Viability assessment of spermatozoa in large falcons (Falco spp.) using various staining protocols |
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Authors: | Dominik Fischer Helena Schneider Klaus Failing Sabine Meinecke-Tillmann Axel Wehrend Michael Lierz |
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Affiliation: | 1. Clinic for Birds, Reptiles, Amphibians and Fish, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany;2. Unit for Biomathematics and Data Processing, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany;3. Department of Reproductive Biology, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hanover, Germany;4. Clinic for Obstetrics, Gynecology and Andrology of Large and Small Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany |
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Abstract: | Viability assessment is an important part of semen analysis, and various live/dead staining protocols have been used in semen of avian species. Results of live/dead count differed between dyes, staining protocols and bird species, impeding comparability between studies and requiring species-specific comparisons of viability stains. In raptor semen, similar comparisons are absent. Thus, the aim of the present study was to compare eight conventional viability stains. Eosin blue 2% [EB], eosin blue 2% with the addition of 3% sodium citrate [EB2], eosin blue–nigrosin 5% [EBN5], eosin yellow–nigrosin 5% [EYN5], eosin yellow–nigrosin 10% [EYN10], eosin blue–aniline blue [EBA], eosin yellow–aniline blue [EYA] and bromophenol blue–nigrosin [BBN] were evaluated in comparison with the fluorescence stain SYBR® Green–propidium iodide [SYBR-PI] in spermatozoa of falcons. The comparison was performed using conventional light microscopy which is applicable in breeding centres, veterinary practices and field studies. Additionally, live/dead stains were correlated to motility values of the same samples to validate sperm viability. Light microscopy using EB and using SYBR-PI enabled an effective and clear differentiation between alive and dead spermatozoa of falcons. Motility values correlated significantly and strongly with EB only (r = .629; p < .001), but not with any other stain used in the study. Therefore, our results suggest EB as the most suitable stain for viability assessment in the semen of large falcons. |
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Keywords: | andrology assisted reproduction live/dead count semen analysis sperm vitality supravital stain |
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