Figure 1. Changes in LC3B processing in stallion spermatozoa stored under refrigeration (5°C) for five days, after single layer centrifugation (Filtrated) or unprocessed (native sperm).

In native sperm storage induced a significant increase in LC₃B processing at day 5 indicating that autophagy was activated during the period of storage. On the other hand, filtration of sperm selected a subpopulation of spermatozoa in which autophagy was already activated at the beginning of the period of storage and did not change over the time. Results are representative of 28 identical experiments (seven stallions, four ejaculates per stallion) * p<0.01.