Influence of seminal plasma from the rich fraction of boar ejaculate on structural characteristics, kinetics, capacitation and fertility of the swine spermatozoa stored at 17°C for 72 hours

Abstract

Seminal plasma is an ambiguous constituent of swine ejaculate since it possesses several components which can exert both beneficial (e.g. protection against oxidative stress) as well as detrimental effects (e.g. triggers premature sperm capacitation). In this sense, the present work aims to evaluate the effect of the removal of seminal plasma from swine seminal doses stored under refrigeration at 17ºC for 72 hours. Therefore, three experiments will be carried out in order to evaluate the following treatments: non-centrifuged (NC), centrifuged followed by removal of seminal plasma after centrifugation (CS), centrifuged with suspended seminal plasma (CR). We will evaluate the consequences of the removal of seminal plasma on sperm motility, viability, and capacitation related changes as well as on fertility. For the in-vitro experiments, analysis will be performed by computer assisted sperm analysis systems (CASA) and flow cytometry, every 24 hours. Fertility and pregnancy rates will be evaluated by embryo collection five days post fixed timed artificial insemination. Data will be subjected to analysis of variance (PROC GLM), using the program SAS (1998). The continuous variables will be compared by Tukey test and, in turn, the fertility and pregnancy rates will be analyzed by the non-parametric test of frequency Chi-Square, both for a significance level of 5%. (AU)