Membrane integrity evaluation in rabbit spermatozoa

Objectives: The behaviour of head and tail sperm membrane subjected to different vitality tests was evaluated, searching for possible correlations with sperm motility. Study design: On fresh semen from seven rabbits we performed: the Eosin Exclusion Test (EET) and, with different incubation times ( T 0, T 5, T 30), a Hypoosmotic Swelling Test (HOS-test) and a combined Hypoosmotic and Eosin Test (HE-test). Kinetic parameters were determined by using the CASA system CELL-TRAK. Statistical analysis was performed by one way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. Results: The HOS-test revealed significant differences between percentages of curled spermatozoa at T 0 (67.86±4.28) versus T 5 (72.86±3.28) and versus T 30 (75.14±6.5). Among four types of spermatozoa obtained with the HE-test, percentage of Type 1 sperm (HOS+/Eosine) at T 0 (32.3%±6.65), was lower than motile sperm (66.86%±9.72) but positively correlated. Conclusions: The HE-test is a rapid instrument for predicting sperm motility, selecting spermatozoa with a high degree of membrane resistance both in the tail and the head compartment.