Stallions experience lower per-cycle conception rates compared to other livestock species, largely because they are selected for breeding based on athletic prowess and not reproductive fitness. Mares are seasonal breeders, and pregnancies cannot be detected until 10-14 days post cover via transrectal ultrasonography. This means the detection of stallion fertility fluctuations is delayed by at least 2 weeks, which within the short breeding season employed by the thoroughbred horse breeding industry, can prove quite costly. For these reasons, there is increased demand for robust laboratory assays aimed at the accurate assessment of stallion fertility. This paper reviews our existing knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms that underpin the functional competence of stallion spermatozoa, highlighting the relative importance of oxidative stress, DNA damage, sperm proteomics and RNA profile. We also consider the way in which fundamental improvements in our understanding of stallion sperm biology are informing the identification and development of possible biomarkers of fertility and thus avenues for the development of specific assays for fertility prediction.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
|---|---|
| http://dx.doi.org/10.1530/REP-19-0060 | DOI Listing |
Publication Analysis
Top Keywords
Similar Publications
Granulosa cell function in domestic animals: A review on the in vitro effects of FSH, insulin and insulin-like growth factor 1.
Domest Anim Endocrinol
January 2025
Department of Agriculture, Veterinary & Rangeland Sciences, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 89557 USA.
Ovarian granulosa cells produce a variety of biologically active compounds in addition to steroid hormones that include numerous families of growth factors, cytokines and adipokines. Many of these function as endocrine, paracrine and autocrine hormones to regulate ovarian activity. The goal of this review is to provide an update on the evidence in domestic animals on how FSH, insulin and IGF1 regulate the function of granulosa cells with a focus on ovarian steroidogenesis and cell proliferation with comparisons across six domestic animals: pigs, cattle, horses, water buffalo, goats and sheep.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSperm vitrification in horses and donkeys.
J Equine Vet Sci
January 2025
Veterinary Reproduction Group, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Spain. Electronic address:
Sperm vitrification is an alternative freezing method, which includes high cooling rates and non-permeable cryoprotectants agents. The first attempt in equids was using the spheres technique by directly dropping small volumes of the sperm into liquid nitrogen. Later, vitrification was developed using 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFluctuations of antimüllerian hormone, ovarian follicular reserve, and antioxidant status throughout the estrous cycle in aged mares.
Open Vet J
November 2024
Theriogenology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.
Background: Senility influences fertility in women and companion animals, especially horses.
Aim: This study aimed to investigate the effect of aging in horses on the daily changes in the dominant follicle (DF) dynamics and hemodynamics, antimüllerian hormone (AMH), enzymes, antioxidants, and ovarian hormones during the estrous cycle.
Methods: Ovaries of old mares ( = 5, age >20 years) and young native mares ( = 6, age <10 years) were scanned during 6 different estrous cycles from March 2022 to August 2023 with Doppler ultrasound.
The use of sex-sorted semen in horses.
J Equine Vet Sci
December 2024
STgenetics Navasota Texas, USA.
The application of sex-sorted semen in horses has historically lagged the bovine industry due to differences in the reproductive physiology and grater variability in equine semen quality. Recent advancements, including SuperGen™ sorters and Ultraplus™ semen processing methods developed by STgenetics® (Navasota, Texas), have significantly improved the efficiency of the sex-sorting process and reduced the sperm damage previously reported. To facilitate the broader use sex-sorted semen in the equine industry, it is essential to address challenges such as shipping cooled semen to a central sorting facility, minimizing oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation, and developing effective methods for short-term cooling or long-term cryopreservation of the sex-sorted sperm.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTranscriptomic analysis of luteal tissue supports the earlier onset of luteolysis in heifers with diminished ovarian reserve.
Reprod Fertil Dev
December 2024
USDA, § ARS, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE, USA.
Context Antral follicle count (AFC) is reflective of ovarian reserve and linked to reproductive performance in mammalian females. We previously demonstrated earlier upregulation of endometrial oxytocin receptor transcription in heifers with low AFC, indicating an earlier onset of luteolysis. Aims We aimed to support the earlier onset of luteolysis in non-pregnant heifers with a low number of antral ovarian follicles (Open Low AFC) and hypothesized a reduced abundance of luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin receptor (LH/CG-R ) and increased abundance of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1 ) in luteal tissue of those heifers.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWant AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!