Journal of Andrology
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ostermeier, G. C.
Right arrow Articles by Parrish, J. J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Ostermeier, G. C.
Right arrow Articles by Parrish, J. J.

Journal of Andrology, Vol 22, Issue 4 595-603, Copyright © 2001 by The American Society of Andrology

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Relationship of bull fertility to sperm nuclear shape

G. C. Ostermeier, G. A. Sargeant, B. S. Yandell, D. P. Evenson and J. J. Parrish
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA.

The relationship between sperm nuclear shape and bull fertility was determined. Two groups of bulls, 3 per group, were selected. Bulls differed in fertility based on lifetime nonreturn rates. Digital images of propidium iodide-stained sperm from each bull were collected and shape-evaluated by Fourier harmonic amplitudes 0 to 5. A discriminant function (P < .05) was constructed based on harmonic amplitudes and the 2 fertility groups. When individual sperm were classified as being of high or lower fertility, the percentage of each bull's sperm placed in the high-fertility group had a linear relationship (r = .89, P < .05) with fertility. To construct a plot of mean sperm shapes, a novel technique to automatically orient and identify the anterior tip of the sperm head was developed. The mean nuclear shape of high-fertility sperm was more elongated and tapered than those of lower fertility. A discriminant function (P < .05) was also constructed that separated the 6 bulls into 2 groups based only on the harmonic amplitudes or sperm nuclear shape. The bulls were correctly classified into the 2 fertility groups. A comparison of sperm chromatin structure analysis (SCSA) and harmonic amplitudes found that overall size variance, anterior roundness, and posterior taperedness of sperm nuclei were related to chromatin stability (P < .05). Some of the differences observed in sperm nuclear shape between the high- and lower-fertility bulls may be explained by varying levels of chromatin stability. However, sperm nuclear shape appears to contain additional information from chromatin stability alone. In this particular study, with 6 bulls, all with good chromatin quality, sperm nuclear shape was a better predictor of bull fertility.


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 ReproductionHome page
G Li, J Saenz, R A Godke, and R V Devireddy
Effect of glycerol and cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin on freezing-induced water loss in bovine spermatozoa.
Reproduction, May 1, 2006; 131(5): 875 - 886.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J AndrolHome page
F. J. Pena, F. Saravia, M. Garcia-Herreros, I. Nunezmartinez, J. A. Tapia, A. Johannisson, M. Wallgren, and H. Rodriguez-Martinez
Identification of Sperm Morphometric Subpopulations in Two Different Portions of the Boar Ejaculate and Its Relation to Postthaw Quality
J Androl, November 1, 2005; 26(6): 716 - 723.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Hum ReprodHome page
W.V. Holt
Is quality assurance in semen analysis still really necessary? A spermatologist's viewpoint
Hum. Reprod., November 1, 2005; 20(11): 2983 - 2986.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J AndrolHome page
R. P. Amann and D. F. Katz
Reflections on CASA After 25 Years
J Androl, May 1, 2004; 25(3): 317 - 325.
[Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 2001 by The American Society of Andrology.