Comparative computer‐assisted sperm analysis in non‐human primates

• Published in: Journal of medical primatology Vol. 50; no. 2; pp. 108 - 119
• Main Authors: Schmidt, Jenna K., Mean, Katherine D., Dusek, Brittany M., Hinkle, Hayly M., Puntney, Riley C., Alexander, Eric S., Malicki, Kerri B., Sneed, Emily L., Moy, Amy W., Golos, Thaddeus G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.04.2021
• Subjects: Animal models; Animals; Biomechanical Phenomena; Callithrix - physiology; CASA; Embryos; Genome editing; Genomes; In vitro fertilization; Kinematics; Macaca fascicularis - physiology; Macaca mulatta; Macaca mulatta - physiology; macaque; Male; marmoset; Motility; Semen; Semen Analysis - instrumentation; Semen Analysis - methods; Species Specificity; Sperm; Sperm Motility; Spermatozoa - physiology; macaque; sperm; CASA; marmoset
• ISSN: 0047-2565; 1600-0684
• DOI: 10.1111/jmp.12510

Background Biomedical research has recently focused on developing new models of human disease by implementing genome‐editing strategies in non‐human primates (NHPs) to introduce relevant gene mutations. There is a need to establish objective semen evaluation methods to select sires for in vitro fertilization to perform germline editing in embryos. Methods Sperm motility kinematic parameters were evaluated using a computer‐assisted semen analysis (CASA) instrument for rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta), cynomolgus macaques (Macaca fascicularis), and common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus). Results Normative sperm kinematic parameters were established, revealing differences between marmosets and macaques. The impact of season on rhesus macaque sperm motility was modest, where changes in sperm motility related to season were dependent on the individual male. Conclusions These data provide a baseline of normative kinematic parameters for three captive NHP species, in which implementation of CASA may serve as a tool to evaluate NHP semen quality.