Stress preconditioning of semen before cryopreservation improves fertility and increases the number of offspring born: a prospective randomised study using a porcine model
A. Horváth A C , O. Szenci A , K. Nagy A , L. Végh A and Cs. Pribenszky B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Large Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-2225 Üllő, Dóra Major, Hungary.
B Department of Animal Breeding, Nutrition and Laboratory Animal Science, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Szent István University, H-1078 Budapest, Hungary.
C Corresponding author. Email: horvath.andras@aotk.szie.hu
Reproduction, Fertility and Development 28(4) 475-481 https://doi.org/10.1071/RD14118
Submitted: 3 April 2014 Accepted: 15 July 2014 Published: 28 August 2014
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of applying sublethal stress treatment at room temperature, before cryopreservation (hydrostatic pressure (HP): 40 MPa, 80 min) of 34 boar ejaculate samples, on post-thawed motility and sow fertility. Sows (n = 102) were randomly allocated into equal groups inseminated with HP-treated or untreated frozen–thawed semen. Sows were inseminated twice, 10 h apart, with 6 × 109 spermatozoa per dose without oestrus synchronisation. Rates of non-return of oestrus and pregnancy, and total numbers of piglets and live piglets were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the HP-treated group. There was also a numerical, albeit non-significant (P > 0.05), improvement in the farrowing rate in the HP-treated group. Although the number of live piglets per litter decreased approximately 15% in both groups by 42 days after farrowing, but this remained significantly higher in the HP-treated group. Although total and progressive sperm motility were significantly (P < 0.001) higher in the HP-treated group, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in these parameters between pregnant and non-pregnant sows in either group; thus motility can indicate, but not predict, improved fertility. In conclusion, HP treatment, with sperm cryopreservation, increases in vitro sperm motility and improves reproductive performance without adversely affecting the health of the piglets.
Additional keywords: boar, deep freezing, hydrostatic pressure, post-thaw motility.
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