Comparative evaluation of DNA integrity using sperm chromatin structure assay and Sperm‐Ovis‐Halomax during in vitro capacitation of cryopreserved ram spermatozoa

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the ability of sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA^® ) and Sperm-Ovis-Halomax^® to detect DNA fragmentation in frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa incubated under capacitating conditions in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with oestrous sheep serum (SOF-ESS) at multiple time points (0-240 min). Incubation in SOF-ESS had no significant effects on SCSA^® parameters while the percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA measured by Sperm-Ovis-Halomax^® increased after 180 min of incubation. In addition, no correlation or agreement was found between the techniques, suggesting that SCSA^® and Sperm-Ovis-Halomax^® may quantify different types of DNA damage in ram spermatozoa under these experimental conditions.