(229) The Relationship Between Spermatozoa Motility and Biogenic and Risk Elements in Wild Boar Testes

Marko Halo Jr.^1*, Filip Tirpák², Michal Miškeje³, Marzena Albrycht⁴, Martin Massányi³, Tomáš Slanina¹, Jiřina Zemanová¹, Lukasz J. Binkowski⁴, Robert Stawarz⁴, Marko Halo⁵, Peter Massányi¹

¹ Institute of Applied Biology, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovak Republic;

² Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA;

³AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovak Republic;

⁴ Institute of Biology, University of the National Education Commission, Kraków, Poland;

⁵ Institute of Animal Husbandry, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Slovak Republic.

*Corresponding Author: marko.halo1@uniag.sk

Abstract Text:

The wild boar is one of the most wide-spread wild animals in Slovak Republic. Based on its excellent adaptation it can inhabit countryside as well as suburbs, therefore it meets different pollutants. Wild boars are exposed to pollutants mainly by soil and water, due to searching for feed in the soil by digging. Environmental pollution results in serious health hazards to animals, reflected in biogenic and risk elements concentrations in animal tissues. The objective of this study was to examinate concentration of selected elements in testes, and epididymal spermatozoa motility of wild boars. Sexually matured (n=26) wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa) were hunted in region Žuhračka - Levice, Slovak Republic. Testes were removed post-mortem and the weight of the testicles ranged from 327 g to 924 g. Spermatozoa were collected from cauda epididymis and assessed by Computer Assisted Semen Analyzer (CASA) system. The concentration of selected elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Zn) in wild boar testes were analysed using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrophotometer (ICP-OES) and selective mercury analyser to quantify the concentrations of Hg. The mean value of epididymal spermatozoa motility was 44.29% and progressive motility 18.47%. The concentration of analyzed elements in the testes was as follows: K > Na > Mg > Ca > Fe > Zn > Al > Cu > Se > Mn > As > Cr > Pb > Mo > Sr > Ni > Ba > Cd > Li > Hg. Results of correlation analysis between motility parameters and trace elements showed significant (p < 0.01) negative correlation between Se and motility, furthermore significant correlation (p < 0.05) between Se and progressive motility. The negative correlation between As and spermatozoa velocity, respectively between As and beat cross frequency contended a significance at level p < 0.05. Relationship between beat cross frequency and Hg showed significant positive correlation (p < 0.01). The data may serve as a fine control indicator to detect potentially toxic elements accumulated from polluted environment that can affect reproduction of wild animals. The accumulation of potentially toxic elements in wildlife animals body affect fertility, spermatogenesis and last but not least, the offspring.


Funding: This research was funded by projects: VEGA 1/0698/22, KEGA 035SPU-4/2023 and APVV-21-0168.