A Novel Approach to Assess Semen Freezability

Abstract

Cryopreservation of semen plays an important role in the preservation of genetic resources and its efficiency has been affected by compromised post-thaw sperm quality.1
Considerable evidence suggests that genetic differences have contributed to the wide variations
in post-thaw semen quality, and have encouraged the selection of animals whose semen can
withstand the cryopreservation procedure.2
In the case of boar, variations in semen freezability
have been shown to be related to molecular genetic markers.2
However, a thorough analysis of
the specific genetic markers facilitating freezability will be the most efficient approach to improve the technology of semen cryopreservation. Specifically in the boar, such novel approach
is based on transcriptome analysis of ribonucleic acid-sequencing or RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) data from spermatozoa from individuals with poor and good semen freezability. Moreover,
transcriptome analysis of spermatozoa has identify potential messenger RNA (mRNA) profiles
that could serve as marker for bull semen freezability has been reported.3
So far, RNA-seq data
have been widely used in the analysis of different cellular tissues, but its application in transcriptome study on semen freezability is limited. Therefore, it is hypothesized that transcriptome study on poor and good freezability ejaculates, in conjunction with bioinformatics studies, will provide a more comprehensive approach for the identification of novel sperm-specific
gene transcripts facilitating sperm cryo-tolerance.