title: Fatty acids and plasmalogens of the phospholipids of the sperm membranes and their relation with the post-thaw quality of stallion spermatozoa.
abstract: Fatty acids and plasmalogens were extracted from the phospholipids of the plasma membrane of stallion spermatozoa, to determine their relation with sperm quality after freezing and thawing. Sperm quality was rated using a quality index that combined the results of the analysis of sperm motility and velocity (CASA analysis), membrane status and mitochondrial membrane potential (flow cytometry) post thaw. Receiving operating system (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the value of specific lipid components of the sperm membrane herein studied as forecast of potential freezeability. From all parameters studied the ratio of percentage of C16 plasmalogens related to total phospholipids was the one with the better diagnostic value. For potentially bad freezers, the significant area under the ROC-curve was 0.74, with 75% sensitivity and 79.9% specificity for a cut off value of 26.9. Also the percentage of plasmalogens respect to total phospholipids gave good diagnostic value for bad freezers. On the other hand, the percentage of C18 fatty aldehydes related to total phospholipids of the sperm membrane properly forecasted freezeability with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70 with 70% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity for a cut off value of 0.32.
authors.affiliation: Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Laboratory of Equine Reproduction, University of Extremadura, Avd de Universidad s/n, Cáceres, Spain.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Macías García
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González Fernández
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ortega Ferrusola
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Morillo Rodríguez
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gallardo Bolaños
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Martinez
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Tapia
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Morcuende
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Peña
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis*; D006736:Horses; D006358:Hot Temperature; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000737:chemistry*; D010955:Plasmalogens / Q000032:analysis*; D012372:ROC Curve; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000662:veterinary; D013081:Sperm Motility; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D010955:Plasmalogens