Sperm DNA fragmentation is an important parameter to assess sperm quality and can be a putative fertility predictor. Because the sperm head consists almost entirely of DNA, subtle differences in sperm head morphometry might be related to DNA status. Several techniques are available to analyze sperm DNA fragmentation, but they are labor-intensive and require expensive instrumentations. Recently, a kit (Sperm-Halomax) based on the sperm chromatin dispersion test and developed for spermatozoa of different species, but not for cat spermatozoa, became commercially available. The first aim of the present study was to verify the suitability of Sperm-Halomax assay, specifically developed for canine semen, for the evaluation of DNA fragmentation of epididymal cat spermatozoa. For this purpose, DNA fragmentation indexes (DFIs) obtained with Sperm-Halomax and terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase–mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) were compared. The second aim was to investigate whether a correlation between DNA status, sperm head morphology, and morphometry assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis exists in cat epididymal spermatozoa. No differences were observed in DFIs obtained with Sperm-Halomax and TUNEL. This result indicates that Sperm-Halomax assay provides a reliable evaluation of DNA fragmentation of epididymal feline spermatozoa. The DFI seems to be independent from all the measured variables of sperm head morphology and morphometry. Thus, the evaluation of the DNA status of spermatozoa could effectively contribute to the comp letion of the standard analysis of fresh or frozen semen used in assisted reproductive technologies.

DNA fragmentation and sperm head morphometry in cat epididymal spermatozoa / V. Vernocchi, M. Morselli, A. Lange Consiglio, M. Faustini, G.C. Luvoni. - In: THERIOGENOLOGY. - ISSN 0093-691X. - 82:7(2014 Jul 18), pp. 982-987. [10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.07.014]

DNA fragmentation and sperm head morphometry in cat epididymal spermatozoa

V. Vernocchi
Primo
;
M. Morselli
Secondo
;
A. Lange Consiglio;M. Faustini
Penultimo
;
G.C. Luvoni
2014

Abstract

Sperm DNA fragmentation is an important parameter to assess sperm quality and can be a putative fertility predictor. Because the sperm head consists almost entirely of DNA, subtle differences in sperm head morphometry might be related to DNA status. Several techniques are available to analyze sperm DNA fragmentation, but they are labor-intensive and require expensive instrumentations. Recently, a kit (Sperm-Halomax) based on the sperm chromatin dispersion test and developed for spermatozoa of different species, but not for cat spermatozoa, became commercially available. The first aim of the present study was to verify the suitability of Sperm-Halomax assay, specifically developed for canine semen, for the evaluation of DNA fragmentation of epididymal cat spermatozoa. For this purpose, DNA fragmentation indexes (DFIs) obtained with Sperm-Halomax and terminal deoxy-nucleotidyl transferase–mediated nick-end labeling (TUNEL) were compared. The second aim was to investigate whether a correlation between DNA status, sperm head morphology, and morphometry assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis exists in cat epididymal spermatozoa. No differences were observed in DFIs obtained with Sperm-Halomax and TUNEL. This result indicates that Sperm-Halomax assay provides a reliable evaluation of DNA fragmentation of epididymal feline spermatozoa. The DFI seems to be independent from all the measured variables of sperm head morphology and morphometry. Thus, the evaluation of the DNA status of spermatozoa could effectively contribute to the comp letion of the standard analysis of fresh or frozen semen used in assisted reproductive technologies.
Cat; DNA; Epididymal spermatozoa; Morphometry
Settore VET/10 - Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia Veterinaria
18-lug-2014
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/238530
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