Ali DAŞKIN, Havva ALEMDAR, Koray TEKİN, Muhammed Enes İNANÇ, Beste ÇİL

The combination of CASA kinetic parameters and fluorescein staining as a fertility tool in cryopreserved bull semen

Prediction of male fertility with in vitro semen quality parameters remains a challenge for the bull industry. Fluorescein stainingand computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) ensure kinetically proper and functionally objective results to improve spermatologicalparameter control. Therefore, we aimed to examine the CASA kinetic parameters and fluorescein staining of cryopreserved bull semenand its relationship with fertility. A total of 90 frozen straws from 5 Simmental bulls were evaluated. After semen was thawed, themotility, kinetic parameters, and insemination doses were evaluated by CASA; fluorescein stainings were evaluated using a fluoresceinmicroscope. The 60th-day nonreturn rates (NRRs) were recorded for determination of pregnancy rates. There were significant differencesin motility and kinetic parameters among bulls. Bull 3 had the lowest percentage of NRR and curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity,beat-cross frequency, and lateral head displacement parameters (P < 0.05). A positive correlation was detected between the pregnancyrate and some kinetic parameters. The correlation between the CASA parameters was determined as well. We concluded that variouskinetic parameters obtained with CASA software system algorithms and fluorescein stainings can be linked to fertility. However, furtherresearch is needed to acquire a more precise link with fertility.

