Relationship between stallion sperm motility and viability as detected by two fluorescence staining techniques using flow cytometry

Relationships between sperm motility parameters and viability were evaluated using two fluorescent staining techniques in fresh extended semen (fresh and after 24 It storage at 5 degreesC) that had various concentrations of dead sperm added to simulate different levels of viable and nonviable sperm. Both protocols incorporated SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI) while the second protocol added the mitochondrial probe JC-1. The relationship between total sperm motility and percent viable sperm was high between staining protocols (r = 0.98). Time (0 It versus 24 h, P < 0.0001) and treatment (0, 10, 25, 50, and 75% nonviable sperm, P < 0.0001) affected percent total sperm motility and percent viable sperm for both staining protocols. Actual percent viable sperm for each time and treatment did not differ from expected values. (C) 2003 Published by Elsevier Science Inc.