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High-throughput nuclear morphometric analysis for pig sperm quality assessment
A A Mandawala1, J C Perry2, B M Skinner2
1Canterbury Christ Church University School of Psychology and Life Sciences, Canterbury, UK.
Theriogenology
|February 17, 2026
Summary
High-throughput nuclear morphometric analysis reveals significant differences in pig sperm morphology between samples meeting and not meeting artificial insemination standards. This advanced technique can improve sperm quality assessment in the breeding industry.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Reproductive Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Artificial insemination (AI) is crucial in commercial pig breeding for maintaining high farrowing rates and litter sizes.
- Ensuring optimal sperm sample quality is paramount to the economic success of pig production.
- Conventional sperm analysis methods may not capture subtle morphological variations impacting fertility.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare pig sperm nuclear morphology between samples meeting (AIS) and not meeting (N-AIS) artificial insemination standards using high-throughput nuclear morphometric analysis.
- To identify specific sperm head shape abnormalities and their prevalence in AIS versus N-AIS samples.
- To explore the potential of advanced morphometric analysis for improving sperm quality assessment in swine.
Main Methods:
- Utilized high-throughput nuclear morphometric analysis on 50 AIS and 44 N-AIS pig sperm samples from unique boars.
- Quantified nuclear shape parameters, including asymmetry and phenotypic variations.
- Compared the distribution and severity of abnormal sperm phenotypes between the two categorised groups.
Main Results:
- Pig sperm nuclei exhibit inherent asymmetry, with continuous variation in phenotypic shape abnormalities.
- N-AIS samples demonstrated a higher proportion of abnormally shaped sperm compared to AIS samples.
- Specific abnormal sperm phenotypes suggest disruptions in spermiogenesis, and their occurrence varied significantly with semen collection day, indicating environmental influences.
Conclusions:
- High-throughput nuclear morphometric analysis effectively differentiates between AIS and N-AIS pig sperm samples based on head morphology.
- The identified variations and phenotypes offer insights into improving pig sperm quality and fertility.
- This advanced analytical approach holds potential as a valuable tool for sperm assessment in the pig breeding industry and potentially other species.
