title: The effects of stains and investigators on assessment of morphology of canine spermatozoa.
abstract: Percentage and types of morphological abnormalities found in canine spermatozoa were evaluated by three investigators using three stains (Giemsa-Wright stain [Diff-Quik], eosin Y/nigrosin [Hancock], and eosin B/nigrosin [Society for Theriogenology morphology stain] with conventional light microscopy, compared to phase contrast microscopy on unstained samples. The percentage of spermatozoa with abnormal heads, midpieces, and tails varied by technique and by investigator. Average percentages of morphologically normal spermatozoa were significantly higher in samples stained with Diff-Quik and samples examined by phase contrast microscopy than in samples stained with Hancock or Society for Theriogenology morphology stains. No effect of investigator on the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa was assessed. Results suggest that staining or preparation technique may alter the morphology of canine spermatozoa artifactually.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St. Paul 55108, USA.
authors.forename: M V
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Root Kustritz
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Olson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Root
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary; D015588:Observer Variation; D012661:Semen / Q000166:cytology; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary