Study objectives were to; 1) determine if supplementing of n-3 fatty acids improves membrane integrity, and hence viability and motility of stallion spermatozoa following cold storage, and following cryopreservation, and 2) determine if n-3 supplementation alters the fatty acid composition of stallion spermatozoa. Data indicate that following 90 d of n-3 supplementation daily sperm output and the percentage of morphologically normal sperm in neat semen are increased. Omega-3 supplementation for 90 d did not improve spermatozoal motility or viability following short-term preservation (0, 24 h, 48 h), or following cryopreservation. Although motility was unchanged in this study, individual stallion responses did indicate that n-3 supplementation in stallions with marginal to poor semen quality may benefit from n-3 supplementation. Finally, n-3 fatty acid supplementation does alter plasmalemma fatty acid composition. Spermatozoa from supplemented stallions had increased docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) concentrations as compared to non-supplemented stallions. It is postulated that an increase in long chain n-3 fatty acids, specifically DHA in spermatozoa membrane improves membrane integrity, and thus enhances spermatozoa recovery following the stresses of cold storage and cryopreservation. This phenomenon appears to be beneficial to stallions with marginal to poor quality ejaculates.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/195991 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Harris, Mary Ann |
| Contributors | Arns, Mark J., Allen, Ronald E., Baumgard, Lance H., Raub, Randel H., Schurg, William A. |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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