Head morphometric changes in cryopreserved ram spermatozoa are related to sexual maturity

The importance of understanding the sperm changes after the cryopreservation process has been emphasized in human and veterinary andrology. In previous studies, we have shown that the morphometric characteristics assessed by computer-assisted analysis following the freeze-thawing process revealed differences in terms of dimension and shape between individuals that may be related to bio-physiologic factors such as sexual maturity. The purpose of this study was to determine if there are differences associated with cryoresistance and sperm head morphometric dimensions in individuals with different sexual maturity ratings (SMRs; 12, 30 and 96 months of age). Ejaculates from nine normospermic fertile rams with different SMRs were analyzed in an attempt to quantify the morphometric dimensions and the shape of sperm heads from each group after the cryopreservation process. The mean values of sperm concentration among individuals with different SMRs were significantly different (P < 0.01). Cryopreservation substantially reduced sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity irrespective of SMR assessed, with young animals being the most affected (P < 0.01). Sperm quality at thawing for all sperm parameters evaluated was significantly higher for old individuals than for middle-aged or young individuals (P < 0.01). There were no significant differences in the sperm head dimension or shape among middle-aged and old individuals (P > 0.05). However, significant differences were detected in area, perimeter and width (lower values) and length, ellipticity and elongation (higher values) in old or middle-aged individuals compared with young individuals (P < 0.01). In conclusion, this study confirms that ram age is related to sperm morphometric dimensions, and sperm size and shape may affect spermatozoa survival, being good indicators of freezability. Therefore, the present study provides information on the morphometric maturation of ram sperm and supports the idea that the dimensions of spermatozoa may be taken as an approximate indication of its relative maturity.