Analysis of sperm chromatin structure in blue foxes (Alopex lagopus) and silver foxes (Vulpes vulpes)

•Semen analysis is a way to predict male fertility.•Genetic material of the sperm of silver foxes was more stable, than arctic foxes.•Analysis of chromatin stability should complement morphological and molecular evaluation of semen. The latest reports indicate that sperm function is significantly in...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Livestock science 2020-01, Vol.231, p.103869, Article 103869
Main Authors: Kuchta-Gładysz, Marta, Andraszek, Katarzyna, Szeleszczuk, Olga, Niedbała, Piotr, Otwinowska-Mindur, Agnieszka
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Comet assay
Foxes
Histone
Protamine
Sperm
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Summary:•Semen analysis is a way to predict male fertility.•Genetic material of the sperm of silver foxes was more stable, than arctic foxes.•Analysis of chromatin stability should complement morphological and molecular evaluation of semen. The latest reports indicate that sperm function is significantly influenced by the chromatin structure of the sperm and the integrity of its DNA. The aim of the study was to determine the level of condensation in the chromatin structure of fresh semen and the degree of damage to the DNA chain in fresh and chilled semen of farmed blue and silver foxes. The sperm of 15 blue foxes and 18 silver foxes at the age of one year was used in the study. The chromatin structure was evaluated by three staining techniques: aniline blue, chromomycin A3 and acridine orange. A comet assay was used to assess sperm DNA integrity in fresh and chilled semen. The average percentage of head DNA changed over time: in blue foxes from 99.12% to 97.83%, and in silver foxes from 99.37% to 98.05%. Highly significant differences (P 
ISSN:1871-1413
1878-0490
DOI:10.1016/j.livsci.2019.103869