title: Comparison of cushioned centrifugation and SpermFilter filtration on longevity and morphology of cooled-stored equine semen.
abstract: This study compares two methods for seminal plasma removal by evaluating sperm recovery rates, and motility and morphology of cooled-stored semen. Ejaculates were divided into three groups: control, filtration and cushioned centrifugation. Semen was extended to 25 million sperm/ml using a skim-milk-based extender and stored at 5°C for all groups. Sperm motility (total motility (%TM) and progressive motility (%PM)) was determined at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours by a computer-assisted sperm analyser. Sperm morphology was assessed using differential interference microscopy. Overall, %TM of the centrifugation group was significantly higher than the filter group, but not significantly different than the control. No significant difference in %TM or %PM was detected for the control group and filter. Cushioned centrifugation was a superior method to obtain progressively motile sperm compared with control (P=0.03) and filter groups (P<0.001). No significant difference was found for the per cent of normal sperm cells and detached heads between the groups. This study demonstrated that cushioned centrifugation was a superior method to remove seminal plasma while preserving %TM and enhancing %PM for stallions under cooled storage over three days. However, as the differences appear to be negligible, the SpermFilter may represent an alternative for farms lacking a centrifuge.
authors.affiliation: Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, 2150 Georgetown Road, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
authors.forename: J
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0696-9264
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roach
authors.affiliation: Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, 2150 Georgetown Road, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schnobrich
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ellerbrock
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Feijo
authors.affiliation: Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital, 2150 Georgetown Road, Lexington, KY 40511, USA.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bradecamp
authors.affiliation: Departmento de Reprodução Animal e Radiologia, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Rubião Junior, Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Alvarenga
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1207 W Gregory Drive, Urbana, IL 61801, USA.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kline
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1008 West Hazelwood Drive, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Canisso
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002498:Centrifugation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary*; D005374:Filtration / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D006736:Horses; D008136:Longevity; D008297:Male; D012662:Semen Preservation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000502:physiology; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*
keywords: centrifugation; cooled semen; morphology; seminal plasma; stallion