Scrotal insulation and sperm production in the boar

Seasonal infertility is a limiting factor in boar fertility, and is increasingly important as climate changes. Spermatogenesis in the boar produces 256 spermatozoa per type A1 spermatogonium, but the process is inefficient such that only 10–30% of these potential spermatozoa are actually produced. H...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Molecular reproduction and development 2017-09, Vol.84 (9), p.969-978
Main Authors: Parrish, John J., Willenburg, Kilby L., Gibbs, Katelynn M., Yagoda, Kylie B., Krautkramer, Megan M., Loether, Teyanna M., Melo, Fabiana C.S.A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Apoptosis
Climate change
DNA damage
Exposure
Fertility
Germ cells
Heat
heat stress
Heat Stress Disorders - metabolism
Heat Stress Disorders - pathology
Heat Stress Disorders - physiopathology
Heat tolerance
Infertility
Infertility, Male - metabolism
Infertility, Male - pathology
Infertility, Male - physiopathology
Male
Meiosis
Phagocytosis
Scrotum - metabolism
Scrotum - pathology
Scrotum - physiopathology
Seasons
semen quality
Sperm
Spermatogenesis
Spermatozoa - metabolism
Spermatozoa - pathology
Swine
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Summary:Seasonal infertility is a limiting factor in boar fertility, and is increasingly important as climate changes. Spermatogenesis in the boar produces 256 spermatozoa per type A1 spermatogonium, but the process is inefficient such that only 10–30% of these potential spermatozoa are actually produced. Heat further impacts spermatogenesis by reducing the number of specific germ cells produced while increasing the fraction of abnormal sperm. Early studies used whole‐animal exposure to simulate seasonal exposure to heat under production settings, but this approach is associated with many confounding factors that make assessment of the mechanisms of heat‐induced damage to spermatogenesis difficult. Scrotal insulation provides a better model to investigate the mechanisms and potential mitigation strategies of heat‐induce damage. For example, scrotal insulation helped identify a link between short‐term heat stress and damage to meiotic germ cells. This outcome is likely due to changes in the integrity of the blood‐testis barrier, which induce apoptosis, autophagy and DNA damage in the germ cells. Further understanding how heat damages spermatogenesis, and whether or not this can be repaired, are crucial to mitigating heat effects on boars in production settings.
ISSN:1040-452X
1098-2795
DOI:10.1002/mrd.22841