Blood and seminal plasma concentrations of selenium, zinc and testosterone and their relationship to sperm quality and testicular biometry in domestic cats

ABSTRACT Background Wide variation in fertility rates is observed when using frozen bull semen, even when the bulls have met quality standards for semen production. Therefore, a simple and reliable test to assess the freezing potential of bull semen based on the analysis of fresh semen or blood would be of great value. Attention is now turning to assessment of seminal plasma components such as proteins and elements. In the present study, the concentrations of macro- and microelements in fresh bull semen plasma and in serum and their correlation with quality characteristics of fresh semen and with semen quality after freezing and thawing were determined. Ejaculates were collected from 30 mature bulls, and semen volume, concentration, sperm motility, morphology, tail membrane integrity, plasma membrane permeability and DNA fragmentation were determined on the day of collection and after freezing and thawing. The concentrations of macroelements (Na, Mg, K and Ca) and microelements (Cu, Fe, Zn and Se) were determined in the seminal plasma and serum. The semen samples were classified into satisfactory and unsatisfactory groups according to the fresh semen quality. Results Zinc and Se levels measured in serum were associated with almost all fresh and frozen-thawed semen quality characteristics, while Fe levels were associated only with acrosomal defects in fresh semen. Zinc and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma were associated with various quality characteristics of fresh and frozen-thawed semen, while Se level in fresh seminal plasma was not associated with any of the semen quality characteristics. Conclusions Microelements were shown to be useful as biomarkers involved in the analysis of bull sperm quality and could be used as an additional tool to predict bull semen quality after freezing and thawing. Our results confirm that the analysis of Zn and Se levels in serum and Zn, Cu and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma can provide information to discriminate between bull semen samples with spermatozoa with high or low cryotolerance.

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Proteins of the canine seminal plasma

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20150972 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 46 (5) ◽

pp. 901-908 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Annice Aquino-Cortez ◽

Lúcia Daniel Machado da Silva ◽

Airton Alencar de Araújo ◽

Erika da Silva Bezerra de Menezes ◽

Arlindo de Alencar Araripe Noronha Moura

Keyword(s):

Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Binding Proteins ◽

Reproductive Tract ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Zinc Binding ◽

Heparin Binding ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

The Matrix ◽

Peroxidase Enzymes

ABSTRACT: Studies have been performed to identify the proteins present in canine seminal plasma (SP) and relate them to sperm quality as well as to discover molecular markers of reproductive tract diseases. There is evidence that heparin-binding proteins, zinc-binding proteins, and lactoferrin as well as the matrix metalloproteinase, superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase enzymes are associated with canine sperm quality. Other studies indicate that prolactin and enzymes like arginine esterase, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase could be successfully used as biomarkers of reproductive disorders. Thus, the present literature review aims to address aspects related to proteins of the canine SP, their influence on fertility, and their importance as biomarkers of reproductive disorders.

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Seminal plasma proteins protect flow-sorted ram spermatozoa from freeze - thaw damage

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd08238 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 571 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

T. Leahy ◽

J. I. Marti ◽

G. Evans ◽

W. M. C. Maxwell

Keyword(s):

Seminal Plasma ◽

High Speed ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Membrane Integrity ◽

Weight Fraction ◽

Protein Supplementation ◽

Freezing Process ◽

Spermatozoa Motility ◽

Functional Integrity

Seminal plasma improves the functional integrity of compromised ram spermatozoa but has been reported to be toxic to sorted spermatozoa. The present study attempted to clarify this paradoxical effect and improve the functional integrity of spermatozoa following sorting and cryopreservation. The in vitro function of sorted spermatozoa (motility characteristics and membrane integrity) was examined after supplementation with differing concentrations and protein fractions of seminal plasma at various stages of the sorting and freezing process. For all experiments, spermatozoa (two males, n = four ejaculates per male) were processed through a high-speed flow cytometer before cryopreservation, thawing and incubation for 6 h (37°C). Supplementation of crude seminal plasma (CP), its low molecular weight fraction (LP; <10 kDa) or protein-rich fraction (SPP; >10 kDa), immediately before freezing improved the functional integrity of sorted spermatozoa compared with no supplementation (control), whereas supplementation after thawing had no effect for CP and LP. The protective effect of seminal plasma was not altered by increasing the amount of protein supplementation. No toxic effect of CP, SPP or LP was evident even when supplemented at high protein concentrations. It is concluded that seminal plasma protein, if added to ram spermatozoa after sorting and before freezing, can improve post-thaw sperm quality and consequently the efficiency of sorting. This effect is most likely related to protection of the spermatozoa during freeze–thawing.

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Seasonal changes of steroid concentrations in seminal plasma of a European wild boar

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/acta.0.1070425 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 107 (3) ◽

pp. 425-427 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

D. Schopper ◽

J. Gaus ◽

R. Claus ◽

H. Bader

Keyword(s):

Wild Boar ◽

Seminal Plasma ◽

Seasonal Pattern ◽

Plasma Concentrations ◽

Boar Taint ◽

Steroid Production ◽

European Wild Boar ◽

Clear Seasonal Pattern ◽

Boar Semen ◽

Low Levels

Abstract. The influence of season on testicular steroid production as a parameter of testicular function has been studied in a wild boar. Semen was collected once weekly while it served the dummy. In seminal plasma concentrations of the following steroids were determined by radioimmunoassay: unconjugated testosterone, conjugated testosterone, unconjugated total oestrogens, conjugated total oestrogens and 5α-androst-16-en-3-one ('boar-taint steroid'). All steroids showed a clear seasonal pattern with highest concentrations in autumn and early winter and low levels from January to July. Maxima during the rutting season were 10–25 times greater than average values out of season. During a 2-month-period (mid-July until mid-September) libido was abolished and the wild boar refused to mount the dummy. These results indicate that the seasonal variation in testicular steroid production by the wild boar, regulated by photoperiod, are similar to those of the domestic boar.

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