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Al-Kass Z, Morrell JM. Freezing Stallion Semen-What Do We Need to Focus on for the Future? Vet Sci 2024; 11:65. [PMID: 38393083 PMCID: PMC10893461 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11020065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/20/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) is used frequently in the breeding of sport horses, apart from Thoroughbreds. Most AIs are carried out with cooled semen rather than frozen semen because of the difficulties in identifying a protocol that is suitable for freezing most ejaculates and the necessity to inseminate close to ovulation because of the short life of the thawed spermatozoa. More widespread use of frozen semen would improve biosecurity, allow greater choice of stallions, and offer more flexibility when managing deliveries of semen to the stud. It would even decrease the amount of antibiotics used in semen extenders, since the volume of frozen semen is smaller than when cooled semen is inseminated. However, there is considerable variability in the cryosurvival of spermatozoa from different stallions, leading to the classification of stallions as good or bad freezers. Improvements could be made at the level of stallion nutrition, the semen collection regimen, the extender, the removal of seminal plasma, and the cooling protocol, among others. Stallion sperm membranes are highly susceptible to lipid peroxidation, but research on antioxidants has failed to identify an additive that would benefit all stallions. In the future, biomarkers for sperm freezability could be used as an aid in identifying suitable ejaculates for cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyad Al-Kass
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden;
- Department of Surgery and Theriogenology, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Mosul, Mosul 41002, Iraq
| | - Jane M. Morrell
- Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden;
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Talluri TR, Kumaresan A, Paul N, Elango K, Raval K, Nag P, Legha RA, Pal Y. Heterologous Seminal Plasma Reduces the Intracellular Calcium and Sperm Viability of Cryopreserved Stallion Spermatozoa. Biopreserv Biobank 2024; 22:82-87. [PMID: 37466468 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2022.0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite the vital role of seminal plasma (SP) in maintaining sperm function and aiding gamete interaction in many species, SP is usually removed before cryopreservation of stallion sperm to improve cryosurvival of sperm. The present study assessed if the vital sperm functional parameters of genetically superior stallions producing poor quality semen can be enhanced by the supplementation of heterologous SP from the stallion producing high quality semen. Spermatozoa from poor quality semen producing stallions were divided into three aliquots: two aliquots were supplemented with SP obtained from good quality semen producing stallions at the rate of 20% and 30%, respectively, whereas the third aliquot remained as control (0% SP) and incubated at 37°C for 30 minutes. Sperm membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), mitochondrial superoxide (mtROS) generation, and intracellular calcium status were assessed at different time intervals during incubation by flow cytometry. It was observed that the dead sperm population increased (p < 0.01) during incubation in both the 20% and 30% SP-supplemented groups. However, no significant changes were observed in MMP in both the control and treatment groups at different time intervals. Interestingly, it was found that sperm mtROS production increased (p < 0.01) during incubation in the SP-supplemented groups compared with the control group. The proportion of live spermatozoa with high intracellular calcium was reduced (p < 0.01) during incubation in the SP-incubated groups. Collectively, heterologous SP addition could not repair the damages caused by the cryopreservation and further resulted in deterioration of semen quality as observed in our study by reducing viability, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) production possibly due to high proportion of dead cells, or some factors (yet to be identified) that are inducive of oxidative stress in stallion spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirumala Rao Talluri
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arumugam Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Nilendu Paul
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Kamaraj Elango
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Kathan Raval
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pradeep Nag
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | | | - Yash Pal
- ICAR-National Research Centre on Equines, Hisar, Haryana
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Contreras MJ, Arias ME, Fuentes F, Muñoz E, Bernecic N, Fair S, Felmer R. Cellular and Molecular Consequences of Stallion Sperm Cryopreservation: Recent Approaches to Improve Sperm Survival. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 126:104499. [PMID: 37105416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of stallion semen does not achieve the post-thaw quality or fertility results observed in other species like cattle. There are many reasons for this, but the membrane composition and intracellular changes in stallion sperm predispose them to low resistance to the cooling, freezing, and subsequent thawing process. Damage to the sperm results from different processes activated during cryopreservation, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, and structural modifications in the sperm membrane that increase the deleterious effect on sperm. In addition, significant individual variability is observed among stallions in the ability of sperm to survive the freeze-thaw process. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics are making it possible to advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the cryopreservation process, opening new possibilities for improvement. This review addresses the ongoing research on stallion semen cryopreservation, focusing on the cellular and molecular consequences of this procedure in stallions and discusses the new tools currently available to increase the tolerance of equine spermatozoa to freeze-thaw.
