Effect of column filtration upon the quality parameters of fresh dog semen

We filtered dog semen through various resin columns to obtain a quick, simp le system for improving semen quality. Fresh ejaculates were filtered throu gh columns with either glasswool or a chemically-inert polypropylene networ k disc. The columns were filled with Sephadex G-15 (nonionic resin), Sephad ex A-50 (anionic-exchange resin), Sephadex C-50 (cationic-exchange resin) o r a combination of Sephadex A-50 and C-50. Filtration through glasswool imp roved semen quality, with a significant (P<0.001) increase in the percentag e of viability and decrease in the percentage of altered acrosomes(P<0.001) and total abnormalities (P<0.001). Total motility was not modified, but cu rvilinear velocity or linearity of the movement were improved using the gla sswool bed. The effect of the glasswool was so intense that it masked the e ffects of the filtration resins. Substitution of glasswool by polypropylene discs resulted in an unmasking of the effects of the resins, although the polypropylene exerted slight effects on semen. Elution of the spermatozoa t hrough Sephadex G-15 or Sephadex C-50 resulted in a decrease of altered acr osomes. However, filtration through Sephadex A-50 increased viability and d ecreased the percentage of altered acrosomes and total abnormalities. Combi ned filtration through Sephadex A-50 and C-50 yielded the combined results observed with the resins individually. Ultrastructural imaging of the inter action between spermatozoa and the beds and resins showed that the cells we re loosely deposited upon the glasswool fibers and the Sephadex G-15 partic les, whereas close interaction was observed between spermatozoa and Sephade x A-50 and C-50 particles. The whole of the sperm cell bound to C-50 partic les, whereas spermatozoa were specifically banded to A-50 particles in the apical region of the head and in segments of the tail which were periodical ly distributed. The data suggest that filtration through glasswool or an an ionic resin-exchange can significantly improve dog semen quality. (C) 1998 by Elsevier Science Inc.