THE EFFECT OF DIFFERENT FREEZING PROCEDURES ON SPERM HEAD MORPHOMETRY IN STALLIONS

The evaluation of sperm quality is useful in predicting the fertility of sperm and is of great importance in maximizing reproductive efficency. This work used semen samples collected from 3 stallions and assessed for sperm morphometry (length, width, area, perimeter and ellipticity) before and after cryopreservation with two freezing extenders and procedures and then compared. Sperm freezability was judged according to the sperm quality parameters assessed. Cryopreservation succes was different between freezing methods. Sperm head dimensions were significantly (p<0.05) smaller in cryopreservated samples that in the fresh ones. These data suggest that changes in sperm head morphometry might reflect spermatozoa injury during cryopreservation.