Morphology and biometrics of spermatozoa of two breeds of water buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis L.)

• Main Authors: Kalaw, Sofronio P., Claveria, Florencia G., Mamuad, F. V.
• Format: text
• Published: Animo Repository 2013
• Subjects: Water buffalo—Spermatozoa; Biology
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/faculty_research/4297
• Institution: De La Salle University

Bulls of Murrah buffalo, 4 of Indian (IMB) and 4 of Bulgarian (BMB) were used to evaluate the semen quality of the two breedtype, specifically, the color, pH, volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, total concentration and sperm abnormality was evaluated. The semen were collected as follows: a) two successive ejaculation per day at an interval of 4 days; b) four successive ejaculation per day at an interval of 4 days; and c) daily collection of two successive ejaculates for a period of 7 days. Also the biometrics of spermatozoa was compared and the ultra structure of normal spermatozoa of the two breeds was described. In both IMB and BMB, the semen color ranged from light creamy to creamy. The IMB showed higher semen volume, sperm density, sperm motility, total concentration of motile spermatozoa and sperm abnormality but lower pH value compared to the BMB. Although significant differences in the semen parameters evaluated were noted among individual bulls these were insignificant between the two breeds in the three different semen collection procedures used. In both IMB and BMB, semen pH values, sperm concentration and sperm motility were significantly influenced by the four successive ejaculation and daily collection procedures. However, semen color, volume and sperm abnormality were not significantly affected. Increased frequency of ejaculation and semen collection resulted in a significant reduction in sperm count with no appreciable decrease in semen volume but with significant increase in pH toward the alkaline value, and increased sperm motility. The IMB sperm was found to be longer (60.57 ± 3.50 um), with shorter (7.84± 1.09 um) and narrower head (5.0 ± 0.75 um), shorter midpiece (12.0 ± 1.02 um) and longer tailpiece (44.70 ± 3. 53 um) than those of the BMB (58.4 ± 4.27 um, 8.10 ± 0.60um, 6.0 ± 0.50um. 12.26 ± 1.06um, and 38.0 ± 3.43, respectively). The sperm of both breeds consists of the head, neck and flagellum. The head has a cone-shaped blunt ended acrosome. The flagellum is characterized as a typical cartwheel pattern of 9 doublets and 2 central pairs of microtubules. Results of the study show that both IMB and BMB can be used as a source of quality semen for artificial insemination. When there is an urgent need for semen, three successive ejaculations in BMB and two successive ejaculations in IMB or daily collection for three consecutive days for both IMB and BMB are highly recommended.