Author(s): GONÇALVES, A. A.; GARCIA, A. R.; CRUZ, G. S. DA; SANTOS, S. DO S. D.; OHASHI, O. M.

Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effect of short-term heat stress on sperm morphology, relating them to the stages of spermatogenesis. Adult buffalo bulls underwent scrotal insulation (day 0; 48 hours). Semen samples were collected every 7 days (day -7 to day 49) and analyzed. Heat stress destabilized scrotal thermoregulation (36.1±0.3 °C and 35.5±2.3 °C, after 24 and 48 hours of insulation) and returned to baseline five days after removal of the stressor stimulus (33.2±0.6°C). The sequential expression of the morphological defects showed tail defects (days 7 to 14), cytoplasmic droplets (days 14 to 28) and sperm head defects (day 28). Hyperthermia more severely damaged sperm in epididymal transit, elongated sperm and secondary spermatocytes. Thus, buffalo bulls presented a peculiar manifestation of sperm morphological defects after short-term stress, indicating an important difference regarding the bovine species. Therefore, during the andrological evaluation, allometric extrapolation between these species should be avoided.

Publication year: 2021

Types of publication: Paper in annals and proceedings

Unit: Embrapa Southeastern Livestock

Keywords: Defeitos espermáticos, Espermiograma, Insulação escrotal, Scrotal insulation, Sperm defects, Spermiogram