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Affiliation(s)
- María José Contreras
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - María Elena Arias
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Department of Agricultural Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Fernanda Fuentes
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Doctoral Program in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Erwin Muñoz
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Doctoral Program in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Naomi Bernecic
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ricardo Felmer
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Department of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
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Andrade AFC, Knox RV, Torres MA, Pavaneli APP. What is the relevance of seminal plasma from a functional and preservation perspective? Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106946. [PMID: 35216848 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.106946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
When preserving sperm in the liquid or cryopreserved state, seminal plasma (SP) components within ejaculates can alter fertilizing capacity of these gametes. Depending on the species or how semen is collected, volume and concentration of SP components varies considerably. The SP contains substances essential for maintenance of sperm viability and fertility; however, these components can be deleterious depending on quantity, or duration of time before there is removal of SP from sperm in semen processing. Substances that impair (e.g., BSP - bull; HSP-1 - stallion; Major seminal plasma protein PSPI - boar) or improve (e.g., spermadhesin PSP-I - boar) spermatozoa fertilizing capacity have been identified. Depending on individual males, species, and semen collection procedures, SP removal may be beneficial before preservation in the liquid or cryopreserved state. In some cases, SP that is removed can be added back to thawing extender with there being positive effects in thawed sperm and for sperm viability in the female reproductive tract. In this review article, there is a focus on different effects of SP in samples of cooled and cryopreserved semen from four domestic species (pigs, horses, cattle, and sheep) with there being emphasis on how SP modulates the function and morphology of sperm cells before, during, and after preservation in the refrigerated or cryopreserved state. The present review is part of the Festschrift in honor of Dr. Duane Garner who made major contributions to the area of focus in this manuscript as evidenced by the many times his research is cited in this manuscript.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F C Andrade
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States.
| | - R V Knox
- Department of Animal Sciences, College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, United States.
| | - M A Torres
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - A P P Pavaneli
- Department of Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Oddi S, Carluccio A, Ciaramellano F, Mascini M, Bucci R, Maccarrone M, Robbe D, Dainese E. Cryotolerance of equine spermatozoa correlates with specific fatty acid pattern: A pilot study. Theriogenology 2021; 172:88-94. [PMID: 34146973 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2021.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation represents a powerful tool for horse breeding. To improve the efficiency of artificial insemination in the horse using cryopreserved spermatozoa, an adequate understanding of the underlying biophysical properties that affect sperm cryosurvival needs to be reached yet. In this pilot study, we described isolation and analysis of the main fatty acids from sperms of stallions classified as good and poor freezers (7 GF and 5 PF, according to sperm motility and viability, before and after cryopreservation). Fatty acid profiles were only assessed in pre-thaw sperms. Eight main fatty acids were identified, using gas chromatography, and their contents were expressed as percentage of the total lipid content. We found that lauric, myristic and oleic acid (C12:0, C14:0 and C18:1n9c) turned out to be about 2-fold more abundant in the sperm cells of the GFs compared with PFs. Moreover, we described for the first time the presence of a very high amount of a trans geometrical isomer of linoleic acid, linolelaidic acid (C18:2n6t), in pre-thaw PF spermatozoa. Notably, we found in fresh sperms of PF stallions a ratio of unsaturated fatty acids to saturated fatty acids which was twice that of those of GF group, suggesting a positive effect of a high saturated-to-unsaturated fatty acid ratio for the "freezability" of equine spermatozoa. Finally, principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed the relationships between specific fatty acids and cryotolerance of equine spermatozoa, also providing a graphical classification and additional information about the dominant variables governing the classification process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Oddi
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, 64100, Italy; European Center for Brain Research (CERC)/Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS, Rome, 00143, Italy.
| | - Augusto Carluccio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, 64100, Italy
| | | | - Marcello Mascini
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Roberta Bucci
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, 64100, Italy
| | - Mauro Maccarrone
- Department of Applied Clinical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of L'Aquila, 67100, L'Aquila, Italy
| | - Domenico Robbe
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Teramo, 64100, Italy.
| | - Enrico Dainese
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy.
