Sperm quality of Zemplin Rabbit and Liptov Bold-Spotted Rabbit breeds

Abstract

Zemplin Rabbit and Liptov Bold-Spotted Rabbit are Slovak national breeds. Our aim was to characterize the sperm quality of these two breeds, as these characteristics are important for artificial insemination and cryopreservation as biodiversity conservation tools. For this evaluation, sperm samples of sexually mature Zemplin Rabbit (ZR) males (n = 6) and Liptov Bold-Spotted Rabbits (LR) (n = 4) were used. According to progressive motility (PM) data (CASA), samples were divided into two groups: A (>30% PM) and B (<30% PM). In addition to PM (ZR-A: 48.6±3.8%, ZR-B: 16±3.2%, LR-A: 35.38±2.6%, LR-B: 4±2.2%), total motility (TM) (ZR-A: 69.1±4.1%, ZR-B: 35.5±4.1%, LR-A: 59.1±3%, LR-B: 26.9±4.1%) and morphological abnormalities (ZR-A: 29.7±1.2%, ZR-B: 40±4%, LR-A: 34.3±4.3%, LR-B: 48.3±4.7%) were also assessed using the CASA system. The proportion of dead/live, apoptotic and oxidative damaged spermatozoa (Spz) was assessed by flow cytometry using fluorescent dyes: SYBR-14, Sytox Green, Yo-Pro-1 and CellROX Green, respectively. The results of flow cytometry correspond to the values of motility and morphometry. Sperm with PM less than 30% does not show proper quality values, while the sperm with PM higher than 30% is suitable for further analysis and use.