Comparison of semen parameters, sperm apoptosis and sperm membrane proteins in two male layer breeder lines.

Abstract

Semen variables are affected by the breed and strain of chicken. The present study wasundertaken to compare the semen quality in two lines of adult chickens with particularreference to sperm chromatin condensation, sperm DNA damage and sperm membraneproteins. Semen from a PD3 and White Leghorn control line was collected at 46 and 47weeks and 55 weeks of age. The semen was evaluated for gross variables and sperm chro-matin condensation by aniline blue staining. Sperm DNA damage was assessed by usingthe comet assay at 47 weeks of age and sperm membrane proteins were assessed at 55weeks of age. The duration of fertility was studied by inseminating 100 million sperm onceinto the hens of the same line as well as another line. The eggs were collected after insem-ination for 15 days and incubated. The eggs were candled on 18th day of incubation forobserving embryonic development. The White Leghorn control line had a greater spermconcentration and lesser percentage of morphologically abnormal sperm at the differentages where assessments occurred. There was no difference in sperm chromatin condensa-tion, DNA damage and membrane proteins between the lines. Only low molecular weightprotein bands of less than 95 kDa were observed in samples of both lines. The line fromwhich semen was used had no effect on the duration over which fertility was sustainedafter insemination either when used in the same line or another line. Thus, from the resultsof the present study it may be concluded that there was a difference in gross semen vari-ables between the lines that were studied, however, the sperm chromatin condensation,DNA damage, membrane proteins and duration over which fertility was sustained afterinsemination did not differ between the lines.