Influence of sexual maturity on sperm quality in Duroc boars

IF 2.6 2区农林科学 Q1 AGRICULTURE, DAIRY & ANIMAL SCIENCE

Animal Reproduction Science Pub Date : 2026-01-01 Epub Date: 2025-12-02 DOI:10.1016/j.anireprosci.2025.108053

Soudabeh Rouzbehani , Asmita Shrestha , Nazia Haque , Syeda Afsana Nushrat , Teklu Tewoldebrhan Zeremichael , Anna Nordborg , Ann Helen Gaustad , Anne Hege Alm-Kristiansen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate sperm quality of Duroc boars during sexual maturation and examine whether these parameters were related to metabolites in semen. Ejaculates were collected longitudinally from 28 Duroc boars at approximately 7 months of age (Age 1), 6 weeks later (Age 2) and 12 weeks later (Age 3). Motility characteristics, acrosome integrity, and viability were assessed on collection day and after five days storage at 18°C using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry, while DNA fragmentation was measured on day five. Amino acid and amine concentrations in semen were measured by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and correlated with sperm quality parameters. Motility, rapid progressive motility, and acrosome intact live sperm increased significantly (adj P < 0.05) with boar maturation. Mature boars (Age 2 and Age 3) maintained superior sperm quality compared to younger boars after storage. The DNA fragmentation index was low in all samples but declined significantly from 1 % at Age 1 to 0.64 % at Age 3 (adj P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed significant relationships between sperm quality and specific metabolites. Cystine, glutamate, aspartate, choline and taurine were inversely correlated with progressive and rapid progressive motility, while showing positive correlation with rapid non-progressive motility. These findings demonstrate that sperm quality continues improving beyond initial reproductive ability, especially between Age 1 and Age 3, with improvements in motility, viability, chromatin stability, and storage resilience. The observed relationships between metabolites and sperm quality parameters provide insights into biochemical mechanisms underlying sperm functionality during sexual maturation.

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性成熟对杜洛克公猪精子质量的影响。

本研究的目的是评价杜洛克公猪性成熟期间的精子质量，并探讨这些参数是否与精液中的代谢物有关。28头杜洛克公猪分别在大约7月龄（1岁）、6周（2岁）和12周（3岁）时纵向采集射精。在采集当天和18°C保存5天后，使用计算机辅助精子分析和流式细胞术评估运动特性、顶体完整性和活力，并在第5天测量DNA片段。采用液相色谱-质谱法测定精液中氨基酸和胺的浓度，并与精子质量参数进行相关性分析。活力、快速进行性活力和顶体完整活精子显著增加（P < 0.05）

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Animal Reproduction Science 农林科学-奶制品与动物科学

CiteScore

4.50

自引率

9.10%

发文量

136

审稿时长

54 days

期刊介绍： Animal Reproduction Science publishes results from studies relating to reproduction and fertility in animals. This includes both fundamental research and applied studies, including management practices that increase our understanding of the biology and manipulation of reproduction. Manuscripts should go into depth in the mechanisms involved in the research reported, rather than a give a mere description of findings. The focus is on animals that are useful to humans including food- and fibre-producing; companion/recreational; captive; and endangered species including zoo animals, but excluding laboratory animals unless the results of the study provide new information that impacts the basic understanding of the biology or manipulation of reproduction. The journal''s scope includes the study of reproductive physiology and endocrinology, reproductive cycles, natural and artificial control of reproduction, preservation and use of gametes and embryos, pregnancy and parturition, infertility and sterility, diagnostic and therapeutic techniques. The Editorial Board of Animal Reproduction Science has decided not to publish papers in which there is an exclusive examination of the in vitro development of oocytes and embryos; however, there will be consideration of papers that include in vitro studies where the source of the oocytes and/or development of the embryos beyond the blastocyst stage is part of the experimental design.