Analysis of sperm quality

Description of impact

The objective analysis of ejaculate sperm quality, of the rich fraction or the refrigerated or cryopreserved semen doses is a key element in guaranteeing the fertility and prolificity of male breeders. The main parameters that configure sperm quality are: sperm concentration, sperm morphology, sperm motility, sperm viability, the integrity of cell membranes, DNA fragmentation and sperm capacity . To assess sperm concentration we have measuring devices equivalent to spectrophotometers, which objectively assess the number of spermatozoa per millilitre on the basis of the optical density of the sample. To determine sperm concentration, morphology and motility, we use computerised systems that allow us to objectively establish the number of spermatozoa per millilitre, the number and percentage of mature, immature and aberrant spermatozoa, and the different modalities of movement of spermatozoa (rapid progressive motility, slow progressive, circular, rotatory motility, etc.). To determine sperm viability, integrity of plasma, nuclear, acrosomal and mitochondrial membranes, DNA fragmentation, sperm capacity, etc., we use specific fluorescent markers, and achieve specific assessments of all these parameters measuring the quantity and type of fluorescence emitted by flow cytometry.