02124-A: Determining the Characteristics of Sperm That Accurately Predict Fertility of Stud Dogs
Grant Status: Closed
Project Summary
Measures of semen quality in stud dogs have not been subjected to a longitudinal study that includes endpoints of female fertility and pregnancy. Consequently, components of semen that affect female fertility have not been sufficiently identified in breeding dogs. With the growing use of artificial insemination (AI) and the use of frozen semen in dog breeding evident, we quite simply do not know the level of predictability and odds of fertile matings for any breed of dogs. This research will, for the first time, allow semen evaluation in a large population of a single breed of valuable service dogs (Labrador Retrievers) in which semen characteristics and known fertility has been tracked for a number of years. We evaluated 39 Labrador Retriever males at stud at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB), San Rafael, California from October, 2014-February, 2015. We obtained two ejaculates on separate occasions from each dog by manual collection using an estrus female as mount. We determined the sperm endpoints in fresh semen and extended chilled semen at 24hrs post-collection, and we cryopreserved semen in polyethylene straws for future evaluation, the latter of which is currently in progress in our laboratory. Sperm endpoints evaluated were total and progressive motility, average path velocity (VAP), morphology, lipid oxidation status, presence of oxygen free radicals (reactive oxygen species, ROS), sperm chromatin structure (SCSA), and mitochondrial DNA copy numbers and DNA deletions. Fresh semen data were analyzed by individual dog and by age group. Dogs varied in age from 1 to 10 years, and were subdivided into young (1 to 3 years, n=21), middle-aged (4 to 6 years, n=13), and senior (7 years or greater, n=5) for comparison. Overall, there were no differences in semen parameters between males (p>0.01). However, when dogs were grouped by age, there were observed differences (p
Publication(s)
Hesser, A., Darr, C., Gonzales, K., Power, H., Scanlan, T., Thompson, J., … Meyers, S. (2017). Semen evaluation and fertility assessment in a purebred dog breeding facility. Theriogenology, 87, 115–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.08.012
Help Future Generations of Dogs
Participate in canine health research by providing samples or by enrolling in a clinical trial. Samples are needed from healthy dogs and dogs affected by specific diseases.
