High-throughput sperm assay using label-free microscopy: morphometric comparison between different sperm structures of boar and stallion spermatozoa

Authors: RUBESSA, MARCELLO - University Of Illinois; FEUGANG, JEAN - Mississippi State University; KANDEL, MIKHAIL - Beckman Research Institute; SCHREIBER, SIERRA - University Of Illinois; HESSEE, JADE - University Of Illinois; SALERMO, FRANCESCA - University Of Illinois; MEYERS, SASCHA - University Of Illinois; CHU, IWEI - Mississippi State University; POPESCU, GABRIEL - University Of Illinois; WHEELER, MATHEW - University Of Illinois

Submitted to: Animal Reproduction Science
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/16/2020
Publication Date: 5/23/2020
Citation: Rubessa, M., Feugang, J., Kandel, M., Schreiber, S., Hessee, J., Salermo, F., Meyers, S., Chu, I., Popescu, G., Wheeler, M. 2020. High-throughput sperm assay using label-free microscopy: morphometric comparison between different sperm structures of boar and stallion spermatozoa. Animal Reproduction Science. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106509.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106509

Interpretive Summary: The capacity to use microscopic techniques to evaluate sperm with high-throughput procedures is useful for assisted reproductive technologies (ART) because this can allow for specific selection of sperm cells for in vitro fertilization (IVF). The utilization is essential of microscopy techniques that allow for a precise determination of high-quality spermatozoa while evaluating more variables than only motility and gross morphology. The capacity for microscopic evaluation of sperm is useful for assisted reproductive technologies (ART), because this can allow for specific selection of sperm cells for in vitro fertilization (IVF). This is the first reported comparison using two high-resolution methods: spatial light interference microscopy (SLIM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to evaluate spermatozoa.

Technical Abstract: Here we compared both imaging technologies to the same sperm samples of both boars and stallions, to determine if with one method there was more timely and different information obtained than the other. Results indicate that with the use of SLIM microscopy there is similar nanoscale sensitivity as with use of AFM while there is approximately 1,000 times greater throughput with use of SLIM. With SLIM, there is also allowace for the measurement of the dry mass (non-aqueous content) of spermatozoa, which may be a new label-free marker for sperm viability. In the second part of this study, there was analysis of two sperm populations. There were interesting correlations between the different compartments of the sperm and the dry mass in both boars and stallions. Furthermore, there was a correlation between the dry mass of the sperm head and the length and width of the acrosome in both boars and stallions. This correlation is positive in boars while it is negative in stallions.