Prolongation of stallion sperm survival by centrifugation through coated silica colloids: a preliminary study

Difficulties to be overcome in the widespread use of artificial insemination (AI) in mares are low sperm survival and poor sperm quality, which are encountered frequently among breeding stallions. Therefore, a method is needed to prolong the useable life of stallion spermatozoa destined for AI. In a preliminary study using 8 ejaculates from one stallion, density gradient centrifugation or centrifugation through a single layer of silica colloid appeared to prolong sperm motility compared to uncentrifuged spermatozoa, thereby potentially extending the useable life of treated stallion spermatozoa for AI. Furthermore, there was an improvement in sperm morphology, with the number of morphologically normal spermatozoa increasing from 42 to 60.5% and with the removal of approximately 60% spermatozoa with head or tail defects from the original population. No difference between the two centrifugation methods, in terms of yield or duration of spontaneous motility, could be detected in this study. Either of these methods of colloidal centrifugation could be a useful aid to preparing stallion spermatozoa for artificial breeding techniques, including AI.(AU)

Prolongation of stallion sperm survival by centrifugation through coated silica colloids: a preliminary study

Difficulties to be overcome in the widespread use of artificial insemination (AI) in mares are low sperm survival and poor sperm quality, which are encountered frequently among breeding stallions. Therefore, a method is needed to prolong the useable life of stallion spermatozoa destined for AI. In a preliminary study using 8 ejaculates from one stallion, density gradient centrifugation or centrifugation through a single layer of silica colloid appeared to prolong sperm motility compared to uncentrifuged spermatozoa, thereby potentially extending the useable life of treated stallion spermatozoa for AI. Furthermore, there was an improvement in sperm morphology, with the number of morphologically normal spermatozoa increasing from 42 to 60.5% and with the removal of approximately 60% spermatozoa with head or tail defects from the original population. No difference between the two centrifugation methods, in terms of yield or duration of spontaneous motility, could be detected in this study. Either of these methods of colloidal centrifugation could be a useful aid to preparing stallion spermatozoa for artificial breeding techniques, including AI.