Stored Stallion Sperm Quality Depends on Sperm Preparation Method in INRA82 or INRA96

Area of Science:

• Animal Reproduction
• Sperm Biology
• Cryopreservation

Background:

• Seminal plasma removal is crucial for stallion sperm storage.
• Sperm washing can compromise sperm chromatin integrity.
• Optimizing sperm preparation is vital for artificial insemination success.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare stallion sperm quality after single-layer centrifugation (SLC) versus sperm washing.
• To evaluate the efficacy of two extenders (INRA82 and INRA96) on sperm preservation.
• To assess the impact of different preparation methods on sperm motility, acrosome status, morphology, and chromatin integrity.

Main Methods:

• Ejaculates from six stallions were divided into six treatment groups: SLC, sperm washing, and controls (extension only).
• Sperm were processed using INRA82 and INRA96 extenders and stored at 6°C.
• Evaluations included motility, acrosome status, morphology, and chromatin integrity at various time points up to 96 hours.

Main Results:

• Sperm preserved in INRA96 exhibited superior motility, acrosome status, and normal morphology compared to INRA82.
• SLC samples demonstrated higher motility, fewer reacted acrosomes, and lower chromatin fragmentation than washed samples.
• SLC resulted in fewer spermatozoa with tail defects compared to sperm washing.

Conclusions:

• Sperm quality, particularly motility and chromatin integrity, is better preserved using INRA96 extender.
• Single-layer centrifugation is a superior method for stallion sperm preparation compared to traditional washing, especially for storage.
• SLC is a valuable technique for improving stallion sperm viability for artificial insemination.