Stability over Time of the Sperm Motility Biomarker proAKAP4 in Repeated Dog Ejaculates

In clinical practice, it is common to collect semen samples from the same dog on the same or on consecutive days, especially for cryopreservation or artificial insemination. In such cases, repeating the semen analysis is necessary for each ejaculate. In order to reduce the human and economic resources involved, new studies are needed on semen quality and variations in markers over time. ProAKAP4 is an essential component of spermatozoa tail architecture, involved in sperm motility and a marker of sperm quality. The present study evaluates its variation over time in subsequent semen samples collected from the same dogs. Fourteen male dogs (12 different breeds, 1–14 years old and 6.9–95 kg bodyweight) underwent semen collection at various time points: first semen sample collection, 2–3 h, and/or 1–30 days after the first semen collection. In our study, proAKAP4 concentration does not seem to vary in ejaculates collected from the same dog at different time points, and it was significantly...