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Seminal Changes in Boars After Heat Stress

Spermaförändringar av värmestress hos galtar.

Abstract

The object of the present study was to investigate the influence of elevated ambient temperature on sperm production, sperm morphology and composition of seminal plasma in boars. A total of 8 boars were used, 4 of them were exposed to 35°C, in a climate room, during 100 h and 4 served as controls and were kept at 20°C during 100 h in the climate room.

Ejaculate volume and total sperm count per ejaculate remained unaltered. An obvious decrease in sperm motility was seen in all heat exposed boars 15–21 days after the exposure. The most consistent increase in sperm abnormalities were proximal cytoplasmic droplets and abnormal sperm heads. The highest levels were found during the 4th week after exposure. All the sperm characteristics assessed had returned to normal levels at the end of the experimental period, which means 7–8 weeks after the end of exposure.

Only minor and inconsistent alterations were found in the seminal plasma components analysed and these changes were observed both in control and experimental boars.

Sammanfattning

Ändamalet med denna undersökning var att studera inverkan av förhöjd omgivningstemperatur på spermaproduktion, sperimiemorfologi och spermaplasmans sammansättning hos galtar. Totalt ingick 8 galtar i försöket. Fyra av dem exponerades för 35° C under 100 timmar i en klimatkammare, me dan 4 galtar an vän des som kontroller med 20° C temperatur under 100 timmar i klimatkammare.

Ejakulatvolym och totalantal spermier per ejakulat påverkades inte. Spermiemotiliteten sjönk hos alla galtar som utsattes för värmestress och var lägst 15–21 dagar efter värmestressen. De mest påtagliga förändringarna i spermiemorfologin var förhöjda frekvenser proximala cytoplasmadroppar och spermiehuvuddefekter. De högsta nivaerna återfanns under 4:e veckan efter värmestressen. Spermiemorfologin hade normaliserais vid slutet av försöksperioden dvs 7–8 vecor efter värmestressen.

Spermaplasmans sammansättning var i stört sett oförändrad under heia försöksperioden. Mindre förändringar observerades hos saväl kontrollgaltar som försöksgaltar.

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son, K.L., Einarsson, S. Seminal Changes in Boars After Heat Stress. Acta Vet Scand 25, 57–66 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03547279

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