Effects of Escherichia coli Contamination on Extended Porcine Semen Parameters

• Published in: Reproductive & developmental biology Vol. 35; no. 4
• Main Authors: So, K.M., National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Seonghwan, Republic of Korea, Sa, S.J., National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Seonghwan, Republic of Korea, Kim, H.J., National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Seonghwan, Republic of Korea, Chung, K.H., Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Jinju, Republic of Korea, Jung, B.Y., Animal, Plant and Fisheries Quarantine and Inspection Agency, Anyang, Republic of Korea, Son, J.H., Noah Biotech. Inc., Cheonan, Republic of Korea, Kim, I.C., National Institute of Animal Science, RDA, Seonghwan, Republic of Korea
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 30.12.2011
• Subjects: ESCHERICHIA COLI; Extended porcine semen; Flowcytometery; Semen parameters; Semen quality
• ISSN: 1738-2432

The objective of this study was to determine the effects of E. coli isolated from porcine semen on sperm viability, motility, and semen pH. Semen samples were prepared using commercial extender, Seminark∨Pro (Noahbio Tech, Korea) that did not contain antibiotics. And 4 different levels of E. coli were artificially innoculated to semen with following concentrations; 4,000 of sperms with 1 of E. coli (T1), 400 with 1 (T2), 40 with 1 (T3), and 4 with 1 (T4). Semen samples were preserved at 17℃ for 5 days in semen storage box until analyzed by flowcytometer. Aliquots were subjected to measure the sperm viability (Live/Dead∨_ stain), motility (mitochondrial function), and semen acidity (pH) from day 0 (day of semen collection) to day 5. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) on day 0 (4 hrs after preservation at 17℃) in T3 and T4 compared to control groups and were significantly decreased (p less than 0.05) in all groups from day 3. Sample pH was acidic in T3 (6.90~6.86) and T4 (6.86~6.65) from day 3 to day 5 (p less than 0.05). On the other hand, sample pH was maintained 7.0~7.1 in control, T1, and T2 during the experimental period. Sperm motility and viability were significantly decreased from day 0 to day 5 compared to control in samples contaminated with E. coli above a value of 40:1 (20×10∨6 sperm cells/ml : 5×10∨5 cfu/ml). Even on day 1 in T4 and on day 3 in T3, semen pH was acidic probably due to the acidification of dead spermatozoa. These results suggest that E. coli contamination has a concentration-dependent detrimental effect on extended porcine semen quality.