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* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: dsalar{at}unileon.es.
The effect of seasonality (temperate environment; Spain) on the chromatin status of ovine (Churra breed), Iberian red deer and brown bear spermatozoa was studied. This work aims to improve genetic resource banks (GRBs) by enhancing existing knowledge of the effect of season on sperm quality. Samples were obtained by electroejaculation in Iberian red deer and brown bear and by artificial vagina in ram. We used the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) to study the level of chromatin condensation of the spermatozoa in each studied period. These periods were: ram, breeding season (from September to January), non-breeding season (from February to June) and summer (July and August); red deer, breeding season (September and October), post-breeding (November) and non-breeding (from January to March); brown bear, pre-breeding (March and April), breeding (May and June), post-breeding (July and August) and non-breeding (September to February). Chromatin in ram was more decondensated in summer and no differences were observed between the breeding and non-breeding season. However, in red deer, spermatozoa obtained during the non-breeding season showed more condensed chromatin than those obtained in the rut and post-rut periods. Similarly, brown bear rendered sperm with loose chromatin in the pre-breeding and breeding seasons. Less condensed chromatin in the breeding season may be related to faster epididymal transit due to enhanced spermatogenesis.
Key words: Sperm •
Spermatogenesis •
chromatin •
SCSA •
brown bear •
ram •
red deer
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