Comparative study on sperm morphology and morphometry of Holstein Friesian and Murrah buffalo bull

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the morphometry of the entire sperm of Holstein Friesian and Murrah buffalo bull and also to compare various staining techniques for the evaluation of sperm morphology by light microscopy. For this research work, twelve semen samples, six from Holstein Friesian and six from Murrah buffalo were collected. Smears of neat semen were stained with Hematoxylin Eosin, Toluidine Blue, Silver Nitrate and Eosin Nigrosin dyes. Seven measurements were made including the head length, head width, head base length, acrosomal cap length, acrosomal cap width, mid piece length and total tail length for two hundred spermatozoa with normal morphology. In the present study the mature spermatozoon consisted of head, neck, middle piece, principal piece and end piece. These morphometric measurements were almost similar for the various stains used. In addition, it indicate that Haematoxylin Eosin and Eosin Nigrosin are the suitable staining methods for evaluation of sperm head, Toluidine Blue is suitable stain for the evaluation of mid piece and Eosin Nigrosin is a effective stain for the evaluation of acrosomal cap. Appreciable evaluation was not possible in smears stained with Silver nitrate. Holstein Friesian sperm was longer in length than Murrah buffalo sperm length. The measurements for head length, head width, mid piece length and total tail length were significant (P<0.01) whereas the measurements for head base length, acrosomal cap length and acrosomal cap width were non significant (P<0.01).