Abstract

To eliminate the subjectivity inherent in conventional methods, morphology evaluation of spermatozoa by morphometry using computer based software assisted technique was undertaken. Objective of the present study was to measure various morphometric parameters of spermatozoa of crossbred and Murrah buffalo bulls through computer image analysis. Spermatozoa with intact acrosomes were selected and assessed using an immersion lens (1,000 ×) and standard illumination. The software made it possible to take linear measurements of each spermatozoon: head length, head width, head base, tail length, acrosomal cap length and acrosomal cap width. The results of the morphometric study did not demonstrate the existence of sperm subpopulations. Mean head length, mean head width, mean head base, mean acrosomal cap length and mean acrosomal cap width and mean tail length of spermatozoa of crossbred bull were 9.18±0.01 μm, 5.11±0.01 μm, 2.10±0.01 μm, 3.98±0.01 μm, 4.57±0.01 μm and 61.78±0.01 μm, respectively. Mean head length, mean head width, mean head base, mean acrosomal cap length and mean acrosomal cap width and mean tail length of spermatozoa of Murrah buffalo bull were 7.59±0.01 μm, 4.91±0.01 μm, 2.47±0.01 μm, 3.46±0.01 μm, 4.51±0.01 μm and 56.14±0.01 μm, respectively. All measurements were significantly (P < 0.01) different between two species and buffalo sperm head is more oval than the cattle.

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