Arachidonate 15-lipoxygenase and ubiquitin as fertility markers in boars

Accurate semen analysis is an important issue in the swine industry. We evaluated two candidate fertility marker proteins associated with sperm cytoplasmic droplet (CD), including 15-lipoxygenase (15-LOX) and ubiquitin (UBI) in a controlled single-sire artificial insemination (AI) trial. Ejaculates ( n = 116) were collected from 18 fertile Large White boars monthly for 8 mo, and analyzed by semi-quantitative, densitometry-based Western blotting and flow cytometry with antibodies against 15-LOX and UBI. Data were correlated with farrowing rates (FR) and total numbers of piglets born (TNB) from 1754 AI services by 13 of 18 boars, and compared with a conventional microscopic semen analysis. In semi-quantitative Western blotting, both 15-LOX and UBI were correlated with seasonal changes in the percentage of normal ( r = −0.38, P < 0.01; r = −0.27, P < 0.05, respectively) and CD-bearing spermatozoa ( r = 0.35, P < 0.01; r = 0.27, P < 0.05, respectively). In flow cytometry, UBI and 15-LOX levels showed seasonal changes coinciding with seasonal changes of FR and TNB, representing 13 boars, 88 ejaculates and 1,232 AI services. There were correlations between flow cytometric values of UBI and FR ( r = 0.31; P < 0.05), adjusted FR ( r = 0.30; P < 0.05), TNB ( r = −0.38; P < 0.01) and adjusted TNB ( r = −0.37; P < 0.01). Flow cytometric measurements of 15-LOX correlated negatively with TNB ( r = −0.33; P < 0.05) and adjusted TNB ( r = −0.34; P < 0.05). These data suggested that boar fertility estimation could be achieved within a group of fertile boars by the use of objectively measurable fertility markers. Flow cytometry appeared more informative and more practical than semi-quantitative Western blotting. This technology could be further optimized for the selection of the most fertile sires in an artificial insemination program.