Daily administration of a GnRH analogue enhances sperm quality in bucks during the non-breeding season

In the present investigation, comparative baseline information on selected sperm characteristics of ejaculate spermatozoa of the domestic (Mustela putorius furo), fitch (Mustela sp.) and black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes) and the Siberian polecat (Mustela eversmanni) are presented. The main emphasis was to establish differences and similarities among these species in relation to semen and sperm quality during the breeding season, in cryopreservation success and in supporting sperm motility in different extenders or physiological media. The results confirm that most sperm morphology abnormalities were evident during the beginning of the breeding cycle in all four species. No significant interspecies differences were apparent in the sperm attributes examined, for all sampling months during the breeding season. Moreover, all species exhibited comparable patterns of reproductive seasonality. Cryopreservation suppressed sperm characteristics equally in all species studied. Ejaculate spermatozoa of closely related ferret species shared many similar motion characteristics using computer-aided sperm motility analysis. These results suggest that the basic sperm physiology of the ferret species under examination is very similar. Disparate to the interspecies comparisons, there were significant differences for most sperm motion parameters when spermatozoa of any of the ferrets were compared in different extenders. Assisted reproductive technologies developed for use in domestic ferret, fitch ferret or Siberian polecat may be successfully applied to captive breeding of the black-footed ferret using semen during any of the functional breeding months.

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214USE OF FLOURESCENT PROBES TO ACCESS EPIDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA OF THE BLUE WILDEBEEST CONNOCHAETES TAURINUS AND IMPALA ANTELOPE AEPYCEROS MELAMPUS MELAMPUS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv16n1ab214 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 16 (2) ◽

pp. 228

Author(s):

T. Spies ◽

F. Olivier ◽

F. Martinez-Pastor ◽

D.M. Barry ◽

P. Bartels

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Plasma Membranes ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Membrane Integrity ◽

Assisted Reproduction Technology ◽

Epididymal Spermatozoa ◽

Connochaetes Taurinus ◽

Free Ranging ◽

Aepyceros Melampus

Sperm quality assessment may be a useful tool not only for evaluating the reproductive health of free-ranging populations, but also for selecting individuals for future assisted-reproduction technology programs. The aim of this study was to assess the functionality of epididymal spermatozoa collected from blue wildebeest (Connochaetes taurinus) and impala (Aepyceros melampus melampus) during the non-breeding season, using the fluorescent probes, propidium ioide (PI;; Sigma, South Africa) and JC-1 (Molecular Probes, The Netherlands). Six blue wildebeest and eight impala were harvested as part of a wildlife management program on a game ranch in South Africa. Testes were removed and transported to the laboratory within 6 hours while being maintained at 4°C. The cauda epididymides were removed and flushed with 1mL of Tris-citrate egg yolk extender (fraction A, Biladyl;; Minitüb, Germany). The sperm sample was diluted 1:4 in HEPES washing medium (Sigma;; 20mM HEPES, 355mM sucrose, 10mM glucose, 2.5mM KOH;; 400mOsm/kg, pH 7), and centrifuged for 5min at 600g, followed by re-suspending the pellet in 0.1mL of HEPES saline medium (Sigma;; as for washing medium, except 197mM NaCl instead of sucrose). The percentage of motile (MS) and progressively motile (PS) spermatozoa were determined using phase contrast microscopy (×200, 37°C). Sperm plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial status were assessed using fluorescence microscopy (×400, 450–490nm excitation filter, 510nm dichroic-beam splitter, 520nm barrier filter) after staining with PI (50ngmL−1; 10min, RT) and JC-1 (7.5μM; 30min, 37°C), respectively. Spermatozoa with damaged plasma membranes showed a red fluorescence and spermatozoa with active and inactive mitochondria (MIT) fluoresced orange and green, respectively. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated between spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes (IPM) and MIT, and with motility (Statistica™ package). A summary of the results is shown in the table 1. Although samples were not collected during the breeding season, sperm quality appeared to be good for the blue wildebeest, but less so for the impala. In general, impala results were more varied. Significant correlations were found for impala (n=8, P<0.05) MS-IPM: 0.75; IPM-MIT: 0.83, and for blue wildebeest (n=6, P<0.05), MS-IPM: 0.84; IPM-MIT: 0.81, and for pooled data (n=14, P<0.01), MS-IPM: 0.93; MS-MIT: 0.87; PS-IPM: 0.67; PS-MIT: 0.66; IPM-MIT: 0.95. These correlations suggest a relationship of functional parameters to sperm motility. Both membrane integrity and mitochondrial status are important for sperm flagellar activity. The correlation between IPM and MIT indicates a relationship or the effect of common factors. In conclusion, sperm collected from blue wildebeest and impala during the non-breeding season appear functional, a fact that may be useful for future conservation programs based on assisted reproduction technology or for assessing the reproductive health status of free-ranging wildlife populations. The fluorescent probes PI and JC-1 appear useful for assessing sperm quality in these two species and should be considered for further sperm quality assessment studies in other antelope species. Table 1 Results of the analyses, showing mean±SD (max.–min.)

