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Ram Sperm Selection by a Dextran/Swim-Up Procedure Increases Fertilization Rates Following Intrauterine Insemination in Superovulated Ewes

F. FORCADA

A. ABECIA

From the Departments of ^* Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology and Animal Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Miguel Servet, Zaragoza, Spain.

Correspondence to: Dr Teresa Muiño Blanco, Departmento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet, 177, 50013-Zaragoza, Spain (e-mail: muino{at}posta.unizar.es).

The objective of this study was to compare the efficacy of 2 dextran/swim-up media to increase the sperm quality parameters and the maintenance of these parameters at 15°C and 30°C over 6 hours. Additionally, this study examined whether differences in sperm quality reflect different reproductive efficiencies following intrauterine insemination in superovulated ewes. The study involved 2 selected samples (SS) obtained by dextran/swim-up, performed either with (SS+) or without (SS-) capacitating compounds, and a control sample consisting of raw semen diluted in the same medium. The efficacies of the swim-up sperm selection procedures were similar in both media, and no significant differences were found among the evaluated parameters. Conversely, we found important differences between selected and control samples. Sperm motility, viability (as assessed by carboxifluorescein diacetate/propidium iodide [PI] staining), and mitochondrial activity (as assessed by rhodamine 123/PI) were significantly higher in the selected samples than in the control. Additionally, following incubation at 15°C, the preservation of sperm quality was significantly better in the selected samples than in the control samples. After 6 hours of incubation at 15°C, selected samples had a motility value of 46%, which was significantly (P < .001) higher than the value observed in control samples (27%). The percentage of viable cells observed after 6 hours of incubation at 15°C was significantly (P < .0001) higher in selected samples than in the control samples. Furthermore, after 2 hours of incubation at 30°C, swim-up samples had viability values that were significantly (P < .0001) higher than those of the control samples. SS+ and SS- samples did not differ significantly in spermatozoa yield, sperm quality, or survival. Differences between selected samples and controls were reflected in the fertilization rate obtained following intrauterine insemination in superovulated ewes that experienced a 52-hour interval between progestagen removal and artificial insemination. A restricted criterion for fertilization rate evaluation was established, and only the percentage of embryos recovered from the uterine horns 6 days after insemination was considered with respect to the total number of corpora lutea counted in the ovaries. The fertilization rate of SS- samples (50%) was significantly higher (P > .001) than those of the SS+ (2%) and control samples (5%).

     Key words: Sperm quality, reproductive efficiency, IUI

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