Cold-Shock Test Is a Practical Method for Selecting Boar Ejaculates Yielding Appropriate Seminal Plasma for...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Artificial insemination (AI) in the swine industry faces challenges with cryopreserved semen quality.
• Seminal plasma (SP) addition shows potential to enhance post-thaw sperm parameters, but its effectiveness can vary.
• A simple cold-shock test (CST) may differentiate SP suitability for cryopreservation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of seminal plasma (SP) from cold-shock test (CST)-classified ejaculates on post-thaw boar sperm quality.
• To determine if CST-resistant SP (SPr) offers superior benefits compared to CST-sensitive SP (SPs) or no SP addition.

Main Methods:

• A cold-shock test (CST) classified 63 boar ejaculates into resistant (SPr) and sensitive (SPs) groups.
• Frozen-thawed spermatozoa were incubated with MR-A® extender, 20% SPr, or 20% SPs for 4 hours.
• Sperm motility, kinematics, viability, apoptosis, membrane integrity, acrosomal damage, chromatin structure, and disulfide levels were analyzed.

Main Results:

• Seminal plasma (SP) addition significantly improved total and progressive motility, with a greater effect observed with SPr.
• SP inclusion decreased kinematic parameters (VCL, VAP, ALH, BCF) but did not affect sperm viability.
• SP increased apoptotic and membrane disorder ratios, and acrosomal damage, while elevating free thiols, indicating disulfide bridge reduction.

Conclusions:

• Seminal plasma (SP) exerts a stimulatory effect on post-thaw boar sperm, with CST-resistant SP (SPr) providing additional benefits.
• The CST is a practical method for selecting ejaculates with superior SP for improving cryopreserved semen quality in AI.
• Further in vivo studies are warranted to confirm the benefits of SPr in artificial insemination programs.