title: Effect of calcium and fatty acids on the isolation of stallion spermatozoa in BSA.
abstract: Fifty ejaculates, ten from each of 5 mature stallions, were utilized to study the effects of calcium and fatty acids on equine spermatozoa which were isolated in 3% Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA). The ejaculates were evaluated for percent motile spermatozoa, rate of forward movement, debris, primary abnormalities and secondary abnormalities. The isolation procedure consisted of layering 2 ml of diluted semen (100 x 10(6) spermatozoa/ml) over 6 ml of 3% BSA in 13 x 125 mm columns in a water bath (37 degrees C). After 30 min., the top semen layer and upper half of the BSA layer were withdrawn from all columns and the lower half of the BSA was re-evaluated. A 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments was utilized with either the inclusion or omission of calcium or fatty acids in the BSA isolation media. The percent motile spermatozoa and rate of forward movement were increased (P<.01) when fatty acids were included in the isolation media but decreased (P<.01) when they were omitted. The highest percent motile spermatozoa and rate of forward movement were observed with BSA in the presence of fatty acids and omission of calcium. The calcium by fatty acid interaction, stallion effect and stallion by treatment interaction were significant for percent motile spermatozoa. Less debris was observed in all samples of isolated spermatozoa when compared with the initial estimate. Isolation resulted in a reduction of (P<.01) the primary abnormalities. Also, fewer (P<.01) secondary abnormalities were observed after isolation in all treatments except 4 (-FA+Ca) than were found in the ejaculate sample.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana State University Baton Rouge, LA 70803 USA.
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kreider