The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions
Artificial insemination (AI) is essential in intensive pig production, which significantly depends on semen quality from boars selected for health, genetics, and fertility. While AI aims to improve productivity, larger litters often result in smaller and less resistant piglets. Beyond fertility and...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Veterinary Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/582 |
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| author | Santa María Toledo-Guardiola Chiara Luongo Felipe Martínez-Pastor Cristina Soriano-Úbeda Carmen Matás |
| author_facet | Santa María Toledo-Guardiola Chiara Luongo Felipe Martínez-Pastor Cristina Soriano-Úbeda Carmen Matás |
| author_sort | Santa María Toledo-Guardiola |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Artificial insemination (AI) is essential in intensive pig production, which significantly depends on semen quality from boars selected for health, genetics, and fertility. While AI aims to improve productivity, larger litters often result in smaller and less resistant piglets. Beyond fertility and genetic traits, boars also influence offspring health. This study investigated the relationship between sperm parameters of highly fertile boars and both reproductive outcomes and piglet physiological indicators. Multivariate analysis revealed significant paternal effects on blood markers reflecting organ function, including those of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys, as well as on glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, muscle contraction, and neural signaling. Notably, sperm velocity was correlated with mitochondrial function, which is crucial for sperm motility, capacitation, DNA integrity, and embryo development—factors likely linked to healthier, more resilient offspring. Boars transmitting superior sperm velocity, erythropoiesis efficiency, and oxygen transport capacities produced piglets with better glucose regulation, growth, and resistance to neonatal hypoglycemia. These findings underscore the broader impact of sperm quality on offspring vitality and suggest that advanced sperm analysis could improve boar selection and enable more effective, health-oriented breeding strategies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-11bcfd7e31b945618bb1e2a8eba615aa |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2306-7381 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Veterinary Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-11bcfd7e31b945618bb1e2a8eba615aa2025-08-20T03:32:32ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812025-06-0112658210.3390/vetsci12060582The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological FunctionsSanta María Toledo-Guardiola0Chiara Luongo1Felipe Martínez-Pastor2Cristina Soriano-Úbeda3Carmen Matás4Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, SpainDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, SpainCell Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, Campus Vegazana, 24071 León, SpainInstitute of Animal Health and Livestock Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, Campus Vegazana, 24071 León, SpainDepartment of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, SpainArtificial insemination (AI) is essential in intensive pig production, which significantly depends on semen quality from boars selected for health, genetics, and fertility. While AI aims to improve productivity, larger litters often result in smaller and less resistant piglets. Beyond fertility and genetic traits, boars also influence offspring health. This study investigated the relationship between sperm parameters of highly fertile boars and both reproductive outcomes and piglet physiological indicators. Multivariate analysis revealed significant paternal effects on blood markers reflecting organ function, including those of the pancreas, liver, and kidneys, as well as on glucose homeostasis, lipid metabolism, oxidative stress, protein and carbohydrate metabolism, muscle contraction, and neural signaling. Notably, sperm velocity was correlated with mitochondrial function, which is crucial for sperm motility, capacitation, DNA integrity, and embryo development—factors likely linked to healthier, more resilient offspring. Boars transmitting superior sperm velocity, erythropoiesis efficiency, and oxygen transport capacities produced piglets with better glucose regulation, growth, and resistance to neonatal hypoglycemia. These findings underscore the broader impact of sperm quality on offspring vitality and suggest that advanced sperm analysis could improve boar selection and enable more effective, health-oriented breeding strategies.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/582artificial inseminationhigh-fertility boarspigletsproductionspermatozoaneonatal health |
| spellingShingle | Santa María Toledo-Guardiola Chiara Luongo Felipe Martínez-Pastor Cristina Soriano-Úbeda Carmen Matás The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions Veterinary Sciences artificial insemination high-fertility boars piglets production spermatozoa neonatal health |
| title | The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions |
| title_full | The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions |
| title_fullStr | The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions |
| title_short | The Individual Variations in Sperm Quality of High-Fertility Boars Impact the Offspring Production and Early Physiological Functions |
| title_sort | individual variations in sperm quality of high fertility boars impact the offspring production and early physiological functions |
| topic | artificial insemination high-fertility boars piglets production spermatozoa neonatal health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/12/6/582 |
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