Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm

Sperm viability is routinely assessed for the quality control of cryopreserved bovine sperm batches but is not usually conclusive regarding their fertilizing potential. In this study, we investigated the fertility predictive value of bull sperm viability in combination with DNA integrity or the func...

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Main Authors: Timea Sarah Odinius, Mathias Siuda, Matthias Lautner, Claus Leiding, Stefan Neuner, Heinrich Bollwein, Eleni Malama
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Veterinary Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/678
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author Timea Sarah Odinius
Mathias Siuda
Matthias Lautner
Claus Leiding
Stefan Neuner
Heinrich Bollwein
Eleni Malama
author_facet Timea Sarah Odinius
Mathias Siuda
Matthias Lautner
Claus Leiding
Stefan Neuner
Heinrich Bollwein
Eleni Malama
author_sort Timea Sarah Odinius
collection DOAJ
description Sperm viability is routinely assessed for the quality control of cryopreserved bovine sperm batches but is not usually conclusive regarding their fertilizing potential. In this study, we investigated the fertility predictive value of bull sperm viability in combination with DNA integrity or the functional status of viable sperm. In addition to sperm viability, we flow cytometrically assessed the percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) and the fraction of viable sperm with low intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> content and functional mitochondria using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay and a five-color staining panel in 791 and 733 cryopreserved batches with non-return rate (NRR) records after ≥100 first services, respectively. Using linear mixed-effects models and conditional inference trees, we examined the potential of sperm viability combined with either DNA integrity or the functional status of viable sperm to predict the batch-specific NRR. Batches with a %DFI of ≤6.86% were more likely to have a NRR of >60%, whereas %DFI values of >6.86% were more likely to be associated with a 55–60% or lower NRR. Combining post-thaw viability with the functional status of viable sperm did not reliably predict the NRR of individual batches. Concluding, the incorporation of DNA integrity assessment can considerably improve sperm fertility prognostics.
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spelling doaj-art-df49160fee264f82bbd1206603a8a26d2025-08-20T02:01:10ZengMDPI AGVeterinary Sciences2306-73812024-12-01111267810.3390/vetsci11120678Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine SpermTimea Sarah Odinius0Mathias Siuda1Matthias Lautner2Claus Leiding3Stefan Neuner4Heinrich Bollwein5Eleni Malama6Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandBesamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V., Karl-Eibl-Strasse 17-27, 91413 Neustadt an der Aisch, GermanyBesamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V., Karl-Eibl-Strasse 17-27, 91413 Neustadt an der Aisch, GermanyBesamungsverein Neustadt a.d. Aisch e.V., Karl-Eibl-Strasse 17-27, 91413 Neustadt an der Aisch, GermanyClinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandClinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, CH-8057 Zurich, SwitzerlandSperm viability is routinely assessed for the quality control of cryopreserved bovine sperm batches but is not usually conclusive regarding their fertilizing potential. In this study, we investigated the fertility predictive value of bull sperm viability in combination with DNA integrity or the functional status of viable sperm. In addition to sperm viability, we flow cytometrically assessed the percentage of sperm with high DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) and the fraction of viable sperm with low intracellular Ca<sup>2+</sup> content and functional mitochondria using the Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay and a five-color staining panel in 791 and 733 cryopreserved batches with non-return rate (NRR) records after ≥100 first services, respectively. Using linear mixed-effects models and conditional inference trees, we examined the potential of sperm viability combined with either DNA integrity or the functional status of viable sperm to predict the batch-specific NRR. Batches with a %DFI of ≤6.86% were more likely to have a NRR of >60%, whereas %DFI values of >6.86% were more likely to be associated with a 55–60% or lower NRR. Combining post-thaw viability with the functional status of viable sperm did not reliably predict the NRR of individual batches. Concluding, the incorporation of DNA integrity assessment can considerably improve sperm fertility prognostics.https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/678bull spermquality controlflow cytometryfertility
spellingShingle Timea Sarah Odinius
Mathias Siuda
Matthias Lautner
Claus Leiding
Stefan Neuner
Heinrich Bollwein
Eleni Malama
Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
Veterinary Sciences
bull sperm
quality control
flow cytometry
fertility
title Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
title_full Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
title_fullStr Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
title_full_unstemmed Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
title_short Sperm Functional Status: A Multiparametric Assessment of the Fertilizing Potential of Bovine Sperm
title_sort sperm functional status a multiparametric assessment of the fertilizing potential of bovine sperm
topic bull sperm
quality control
flow cytometry
fertility
url https://www.mdpi.com/2306-7381/11/12/678
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