Morphometric analysis of llama 1 (Lama glama) sperm head

CASARETO, C.; LOMBARDO, DM.; GIULIANO, S.; GAMBAROTTA, MI; CARRETERO, I.; MIRAGAYA, M

ANDROLOGIA

WILEY-BLACKWELL PUBLISHING, INC

Lugar: 35385 Giessen; Año: 2011 vol. 43 p. 1 - 7

0303-4569

Llama production in Argentina has increased, as the international interest in 29 breeding this type of animals has grown in the last years. In order to develop 30 reproductive biotechnologies, a reliable semen evaluation technique which can aid in 31 the prediction of individual male and ejaculate fertility is required. Taking into account 32 the great polymorphism that llama spermatozoa present at evaluation using light 33 microscopy, the aim of this study was to objectively evaluate llama sperm head 34 morphometry using digital morphometric analysis. Five ejaculates from each of eight 35 males were obtained to evaluate morphometric parameters of 8,000 sperm heads stained with Tinción 15®36 . The following average results were obtained for each parameter: size parameters: area 20.09 μm237 , length 6.60 μm, width 4.14 μm, equivalent circle diameter 38 5.06 μm, curve length 5.79 μm and curve width 3.48 μm; boundary parameters: 39 perimeter 18.54 μm and convex perimeter 17.34 μm; and shape parameters: roundness 40 1.28 and elongation 1.59. Morphometric parameters of sperm head were compared 41 between ejaculates of the same male as well as between males. Significant differences 42 between ejaculates of the same male were found for all parameters evaluated (P<0.01). 43 When comparing between males, significant differences were found for all sperm head 44 morphometric parameters (P<0.01) except for curve length, curve width and perimeter. 45 The differences detected in most parameters would indicate that there is not a single 46 morphometric pattern for Lama glama sperm head, because parameter values cannot be 47 standardized.