Informative value of study of mineral composition of the mane hair to assess quality of stallions' sperm.

The research aim was to study the effect of the elemental status of stallions detected by concentration of chemical elements in the mane hair on the quality indicators of sperm. The research was done on stallions of Arabian breed (n = 54) aged from 5 to 15 years. Hair samples were taken from plot of the mane in the area of projection of the first cervical vertebra (not less 0.24g). The elemental composition of biosubstrates was explored for 5 toxic elements (Al, Cd, Pb, Sn, Sr) by atomic emission and mass spectrometry (AES-ICP and MS-ICP). Spearman rank correlation was calculated at the first stage of the experiment that demonstrated negative correlation of Sr in the hair with volume of ejaculate (r=-0.55; P < 0.05) and total number of progressive motile spermatozoa (r=-0.31; P < 0.05). The entire research sample was divided into three groups: I - concentration of Sr in the hair below 1.88 mcg/g; II - within 1.89 - 3.89 mcg/g; III - above 3.9 mcg/g. Comparative analysis showed that stallions with Sr levels below 1.88 mcg/g (group I) exceed stallions from group II by ejaculate volume by 18.2%; sperm survival in hypothermic sperm preservation after cryopreservation by 24.1% (P < 0.05); total spermatozoa number by 14.6% (P < 0.05); total number of progressive motile spermatozoa by 15.0% (P < 0.05). Difference in the value of the studied parameters between the animals of groups I and III was even more pronounced and was at the level of 38.2% (P < 0.01); 34.7 (P < 0.05); 23.7 (P < 0.05); 26.7% (P < 0.05), respectively. The research was carried out with the support of Russian Science Foundation (project ?. 17-16-01109 P). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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