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  • II — Technologies de Conservation des Ressources Génétiques Animales et Végétales / Technologies of Conservation for Animal and Plant Genetic Resources
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Cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in sperm of several domestic species does not directly predict sperm fitness for cryopreservation

Le rapport cholestérol/phospholipide dans le sperme de diverses espèces domestiques n’est pas un indicateur direct de l’aptitude à la congélation du sperme

Abstract

Sperm cryopreservation is used for preservation and diffusion of genetic diversity and genetic progress. One approach to improve cryopreservation is to identify and control the cellular parameters responsible for intrinsic sperm fitness for cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to determine if a relationship exists between sperm cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio (CHO/PL) and sperm fitness for cryopreservation. CHO/PL in goat and boar semen were respectively 0.281 ± 0.048 (n = 112) and 0.375 ± 0.043 (n = 47). CHO/PL of washed stallion spermatozoa was 0.541 ± 0.072 (n = 17). In stallion spermatozoa and goat semen, CHO/PL and sperm motility after thawing were negatively correlated, although the significance of this relation fluctuated between ejaculates (stallion) and between months of collection (goat). In boar, mobility parameters after thawing were not related to CHO/PL, but a positive correlation was noted between CHO/PL and the percentage of spermatozoa alive and normal 120 min after thawing. No relationship was found between blood plasma cholesterol (goat: 1160 nmol.mL−1 ± 186; boar: 1410 nmol.mL−1 ± 200) or seminal plasma cholesterol (boar sperm rich fraction: 104 nmol.mL−1 ±52) and sperm CHO/PL. To conclude, sperm CHO/PL is not a direct indicator of sperm fitness for cryopreservation. However, as supported by the observed correlation, it could not be ruled out that CHO/PL is involved in the cryopreservation success.

Résumé

La congélation du sperme est utilisée pour la conservation et la diffusion de la diversité et du progrès génétique. Une approche permettant d’améliorer la qualité du sperme congelé est d’identifier et de contrôler les paramètres cellulaires impliqués dans l’aptitude intrinsèque du sperme à la congélation. Le but de la présente étude était de déterminer si une relation existait entre le rapport molaire cholestérol/phospholipide (CHO/PL) du sperme et son aptitude à la congélation. Le rapport CHO/PL de la semence de bouc et de verrat était de 0.281±0.048 (n = 112) et 0.375±0.043 (n = 47) respectivement. Le rapport CHO/PL des spermatozoïdes lavés d’étalon était 0.541 ±0.072 (n = 17). Pour les spermatozoïdes d’étalon et la semence de bouc, une corrélation négative a été trouvée entre ce rapport et les paramètres de mobilité des spermatozoïdes après décongélation bien que la signification statistique de cette relation soit fluctuante entre éjaculats (étalon) et entre les mois de collecte (bouc). Chez le verrat, les paramètres de mobilité après décongélation n’ont pu être corrélés au rapport CHO/PL, mais une corrélation positive est apparue entre le rapport CHO/PL et le pourcentage de spermatozoïdes vivants normaux 120 min après la décongélation. Aucune relation n’a été trouvée entre le cholestérol du plasma sanguin (bouc: 1160 nmol.mL−1 ± 186; verrat: 1410 nmol.mL−1 ± 200) ou du plasma séminal de la fraction riche de la semence (verrat: 104 nmol.mL−1 ± 52) et le rapport CHO/PL. En conclusion, le rapport CHO/PL n’est pas un indicateur direct de l’aptitude d’une semence à la congélation. Cependant, les corrélations observées ne permettent pas d’exclure que le rapport CHO/PL est impliqué dans le succès de la congélation.

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Correspondence to Catherine Labbé.

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Labbé, C., Bussière, JF., Guillouet, P. et al. Cholesterol/phospholipid ratio in sperm of several domestic species does not directly predict sperm fitness for cryopreservation. Genet Sel Evol 33 (Suppl 1), S61 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03500873

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