Spermiogram, Kinetics, Flow Cytometric Characteristics and DNA Damage Degree in Boar Ejaculates: Summarization and...

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Reproductive Biology
• Veterinary Medicine

Background:

• Boar semen analysis involves multiple parameters, including motility, concentration, morphology, membrane integrity, DNA damage, and seminal plasma components.
• Summarizing these diverse data is crucial for understanding ejaculate quality and its impact on reproductive outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To consolidate various boar semen parameters using linear combinations.
• To classify ejaculates into distinct categories (clusters) based on these parameters.
• To investigate potential differences in fertility and prolificacy among the identified clusters.

Main Methods:

• Investigated young Pietrain boars from two genetic lines, analyzing ejaculates weekly.
• Utilized computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) for motility and flow cytometry for viability, acrosome reaction, apoptosis, mitochondrial activity, and DNA damage.
• Applied principal component analysis (PCA) and clustering techniques using SPSS v.26 software.

Main Results:

• Identified three principal components: speed (PC1), linear path (PC2), and DNA damage (PC3).
• Four distinct clusters were identified in both genetic groups.
• Significant differences were observed among clusters for variables not included in the PCs, such as beat cross frequency, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase, cathepsin B, abnormal forms, mitochondrial activity, and high DNA stainability.

Conclusions:

• Principal component analysis and clustering provided an adequate description of boar ejaculates.
• No significant differences in fertility or prolificacy were detected among the identified clusters, likely due to meeting minimum sperm requirements.