Abstract

Incubation of diluted boar sperm from fresh ejaculates in a previously established "in vitro" capacitation medium induced a significant, time-dependent increase in several mean parameters of sperm motility, such as curvilinear velocity (VCL), linear velocity (VSL), mean velocity (VAP), linearity coefficient (LIN), straightness coefficient (STR) and wobble coefficient (WOB). Furthermore, motile boar-sperm semen samples were structured in four definite subpopulations. Subpopulation 1 showed the lowest values of VCL, VSL and VAP and also low values of linearity. Subpopulation 2 showed the second lowest values of VCL and VAP and higher values of LIN and STR. Subpopulation 3 was characterized by high values of velocity and low values of linearity. Finally, Subpopulation 4 was characterized by high values of velocity and linearity. "In vitro" capacitation and further acrosome reaction induced changes in the motility characteristics of each subpopulation as well as in their percentage distribution, Subpopulations 3 and 4 being those that showed the most significant changes. However, despite these changes, the observed, overall four-subpopulation structure was firmly maintained during the entire "in vitro" capacitation and acrosome-reaction process. Our results suggest that capacitation-induced motility changes are related to specific changes in the percentage of each motile-sperm subpopulation in the ejaculate without losing the overall, specific four-subpopulation structure. In this way, the maintenance of a four-subpopulation structure seems to be important in the control of the whole ejaculate physiology. © 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.