Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess changes in the integrity of sperm cell membranes during the storage of semen collected from Duroc × Pietrain crossbred boars and purebred boars of the component breeds. To compare the cell membrane integrity of sperm heads in crossbred and purebred boars, heterosis effects were estimated. The study was conducted on 48 ejaculates collected from Duroc × Pietrain crossbred boars and from purebred Duroc and Pietrain boars used for artificial insemination. Microscope slides were prepared from each ejaculate for the evaluation of the cell membrane integrity of the sperm, at 1, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h after collection of the ejaculate. Diluted ejaculates were stored at 17 °C. Sperm membrane integrity was analysed by two methods: SYBR-14/PI and eosin-nigrosin. Our results showed that the cell membrane integrity of sperm heads changed with storage time, but the extent of the changes varied depending on the genetic group of boars. The semen of Duroc × Pietrain crossbreds was clearly seen to be less sensitive to storage conditions than that of boars of the parent breeds, which was confirmed by the calculated heterosis effects. The percentage of sperm with an intact cell membrane was higher in crossbred boars than in purebred boars (p ≤ 0.05). In addition, significantly fewer moribund sperm spermatozoa and spermatozoa with a damaged cell membrane were observed in crossbred boars (p ≤ 0.05). In the semen of purebred Duroc and Pietrain boars, the cell membrane integrity of the sperm should be assessed more often during storage than in the semen of Duroc × Pietrain crossbred boars. This study provides valuable information for the development and implementation of semen quality monitoring in crossbred boars and boars of the parent breeds during storage at 17 °C with respect to the cell membrane structure of sperm heads. The evaluation methods used effectively identify damage to the cell membranes of the sperm during semen storage.
Highlights
Spermatozoa are gametes that differ from somatic cells in many ways, such as in their structure
Some studies have shown that crossbred boars have better semen characteristics than purebred boars [18], as evidenced by the heterosis effects determined for the physical parameters of ejaculates [18,19]
The study was conducted on 48 ejaculates (16 from each breed) collected from 24 fertile boars, represented by 8 purebred Duroc boars, 8 purebred Pietrain boars, and 8 two-breed Duroc × Pietrain crosses remaining in service in an insemination station
Summary
Spermatozoa are gametes that differ from somatic cells in many ways, such as in their structure. The cell membrane of the boar sperm is more susceptible to various types of damage compared with that of the sperm of other species [2,3]. The integrity and normal functioning of the sperm cell membrane are essential for sperm metabolism, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and the ability to fertilize the ovum [7]. Factors such as the rate of cooling [8], the dilution procedure [9], and storage conditions [10,11] can adversely affect the structure of the sperm cell membrane. These stains are increasingly used to supplement traditional diagnostic methods of semen evaluation
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