title: Sperm selection using single layer centrifugation prior to cryopreservation can increase thawed sperm quality in stallions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The increasing use of modern reproductive techniques in human medicine has led to a higher demand for isolation of motile sperm. Several of these isolation techniques have been adapted for veterinary use and can be applied for the selection of a superior sperm sample from stallion semen. Until recently a major disadvantage of such isolation techniques was the limitation in sperm volume that could be handled. Androcoll-E had been shown to be successful for processing large volumes of equine semen but there are few data to substantiate the potential beneficial effect of freezing an Androcoll-E selected equine sperm sample to obtain higher quality following thawing.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  In this study, the effect of Androcoll-E treatment of sperm prior to cryopreservation was compared with cushioned centrifugation using ejaculates from 8 different stallions selected because they were known to have semen of differing quality following freezing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Androcoll-E treatment increased measures of semen quality prior to freezing. However, Androcoll-E treatment reduced the yield of sperm following centrifugation when compared with the cushion centrifuged control group (50.9 ± 14.2% vs. 97.1 ± 9.0%, respectively). Quality analysis following thawing showed an overall improved sperm quality for Androcoll-E treated samples and average post thaw progressive motility (PM) was 41.6% compared with 30.5% for the cushion centrifuged group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Androcoll-E can be used with good results to select a superior sperm population prior to cryopreservation, in order to produce good-quality frozen thawed semen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Reproduction, Obstetrics and Herd Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Belgium. maarten.hoogewijs@UGent.be
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoogewijs
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Morrell
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Soom
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Govaere
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johannisson
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Piepers
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: De Schauwer
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: De Kruif
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Vliegher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D055101:Semen Analysis / Q000662:veterinary*; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000502:physiology*