PDF

___

1. Kathiravan P, Kalatharan J, Karthikeya G, Rengarajan K, Kadirvel G. Objective sperm motion analysis to assess dairy bull fertility using computer-aided system: a review. Reprod Domest Anim 2011; 46: 165-172.
2. Barth AD, Oko RJ. Abnormal Morphology of Bovine Spermatozoa. 1st ed. Ames, IA, USA: Iowa State University Press; 1989.
3. Kathiravan P, Kalatharan J, Edwin MJ, Veerapandian C. Computer automated motion analysis of crossbred bull spermatozoa and its relationship with in vitro fertility in zonafree hamster oocytes. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 104: 9-17.
4. Farah OI, Cuiling L, Jiaojiao W, Huiping Z. Use of fluorescent dyes for readily recognizing sperm damage. J Reprod Infertil 2013; 14: 120-125.
5. Naib AA, Hanrahan JP, Lonergan P, Fair S. In vitro assessment of sperm from bulls of high and low field fertility. Theriogenology 2011; 76: 161-167.
6. Bucak MN, Ataman MB, Baspinar N, Uysal O, Taşpınar M, Bilgili A, Öztürk C, Güngör Ş, İnanç ME, Akal E. Lycopene and resveratrol improve post-thaw bull sperm parameters: sperm motility, mitochondrial activity and DNA integrity. Andrologia 2015; 47: 545-552.
7. Garner DL, Thomas CA, Joerg HW, Dejarnette JM, Marshall CE. Fluorometric assessments of mitochondrial function and viability in cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 1997; 57: 1401-1406.
8. Miglior F, Pizzi F, Guaita N. Effect of environmental factors on nonreturn rate in Italian Holstein-Friesians. Interbull Bulletin 1997; 27: 106-108.
9. Hirano Y, Shibahara H, Obara H, Suzuki T, Takamizawa S, Yamaguchi C, Tsunoda H, Sato I. Relationships between sperm motility characteristics assessed by the computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) and fertilization rates in vitro. J Assist Reprod Gen 2001; 18: 215-220.
10. Tekin K, Daşkın A. Effect of different extenders on motility and some kinematics parameters in Norduz goat semen. Turk J Vet Anim Sci 2016; 40: 490-495.
11. Eimers JM, Velde ER, Gerritse R, Vogelzang ET, Looman CW, Habbema JDF. The prediction of the chance to conceive in subfertile couples. Fertil Steril 1994; 61: 44-52.
12. Krause W. Computer-assisted semen analysis systems: comparison with routine evaluation and prognostic value in male fertility and assisted reproduction. Hum Reprod 1995; 10: 60-66.
13. Januskauskas A, Johannisson A, Rodriguez-Martinez H. Subtle membrane changes in cryopreserved bull semen in relation with sperm viability, chromatin structure, and field fertility. Theriogenology 2003; 60: 743-758.
14. Gillan L, Kroetsch T, Chis Maxwell WM, Evans G. Assessment of in vitro sperm characteristics in relation to fertility in dairy bulls. Anim Reprod Sci 2008; 103: 201-214.
15. Garrett C, Liu DY, Clarke GN, Rushford DD, Baker HWG. Automated semen analysis: ‘zona pellucida preferred’ sperm morphometry and straight-line velocity are related to pregnancy rate in subfertile couples. Hum Reprod 2003; 18: 1643-1649.
16. King LM, Holsberger DR, Donoghue AM. Correlation of casa velocity and linearity parameters with sperm mobility phenotype in Turkeys. J Androl 2000; 21: 65-71.
17. Donnelly ET, Lewis SEM, McNally JA, Thompson W. In vitro fertilization and pregnancy rates: the influence of sperm motility and morphology on IVF outcome. Fertil Steril 1998; 70: 305-314.
18. Lavara R, Mocé E, Lavara F, de Castro MPV, Vicente JS. Do parameters of seminal quality correlate with the results of onfarm inseminations in rabbits? Theriogenology 2005; 64: 1130-1141.
19. Peña A, Johannisson A, Linde-Forsberg C. Post-thaw evaluation of dog spermatozoa using new triple fluorescent staining and flow cytometry. Theriogenology 1999; 52: 965- 980.
20. Juonala T, Salonen E, Nurttila, T, Andersson M. Three fluorescence methods for assessing boar sperm viability. Reprod Domest Anim 1999; 34: 83-87.
21. Mickelsen WD, Memon MA. Relationship of post-thaw semen evaluation to pregnancy rates in beef cows. Agri-Practice 1993; 14: 24-28.
22. Söderquist L, Jansson L, Larsson K, Einarsson S. Sperm morphology and fertility in AI bulls. J Vet Med 1991; 38: 534-543.
23. Alm K, Taponen J, Dahlbom M, Tuunainen E, Koskinen E, Andersson M. A novel automated fluorometric assay to evaluate sperm viability and fertility in dairy bulls. Theriogenology 2001; 56: 677-684.
24. Conell MO, McClure N, Lewis SEM. The effect of cryopreservation on sperm morphology, motility and mitochondrial function. Hum Reprod 2002; 17: 704-709.
25. Garner DL, Hafez ESE. Spermatozoa and seminal plasma. In: Hafez B, Hafez ESE, editors. Reproduction in Farm Animals. 7th ed. Baltimore, MD, USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2000. pp. 96-109.
26. Bucak MN, Keskin N, Taşpınar M, Çoyan K, Başpınar N, Cenariue CM, Bilgili A, Öztürk C, Kurşunlu AN. Raffinose and hypotaurine improve the post-thawed Merino ram. Cryobiology 2013; 67: 34-39.
27. Rodriguez-Martinez H, Larsson B, Zhang BR, Soderquist L. In vitro assessment of viability and fertilizing capacity of bull spermatozoa. J Reprod Develop 1997; 43: 1-11.
28. Oura C, Toshimori K. Ultrastructural studies on the fertilization of mammalian gametes. Int Rev Cytol 1990; 122: 105-151.
29. Anilkumar R, Devanathan TG, Pattabiraman SR, Edwin MJ. Correlation between the spermatozoal characteristics and sperm penetration distance in polyacrylamide gel and bovine cervical mucus. Theriogenology 2001; 55: 685-691.
30. Kjaestad H, Ropstad E, Berg KA. Evaluation of spermatological parameters used to predict the fertility of frozen bull semen. Acta Vet Scand 1993; 34: 299-303.