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Time within reproductive season, but not age or inbreeding coefficient, affects seminal and sperm quality in the whooping crane (Grus americana)

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd15251 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 29 (2) ◽

pp. 294 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

M. E. Brown ◽

S. J. Converse ◽

J. N. Chandler ◽

A. L. Crosier ◽

W. Lynch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Reproductive Season ◽

Theoretic Model ◽

Adult Males ◽

Grus Americana ◽

Whooping Crane ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Grus Canadensis ◽

Sandhill Crane

All living whooping cranes (Grus americana) are descended from 16 or fewer birds that remained alive in the early 1940s, a bottleneck that puts the species at potential risk for inbreeding depression. Although AI is commonly used in the management of the captive population of this species, little is known about seminal traits or factors affecting sperm quality in the whooping crane. In the present study, semen samples were collected from 29 adult males (age 3–27 years) during the early (March), mid (April) and late (May) breeding season over 2 consecutive years. The effects of donor age, time within reproductive season and level of inbreeding on seminal characteristics were analysed using regression and information–theoretic model selection. Only time within reproductive season significantly affected seminal traits, with total numbers of spermatozoa and proportions of pleiomorphisms increasing across the season. We conclude that, even with a highly restricted number of founders, there is no discernible influence of inbreeding (at the levels described) on sperm output or quality. Furthermore, although there is variance in seminal quality, the whooping crane produces significant numbers of motile spermatozoa throughout the breeding season, similar to values reported for the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida).

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The effect of the oral administration of melatonin at two times of the year on ovarian activity in ewes

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Production (1972) ◽

10.1017/s0308229600015646 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 1986 ◽

pp. 53-53 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

S. Wigzell ◽

J. J. Robinson ◽

R. P. Aitken ◽

W. A. C. McKelvey

Keyword(s):

Oral Administration ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Daily Administration ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Melatonin Treatment ◽

Breeding Activity ◽

Normal Period

It has previously been shown (Robinson et al., 1985) that the normal breeding season of Greyface and Scottish Blackface ewes can be advanced by the daily administration of the indoleamine melatonin; the administration of the melatonin beginning midway during the anoestrous period. If melatonin is administered towards the end of the normal breeding season, oestrous activity can be extended, but only for a period of about six weeks until the ewe becomes refractory to the melatonin treatment (Nett and Niswender, 1981). There is no information on the administration of melatonin at the beginning of the anoestrous period.In the following experiments we report results for the influence on the subsequent breeding activity of Greyface ewes of the oral administration of melatonin at the beginning of their normal period of anoestrus. We also report the results of an investigation on the effects of melatonin in advancing the breeding season of Scottish Blackface ewes maintained on either a high or low plane of nutrition. The experiments were carried out under natural daylength conditions at 57°N.

