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Title: ASSESSMENT OF EJACULATE QUALITY AND SPERM CHARACTERISTICS IN TURKEYS: SPERMMOBILITY PHENOTYPE IS INDEPENDENT OF TIME.

Author
item HOLSBERGER, DENISE - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND
item Donoghue, Ann - Annie
item FROMAN, D - OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
item OTTINGER, M - UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND

Submitted to: Journal Of Poultry Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/24/1998
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The objectives of this study were to determine if sperm mobility phenotypes of individual toms were independent of time, and the extent to which traditional semen quality variables changed as a function of time during the study interval. Sperm mobility phenotype was determined by objectively measuring the ability of sperm to penetrate an Accudenz solution at body temperature. During the initial assessments of a flock, sperm mobility indexes were significantly higher for the High Mobility Phenotype toms compared to the Low Mobility Phenotype. Over the 5 months of this study, the High Mobility Phenotype toms consistently had higher sperm mobility values than the Low Mobility Phenotype toms, with these values consistent with those of the initial screen. Ejaculate volume, concentration, and plasma membrane integrity showed no significant differences between either phenotype. Because sperm mobility phenotype remained consistent through time, the Sperm Mobility Test provides a potentially important tool for selecting semen donors in turkeys.

Technical Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) if sperm mobility phenotypes of individual toms were independent of time, and (2) the extent to which traditional semen quality variables changed as a function of time during the study interval. Sperm mobility phenotype was determined by objectively measuring the ability of sperm to penetrate an Accudenz solution at body temperature. During the initial assessments of a flock (9 toms), sperm mobility indexes (SMI) were significantly higher for the High Mobility Phenotype toms compared to the Low Mobility Phenotype. Over the 5 months of this study, the High Mobility Phenotype toms consistently had higher SMI values than the Low Mobility Phenotype toms, with SMI values consistent with those of the initial screen. Ejaculate volume, concentration, and plasma membrane integrity showed no significant differences between either phenotype. Sperm viability remained significantly lower over the course of this study for the High Mobility Phenotype toms when compared to the Low Mobility Phenotype toms. Because sperm mobility phenotype remained consistent through time, the Sperm Mobility Test provides a potentially important tool for selecting semen donors in turkeys.