA system achieved a mean intra-assay coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.7% for all measured variables when analyzing 400 cells from two slides.
• Individual intra-assay CVs were: motility (7.8%), velocity (6.4%), linearity (1.9%), and angular head displacement (6.6%).
• Mean inter-assay CV was 9.2%, with mean velocity (6.4%) and linearity (4.7%) showing higher repeatability than motility (14.4%) or angular head displacement (11.2%).

Conclusions:

• The evaluated image-analysis system is precise enough for differentiating stallion sperm motility characteristics.
• The CellSoft CASA system provides reliable and repeatable measurements for key sperm motility parameters.
• This technology supports objective evaluation in equine breeding programs and research.