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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 22(4)

Evaluation of the function of fresh and frozen–thawed sex-sorted and non-sorted stallion spermatozoa using a heterologous oocyte binding assay

J. R. Clulow A C , G. Evans A , W. M. C. Maxwell A and L. H. A. Morris B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

B EquiBreed NZ Ltd, 673 State Highway 1, Road 4, Cambridge, New Zealand.

C Corresponding author. Email: jenclulow@hotmail.com

Reproduction, Fertility and Development 22(4) 710-717 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD09033
Submitted: 15 February 2009  Accepted: 22 October 2009   Published: 25 March 2010

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential oocyte binding ability and functional integrity of fresh or frozen–thawed, sex-sorted or non-sorted stallion spermatozoa. In the absence of effective IVF procedures in the horse, a heterologous sperm-binding assay was used as an indicator of fertilising capacity to assess differences in the ability of stallion spermatozoa to bind to bovine oocytes. The functional integrity of four treatment groups was assessed: (1) fresh non-sorted spermatozoa; (2) fresh sex-sorted spermatozoa; (3) frozen–thawed non-sorted spermatozoa; and (4) frozen–thawed sex-sorted spermatozoa. Spermatozoa found in association with the zona pellucida of the bovine oocytes were deemed ‘attached’ or ‘bound’ depending on their characterisation as either acrosome intact or acrosome reacted, respectively. Significantly less frozen–thawed spermatozoa were found attached to the oocytes compared with fresh spermatozoa. No significant differences were identified between the number of attached sex-sorted and non-sorted frozen–thawed spermatozoa. However, significantly more sex-sorted than non-sorted fresh spermatozoa were found attached to the oocytes after 1 h coincubation, although after 3 h coincubation this difference was no longer apparent. In conclusion, sex-sorted fresh and frozen–thawed stallion spermatozoa are functionally capable of attaching and binding to bovine oocytes in vitro. Furthermore, fresh sex-sorted spermatozoa attach better than non-sorted spermatozoa, suggesting that they have a more advanced capacitation-like status.

Additional keywords: equine, sperm.


Acknowledgements

This work was supported by funding from the Australian Research Council (ARC) and XY Inc. (Fort Collins, CO, USA). J.R.C. was in receipt of a scholarship from the ARC. The authors thank the stallion owners, the staff and veterinarians at The University Veterinary Clinic, Camden (NSW, Australia) and the staff of Wollondilly Abattoir (Picton, NSW, Australia) for their contributions to this study. Dr Monica Ruckholdt is thanked for her expertise in managing and operating the flow cytometry facility and Associate Professor Peter Thomson (The University of Sydney) for his advice on statistical analyses.


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