Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of exposing liquid-stored boar semen to different red light LED regimens on sperm quality and reproductive performance. Of all of the tested photo-stimulation procedures, the best pattern consisted of 10 min light, 10 min rest and 10 min of further light (10-10-10 pattern). This pattern induced an intense and transient increase in the majority of motility parameters, without modifying sperm viability and acrosome integrity. While incubating non-photo-stimulated sperm at 37 °C for 90 min decreased all sperm quality parameters, this reduction was prevented when the previously-described light procedure was applied. This effect was concomitant with an increase in the percentage of sperm with high mitochondrial membrane potential. When sperm were subjected to ‘in vitro’ capacitation, photo-stimulation also increased the percentage of sperm with capacitation-like changes in membrane structure. On the other hand, treating commercial semen doses intended for artificial insemination with the 10-10-10 photo-stimulation pattern significantly increased farrowing rates and the number of both total and live-born piglets for parturition. Therefore, our results indicate that a precise photo-stimulation procedure is able to increase the fertilising ability of boar sperm via a mechanism that could be related to mitochondrial function.
Highlights
At low energy induces an increase in motion parameters and in ATP content in mouse, human, dog, bull, sheep and rabbit sperm (See ref. 19 for review)
Our results indicate that a specific, red light emission diode (LED)-based photo-stimulation procedure (Procedure #1) is able to increase the whole boar sperm response to both the heat stress due to incubation at 37 °C for 90 min and the achievement of in vitro’ capacitation (IVC) and subsequent, progesterone-induced IVAE
More in-depth information is still required, our results seem to indicate that the increase of heat resistance, the improvement of IVC achievement and the concomitant augment of ‘in vivo’ reproductive performance due to sperm photo-stimulation are driven by the same mechanism/s
Summary
At low energy (wavelength ranging from 530 nm to 830 nm) induces an increase in motion parameters and in ATP content in mouse, human, dog, bull, sheep and rabbit sperm (See ref. 19 for review). Exposing sperm to red light (wavelength: 660 nm) increases the ‘in vivo’ fertilising ability of ram sperm[22]. Despite all of these results, the effects of photo-stimulation on boar sperm function are yet to be studied. The possibility of using other cheaper, light-stimulating systems that may have similar efficiency to laser devices deserves further attention In this context, the present work tested the effects of exposing boar sperm to specific, red light emission diode (LED) on quality parameters and reproductive performance. The present study evaluated the effects of different red light photo-stimulation procedures on sperm quality parameters, and on their ability to withstand thermal stress induced by that incubation. The light regimen yielding the best results ‘in vitro’ was subsequently utilised in a standard AI procedure in a commercial farm to test the effects of photo-stimulation upon reproductive performance
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
