Seasonal functional relevance of sperm characteristics in equine spermatozoa

Abstract

A group of stallions with different reproductive indexes were used to study seasonal variations in sperm quality (Equus caballus). Semen samples were collected from late September to July and analyzed according to four seasonal periods: late September-December, January-March, late March-May, and June-July. Parameters monitored included sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm morphology, sperm viability, acrosomal status, plasma membrane stability, and sperm mitochondrial membrane potential. Overall, seminal parameters monitored are affected mostly by time period, followed by animal and lastly by fertility, stressing the importance of individual variations in out-bred animal models. The analysis of multiple ejaculates from the same animals showed clear seasonal-based differences (P<0.05) with poor semen quality in winter and a noticeable improvement in sperm quality with increasing photoperiod. Better semen quality was observed between late March and May. Interactions between month period, animal, and fertility were evident (P<0.05) for sperm concentration, head and tail sperm anomalies, and acrosomal integrity. Thus, it may be advisable to adjust the use of stallion semen according to seasonal variations.