Biocolloidal properties of serum-induced agglutination of viable bovine spermatozoa

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-1-1980

Abstract

The objectives were to determine if measurable colloidal properties are involved in serum-induced head-to-head agglutination (HHAgg) of viable bovine spermatozoa. Zero to 8% (v/v) serum was added to diluted bull semen and the ζ-potential (ZP), percentage HHAgg, percentage motility (MOT), and percentage intact acrosomal membranes (IA) of spermatozoa were measured. ZP was determined by microelectrophoresis. HHAgg and IA were quantitated from live semen smears using differential interference contrast optics while MoT was estimated using a phase contrast microscope equipped with an incubation stage. With increasing serum levels, a significant (P < 0.01) linear ZP decrease and quadratic percentage HHAgg increase occurred while the viability measures, MOT and IA, were unaffected. As serum was raised from 0 to 8%, ZP decreased from -15.5 to -12.9 mV, HHAgg increased from 0 to 84%, and MoT and IA averaged 43.6 and 79.3%, respectively. In a second experiment, semen was exposed to two serum levels [0.2 and 10% (v/v)] each at four ionic strengths. Again, increasing serum depressed ZP and increased HHAgg. Increasing ionic strength had a similar depressing effect on ZP at low serum levels but HHAgg was unaffected. IA was greatest at the higher serum-ionic strength treatments. Thus, serum-induced HHAgg is in part explained by alteration of spermatozoan ZP; however, alteration of ZP of viable cells alone does not cause HHAgg as evidenced by the lack of HHAgg response to changing ionic strength. This discrepancy in HHAgg response to ZP as altered by serum vs ionic strength is discussed. © 1980.

Publication Source (Journal or Book title)

Journal of Colloid And Interface Science

First Page

303

Last Page

311

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