Evaluation of the "Hamilton Thorn computer-based automated system" for dogsemen analysis

An objective evaluation of semen is warranted to assess the canine male fer tility and to select appropriate techniques and extenders for semen preserv ation. With conventional microscopic evaluation, the subjectivity of the an alysis makes any comparison of results difficult. In the present study, we validated the Hamilton Thorn computer-aided semen analyzer (HTR-IVOS10 anal yzer) for objective assessment of canine semen. A description of fertile ca nine motility parameters using this analyzer is reported. Semen analysis at 38 degreesC is found to be more optimal and accurate than 30 degreesC. The Makler chamber was preferred to the Cell-vu. which induced a decrease of a ll semen motility parameters. The repeatability of the measures was good wi th intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variation below 10% and 20%, resp ectively, for must of measured parameters. An overestimation of semen conce ntration, increasing with dilution of semen, was observed when HTR-IVOS10 r esults were compared with the classical manual Makler cell evaluation. A si gnificant decrease in semen motility parameters was recorded when high seme n dilutions were used. Generated from the analysis of 42 mature fertile mal e beagle dogs, a description of semen motility parameters using the CASA sy stem is presented to serve as reference when comparing Beagle ejaculates bo th in clinical and experimental studies. (C) 2001 by Elsevier Science Inc.