Resumen

QUINTERO-MORENO, Armando et al. Morphometric Evaluation of Sperm Head of Domestic Pig According their Age. Rev. Cient. (Maracaibo) [online]. 2009, vol.19, n.2, pp.153-158. ISSN 0798-2259.

Assisted Sperm Morphometry Analysis (ASMA) was used to determine the sperm head dimensions (DCE) of boar by age, and then the data set clustered in sperm subpopulations (SP). To this purpose were evaluated 36 fresh and diluted semen samples of 20 Dalland domestic pigs, which were classified in 2 categories: under 18 months old and over 18 months old. The DCE (Length, µm/ Width, µm/, Area, µm²/ and Perimeter, µm) were analyzed in slides stained by Hemacolor^® by the Sperm-Class Analyser^® (SCA), and the mean measurements recorded. A GLM procedure was performed to evaluate the effects of boar age on sperm head dimensions and clustering analysis (FASTCLUS procedure) to separate in SP. Spermatozoa collected from older boar (over 18 months old) had head length larger (8.84 vs. 8.95 µm) than younger boar (under 18 months old), however, the width (4.44 vs. 4.32 µm), area (33.33 vs. 32.39 µm²) and perimeter (27.65 to 26.3 µm) were smaller in older boar than younger boar. Two SP were clustered in this trial to ratify the differences between younger and older pigs. The mean values of each DCE among the SP were significantly different (P<0.001). Thus, the percentage of representation of the subpopulation that includes those spermatozoa whose dimensions are the largest decreased from 41.61% in pigs under 18 months old to 20.78% in pigs over 18 months old. Whereas, the percent of representation of the SP containing the smallest spermatozoa increased from 58.39% in pigs under 18 months old to 79.22% in pigs over 18 months old. In conclusion, the age of sexually mature domestic male pig had a significant effect on the morphometric traits of their spermatozoa. Older boar had 20% more of smaller spermatozoa than younger boar.

Palabras clave : Spermatozoa; domestic pig; morphometry; age; sperm subpopulations.