title: Relationship of semen quality, number of sperm inseminated, and fertility in rabbits.
abstract: The relationship between the total number of sperm inseminated, semen quality, and fertility in rabbits was investigated, using fractionated or unfractionated semen and different diluting fluids. Semen was from Dutch-belted males collected twice weekly with an artificial vagina. All does were superovulated except in Experiment 3. In Experiment 1, sperm were fractionated on discontinuous 4% and 10% bovine serum albumin columns. Sperm from each portion of the gradient, along with unfractionated controls, were diluted to give 0.25 x 10(6), 0.5 x 10(6), 1.0 x 10(6), and 2.0 x 10(6) total sperm per insemination. In Experiment 2, sperm were diluted with Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline to provide 0.10 x 10(6), 0.50 x 10(6), and 1.0 x 10(6) total sperm per insemination, with minimal processing time. In Experiment 3, does were allowed to kindle after inseminating 0.1 x 10(6) or 1.0 x 10(6) sperm. In Experiment 4, sperm were diluted with TALP buffer: seminal plasma 1:1 to 0.025 x 10(6), 0.05 x 10(6), and 0.10 x 10(6) total sperm per insemination. Over 2,800 embryos or unfertilized oocytes were obtained either 24 or 48 hours after insemination to measure fertility. Sperm numbers required for normal fertility were 0.50 x 10(6) in Experiment 1 and only 0.05 x 10(6) in Experiment 4. This reduction presumably was due primarily to reduced processing time and diluent change. Litter size was normal with 0.1 x 10(6) sperm (Experiment 3). In Experiment 4, computer-assisted sperm analysis (HTM 2030 system; Beverly, Massachusetts) was adapted to successfully screen out some of the "interfering" granules in rabbit semen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853-4801.
authors.forename: P B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Foote
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Simkin
authors.forename: E D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Clegg
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Wall
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D005307:Fertilization in Vitro; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D012661:Semen / Q000502:physiology*; D013076:Sperm Count; D013480:Superovulation