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The morphological and biochemical characteristics of the consecutive ejaculates from Il-de-France rams at various ages

Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry ◽

10.2298/bah0701301k ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 23 (5-6-1) ◽

pp. 301-310

Author(s):

E. Kistanova ◽

D. Vasileva ◽

B. Grigorov ◽

N. Metodiev

Keyword(s):

Alkaline Phosphatase ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Morphological Changes ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Agricultural Practice ◽

Biochemical Characteristics ◽

The Third ◽

Sperm Volume ◽

Artificial Vagina

In the agricultural practice one ram is used for the insemination a lot of ewes according to the breeding plan. For the insurance of the successful insemination of ewes reached the heat simultaneously, it is necessary to obtain some consistently ejaculates from one ram. The aim of the present work was the estimation of the sperm quality in consecutive ejaculates from Il-de-France rams at various ages. It was investigated over 40 ejaculates from 5 rams of the IAS-Kostinbrod herd between 1, 5 and 4 years old during the breeding season. The sperm was collected by artificial vagina. It was estimated the following morphological and biochemical parameters: volume, count of the spermatozoids in 1ml, motility, survivability at 39?C and activity of the alkaline phosphatase in the semen plasma. In the consecutive ejaculates of both groups no significant morphological changes of spermatozoids were established. The obtained results are shown that the concentration of the spermatozoids and the activity of the alkaline phosphatase in the semen plasma reduce in the third consistently ejaculate, but the keeping of Aph activity in second ejaculates despite decreasing of the sperm volume and concentration of spermatozoid. On the base of these results we could give reference for use of the first and second ejaculates in the practical insemination of ewes.

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97 Social Dominance does not Affect Semen Quality in African Wild Dogs (Lycaon pictus)

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv30n1ab97 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 30 (1) ◽

pp. 188

Author(s):

F. Van den Berghe ◽

M. C. J. Paris ◽

Z. Sarnyai ◽

M. B. Briggs ◽

R. P. Millar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Prostate Volume ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Dna Integrity ◽

Normal Morphology ◽

Progressive Motility ◽

African Wild Dogs ◽

Acrosome Integrity ◽

Urine Contamination ◽

Wild Dogs

Sperm banking and AI could benefit conservation of endangered African wild dogs (AWD). However, it is not clear whether their strict dominance hierarchy causes subfertility in subdominant males that typically do not breed. Our study investigated the effect of dominance on male reproductive parameters, including faecal glucocorticoids (fGCM) and androgens (fAM), testis and prostate volume, preputial gland size, semen collection success, and the number, motility, morphology, viability, acrosome integrity (PSA-FITC), and DNA integrity (TUNEL) of spermatozoa collected by electroejaculation. Samples were obtained from n = 12 captive AWD (4 US packs) in the pre-breeding season and n = 28 captive AWD (n = 11 from 4 US packs; n = 17 from 3 Namibian packs) in the breeding season. Male hierarchy was clearly determined by behavioural observations in all but 1 Namibian pack. Data were grouped by dominance status and means were compared by ANOVA or t-test; P ≤ 0.05 was significant. In the pre-breeding season, there was no significant difference in body weight, fGCM, fAM, or prostate and testis volume between dominance groups. Semen was successfully collected from all alphas but only half the subdominants; urine contamination was negatively associated with dominance. Sperm quality was low (17.3 ± 10.2% total motility, 12.8 ± 8.5% progressive motility, 27.4 ± 11.5 × 106 ejaculated spermatozoa, 40.6 ± 9.8% normal morphology, 63.1 ± 5.1% viability, 72.6 ± 5.2% acrosome integrity) with no difference observed in any parameter except progressive motility and normal sperm morphology, which were significantly lower in subdominants (27.7 ± 16.8% v. 0.0 ± 0.0% and 59.8 ± 13.0% v. 21.4 ± 5.7%). From pre-breeding to breeding season, testis and prostate volume increased significantly, particularly in beta and gamma males respectively. Prostate volume was higher in alpha than beta males (16.0 ± 6.4 cm3 v. 5.7 ± 1.4 cm3), but testis volume, body weight, fAM, and fGCM did not differ between dominance groups (12.0 ± 0.9 cm3, 28.5 ± 0.8 kg, 0.51 ± 0.07 µg g−1, and 30.6 ± 2.3 ng/g of dry weight). Semen was successfully collected from 75% of males with reduced urine contamination. Collection success, urine contamination, and preputial gland size were not associated with dominance. Sperm quality improved with significantly greater number, viability, and total motility. However, sperm quality did not differ between dominance groups (47.4 ± 6.7% total motility, 30.5 ± 5.8% progressive motility, 32.3 ± 9.2 × 106 ejaculated spermatozoa, 50.9 ± 5.2% normal morphology, 74.4 ± 4.2% viability, 85.6 ± 3.0% acrosome integrity, and 99.7 ± 0.1% DNA integrity). In conclusion, subdominant males are at higher risk of urine contamination and have lower sperm motility and normal morphology when semen is collected in the pre-breeding season. However, their semen is of similar quality to dominant males in the breeding season, indicating that reproductive suppression of subdominant males is only behavioural. Thus, AWD males of all social ranks in the breeding season are suitable candidates for sperm banking.

