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Since our founding in 1948, Morris Animal Foundation has funded hundreds of health research studies to protect, treat and cure the world's companion animals and wildlife.
Our studies have led to major advances in veterinary care, including vaccines and other preventions, diagnostic tools and new therapies for the diseases and health conditions that threaten the lives of the animals we love. Search our completed study database by species and/or disease to learn more about how our work has given animals longer, healthier lives.
Category
D05EQ-602: Determination of Reactive Oxygen Species in Equine Semen Using Chemiluminescence
principal investigator: Melody Davis, student, North Carolina State University
Project Mentor: Carlos R.F. Pinto, MedVet, PhD
completed
Year: 1 of 1. $0
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) are free radicals derived from the metabolism of oxygen. Recently, the detrimental effects of ROS have been associated with male infertility in humans. Due to its success in humans, chemiluminescence was selected for this study to measure ROS levels in horse semen. The investigator did not find significant levels of ROS using chemiluminescence on horse semen however she did when applying this technique to canine semen. She found that laboratory processing procedures (such as centrifugation) significantly increased ROS levels illustrating how semen quality can be affected when it is being processed for artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.
Melody says, "I really appreciate the opportunity that Morris Animal Foundation has given me with this fellowship. I learned a lot during this experience and gained valuable skills in trouble shooting, semen evaluation, and scientific writing."
