VGO 511: Veterinary Andrology and Reproductive Techniques (1+1)

DIFFERENT TESTS TO ASSESS THE SPERM QUALITY

(Macroscopic examination, Microscopic examination, Special biochemical tests, Resistance to environment, Physical evaluation, Chemical evaluation, Biological tests and Post thaw evaluation of semen)

• There are different test are available to assess the semen quality.
• The classified under following headings.

I. Macroscopic examination

• Volume
• Colour
• Consistency/density
• Presence of foreign materials
• Gross motility

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II. Microscopic examination

• Mass activity
• Individual motility
• Concentration estimation
• Live and dead sperm estimation
• Abnormal sperm estimation
• Acrosome integrity evaluation

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III. Special biochemical tests

• pH estimation
• Methylene blue reduction test (MBRT)
• Hypo osmotic swelling test (HOST)
• Fructolytic index
• Oxygen uptake/utilization test
• Pyruvate utilisation test
• Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) activity
• Hyaluronidase activity
• Resazurin test
• Buffering capacity test
• Alkaline and acid phosphatase test
• Millonovanov's resistance test

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IV. Resistance to environment

• Low temperature storage/Cold shock resistence test
• High temperature viability test
• Resistance to sodium chloride/Millonovanov's resistence test (R-test)

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V. Physical evaluation

• Objective measurement of motility
• Impedance change frequency
• Filteration through sephadex

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VI. Chemical evaluation

• DNA estimation
• Ascorbic acid content
• Potassium and sodium estimation
• Fructose level in semen
• Citric acid level in semen

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VII. Biological tests

• Zona free hamster egg penetration test (HEPT)
• Zona binding assay (ZBA)

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VIII. Post thaw evaluation of semen

• Post thaw motility
• Post thaw acrosomal integrity
• Post thaw acrosomal enzyme release
• Post thaw incubation survival or viability at 37^oC

• Even though various tests are available only few important tests are commonly followed as routine tests.
• Other tests are followed only during specific conditions.

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