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THE EFFECT OF STAGE OF BREEDING SEASON AND ADMINISTRATION OF FERTIRELIN ACETATE (GNRH ANALOGUE) POST-MATING ON OVARIAN ACTIVITY AND FERTILITY IN EWE LAMBS

Assiut Veterinary Medical Journal ◽

10.21608/avmj.1999.183142 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 42.1 (83) ◽

pp. 353-370

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Gnrh Analogue ◽

Ewe Lambs

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Induction of sexual maturation of the female honeycomb grouper, Epinephelus merra, in the non-breeding season by modulating environmental factors with GnRH analogue implantation

Aquaculture ◽

10.1016/j.aquaculture.2012.06.026 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 358-359 ◽

pp. 85-91 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Tatsuya Kanemaru ◽

Masaru Nakamura ◽

Ryosuke Murata ◽

Katsuya Kuroki ◽

Hikari Horie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Environmental Factors ◽

Breeding Season ◽

Sexual Maturation ◽

Gnrh Analogue ◽

Honeycomb Grouper

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Social rank does not affect sperm quality in male African wild dogs (Lycaon pictus)

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd18205 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 875 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Femke Van den Berghe ◽

Monique C. J. Paris ◽

Zoltan Sarnyai ◽

Michael B. Briggs ◽

Robert P. Millar ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breeding Season ◽

Sperm Quality ◽

Social Rank ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Motility Index ◽

Sperm Banking ◽

Progressive Motility ◽

African Wild Dogs ◽

Wild Dog ◽

Urine Contamination

Sperm banking and AI could benefit endangered African wild dog conservation. However, it is unclear whether their dominance hierarchy causes a decrease in reproductive and sperm quality parameters in subordinate males that typically do not breed. In this study, we investigated the effect of social rank on male reproductive parameters, including faecal androgen and glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations, prostate and testes volume, preputial gland size, semen collection success and sperm quality. Samples were obtained from captive males (prebreeding season: n=12 from four packs; breeding season: n=24 from seven packs) that were classified as alpha (dominant), beta or gamma (subordinates) based on the frequency of dominant versus submissive behaviours. In the prebreeding season, semen was successfully collected from all alpha but only half the subordinate males, with urine contamination (associated with lower rank) significantly reducing total and progressive motility, sperm motility index, normal sperm morphology and acrosome integrity. The breeding season was associated with a significant increase in faecal androgens, prostate and testis volume, as well as progressive motility and the total number of spermatozoa ejaculated. However, with the exception of prostate volume (mean±s.e.m: 12.5±4.5, 7.1±1.0 and 7.3±1.0cm3 in alpha, beta and gamma males respectively; P=0.035), all other reproductive and sperm quality parameters did not differ between males of each social rank. In conclusion, reproductive suppression of subordinate males appears to be behaviourally mediated, because males of all social ranks produce semen of similar quality, making them suitable candidates for sperm banking, particularly during the breeding season when sperm quality improves.

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