Stravogianni Vasiliki, Samaras Theodoros, Boscos Constantin M, Basioura Athina, Markakis Ioannis, Tsakmakidis Ioannis A
School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54627 Thessaloniki, Greece.
School of Physics, Faculty of Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
Vet Sci. 2022 Dec 24;10(1):9. doi: 10.3390/vetsci10010009.
Farm animals behavior research uses video cameras, mainly for visual observation and recording. The purpose of this feasibility study was to enrich the predictable methods of boar semen production capacity by correlating sperm variables with the scrotal contractions (SC) frequency and intensity. A video camera was used to record the reaction of the scrotum during ejaculation. The respective collected ejaculates were evaluated and semen parameters, such as viability, morphology, membranes functional integrity and kinematics, were determined. The camera recorded the scrotal contractions/relaxations and the video was handled by the Image Processing Toolbox of Matlab (Mathworks Inc., Natick, MA, USA). The SC intensity was verified as a percentage change in the scrotum size among the video frames of maximum contraction and relaxation. The archived data from the frames were analyzed statistically, using a linear mixed effects model that involved sperm assessed parameters. Correlations of the SC intensity with the average path velocity, VAP (R = 0.591, = 0.043) and with the percentage of the cytoplasmic droplets (R = 0.509, = 0.036) were noticed. Previous studies reported the positive correlation of VAP with the number of live-born piglets. In conclusion, video monitoring of the boar scrotal function during ejaculation is useful, but more research is needed to establish its appropriateness as a supplementary method for the prognosis of boar ability to produce high-quality semen.
家畜行为研究主要使用摄像机进行视觉观察和记录。本可行性研究的目的是通过将精子变量与阴囊收缩（SC）频率和强度相关联，丰富对公猪精液生产能力的预测方法。使用摄像机记录射精过程中阴囊的反应。对收集到的各份射精样本进行评估，并测定精液参数，如活力、形态、膜功能完整性和运动学参数。摄像机记录阴囊的收缩/松弛情况，视频由Matlab（美国马萨诸塞州纳蒂克市Mathworks公司）的图像处理工具箱处理。SC强度通过最大收缩和松弛视频帧之间阴囊大小的百分比变化来验证。使用涉及精子评估参数的线性混合效应模型对帧存档数据进行统计分析。发现SC强度与平均路径速度VAP（R = 0.591，P = 0.043）以及细胞质滴百分比（R = 0.509，P = 0.036）之间存在相关性。先前的研究报道了VAP与活产仔猪数量之间的正相关关系。总之，射精期间对公猪阴囊功能进行视频监测是有用的，但需要更多研究来确定其作为预测公猪生产高质量精液能力的补充方法的适用性。