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Loureiro KC, Lima-Verde IB, Johannisson A, Ntallaris T, Jager A, Štěpánek P, da Costa Mendonça M, Severino P, Morrell JM. Effects of cashew gum and nanoparticles on cooled stallion semen. Acta Vet Scand 2020; 62:31. [PMID: 32552825 PMCID: PMC7302125 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-020-00530-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa tends to cause plasma membrane damage due to the low ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids. Gums have been suggested as an alternative cryoprotectant to glycerol for stallion spermatozoa. Therefore, the present experiment was designed to verify whether the effect of addition of cashew gum (CG), or nanoparticles (NP) containing CG, to the extender before cooling on sperm quality in stallion semen. Ejaculates from 6 stallions were extended and split between six treatment groups (control, a-tocopherol [TOC], CG1, CG0.5, NP1 and NP0.5), stored in cryotubes at 4 °C. RESULTS Aliquots were analysed by computer-assisted sperm motility analysis on the day of collection, and after 24 h and 48 h of cold storage. After 48 h, the total motility with NP1 (78.53 + 6.31%) was similar to control 85.79 + 6.31% at 0 h. The same pattern was observed for progressive motility. Membrane integrity assessed by flow cytometer was similar between control, TOC and G1 at all storage times. The DNA fragmentation in the control group increased at all time points, whereas chromatin integrity was maintained after 24 h in TOC and NP0.5 compared to 0 h. There was no increase in the proportion of live spermatozoa producing hydrogen peroxide, but there was a tendency for an increased proportion of spermatozoa in the live superoxide category in CG1 after 24 h cooled storage. CONCLUSIONS The addition of CG or CG-derived NP to extender for stallion semen was not harmful to the sperm cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahynna Cavalcante Loureiro
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (LNMED), Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49010-390 Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology (PBI), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49032-490 Brazil
- Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Heyrovského námestí 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Isabel Bezerra Lima-Verde
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Anders Johannisson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Theodoros Ntallaris
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Alessandro Jager
- Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Heyrovského námestí 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Petr Štěpánek
- Department of Supramolecular Polymer Systems, Institute of Macromolecular Chemistry, Heyrovského námestí 2, 162 06 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Marcelo da Costa Mendonça
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (LNMED), Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49010-390 Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology (PBI), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49032-490 Brazil
| | - Patrícia Severino
- Laboratory of Nanotechnology and Nanomedicine (LNMED), Institute of Technology and Research (ITP), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49010-390 Brazil
- Postgraduate Program in Industrial Biotechnology (PBI), Tiradentes University (UNIT), Av. Murilo Dantas 300, Aracaju, 49032-490 Brazil
| | - Jane M. Morrell
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7054, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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USUGA ALEXANDRA, ROJANO BENJAMIN, RESTREPO GIOVANNI. Lyophilized seminal plasma can improve stallion semen freezability. THE INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2020. [DOI: 10.56093/ijans.v90i2.98769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of lyophilized seminal plasma (LSP) on stallion semen freezability. Seminal plasma from 30 stallions was lyophilized to obtain a pool of LSP. Fifteen ejaculates from five stallions were supplemented before freezing with 0 mg/mL (Control), 1.44 mg/mL (LSP1), 5.04 mg/mL (LSP2) or 8.68 mg/ mL (LSP3) of LSP. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) of LSP was assessed using Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity (ORAC) assay. Post-thaw motility and kinetics, sperm viability, normal morphology and membrane integrity were evaluated. Completely randomized mixed models were fitted for data analyses. The results was analyzed based on freezability of semen samples. TAC for LSP pool was 13679.4±911.6 μmol Trolox 100/g (ORAC units). Semen supplementation with LSP1 and LSP2 showed a positive effect on post-thaw total motility and membrane integrity. Supplementation with LSP3 showed a decrease in post-thaw total and progressive motility, straight line velocity and sperm viability. For poor freezability semen samples, supplementation with LSP1 and LSP2, showed higher post-thaw total motility and membrane integrity than good freezability semen samples. In conclusion, supplementation with LSP can improve the post-thaw seminal quality of stallion semen with poor freezability.
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Ortiz I, Dorado J, Morrell JM, Diaz-Jimenez MA, Pereira B, Consuegra C, Hidalgo M. Comparison of sperm selection techniques in donkeys: motile subpopulations from a practical point of view. Anim Reprod 2019; 16:282-289. [PMID: 33224288 PMCID: PMC7673585 DOI: 10.21451/1984-3143-ar2018-0133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the post-thaw distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, following simple or colloid centrifugation. A new analysis was used to evaluate the available number of sperm from each subpopulation after each centrifugation protocol. Frozen/thawed semen samples were divided into the following after-thawing treatments: uncentrifuged control (UDC), sperm washing (SW) and two colloid centrifugation procedures (Equipure, SLC-E, and Androcoll, SLC-A). Percentage of total and progressive motility (TM and PM), as well as sperm motility kinematics, distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, and recovery rates, were statistically compared among treatments. The SLC treatments showed higher (P < 0.001) TM and PM than UDC and SW. Following each SLC procedure, different percentages of the subpopulation with the most vigorous and progressive sperm (sP4) were obtained. SLC-A recovered a larger number of sperm belonging to sP4 than SLC-E, but not significantly higher than SW. From a practical point of view, sperm washing, the standard centrifugation procedure for equine semen processing, recovered the same amount of fast and progressive sperm as colloid centrifugation, apparently the best treatment according to traditional analysis. In conclusion, samples processed by SLC have higher motility percentages than SW and UDC but, after combining the available number of sperm, SLC and SW techniques are equally efficient in recovering sperm from the most vigorous, fast and progressive motile subpopulation (sP4).
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ortiz
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Jesús Dorado
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Jane M Morrell
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Division of Reproduction, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Maria Angeles Diaz-Jimenez
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Blasa Pereira
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - César Consuegra
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
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