title: Poor prediction value of sperm head morphometry for fertility and litter size in rabbit.
abstract: This study was conducted to investigate the predictive capacity of fertility and litter size of sperm head morphometric measurements when the ejaculates fulfilled the minimum requirements commonly used in artificial insemination (AI). Semen samples from 11 rabbits (77 ejaculates) were evaluated for sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoa and sperm head morphometry using computer automated sperm analysis system. Morphometric dimensions for length, width, area and perimeter were analysed. Only ejaculates with more than 70% of motility rate and <15% of abnormal sperm were used for AI. A total of 1031 individual AI were performed in commercial rabbitries. Our results showed significant differences among animals for all sperm head measurements. The mean values for fertility and litter size obtained were 68.4 ± 0.01% and 9.3 ± 0.1% respectively. To assess the predictive value of morphometric dimensions in fertility, a logistic regression analysis was applied. Moreover, multiple linear regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between litter size and sperm head morphometric parameters. Logistic regression analysis rendered a significant model between fertility and area and perimeter, explaining the 0.65% variation. Multiple linear regression analysis rendered a significant model between litter size and width, area and perimeter that explained the 1.3% variation. By conclusion, the sperm head morphometric parameters assay showed low potential to predict fertility and litter size when the ejaculates fulfilled the minimum requirements commonly used in AI (motility and abnormal spermatozoa) in rabbit.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción, Grupo de Mejora Animal, Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Animal, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia Camino de Vera s/n, 46071 Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marco-Jiménez
authors.forename: J-S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lavara
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Balasch
authors.forename: M-P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Viudes-de-Castro
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005298:Fertility / Q000502:physiology*; D008098:Litter Size; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology*; D013077:Sperm Head / Q000502:physiology*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*