Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) as a tool for monitoring sperm quality in fish

Author(s):  
D.E. Kime ◽  
K.J.W. Van Look ◽  
B.G. McAllister ◽  
G. Huyskens ◽  
E. Rurangwa ◽  
...  
Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1885
Author(s):  
José Néstor Caamaño ◽  
Carolina Tamargo ◽  
Inmaculada Parrilla ◽  
Felipe Martínez-Pastor ◽  
Lorena Padilla ◽  
...  

Genetic resource banks (GRB) preserve the genetic material of endangered, valuable individuals or genetically relevant breeds. Semen cryopreservation is a crucial technique to reach these goals. Thus, we aimed to assess the sperm parameters of semen doses from the native pig breed Gochu Asturcelta stored at the GRB of Principado de Asturias (GRB-PA, Gijón, Spain), focusing on intrinsic and extrinsic (boar, season) factors. Two straws per boar (n = 18, 8–71 months of age) were thawed, pooled, and assessed after 30 and 150 min at 37 °C by CASA (computer-assisted sperm analysis system; motility and kinematic parameters) and flow cytometry (viability, acrosomal status, mitochondrial activity, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species, and chromatin status). The effects of age, incubation, and season on post-thawing quality were determined using linear mixed-effects models. Parameters were on the range for commercial boar breeds, with chromatin status (SCSA: fragmentation and immaturity) being excellent. Incubation decreased sperm quality and functionality. The boar age did not have a significant effect (p > 0.05), but the between-boar variability was significant (p < 0.001). The season significantly affected many parameters (motility, kinematics, viability, acrosomal status, mitochondrial activity), especially after 150 min of incubation. In general, samples collected in spring and summer showed higher quality post-thawing, the lowest in winter. In conclusion, the sperm doses from the Gochu Asturcelta breed stored at the GRB-PA showed excellent chromatin status and acceptable characteristics after thawing. Therefore, boar and seasonal variability in this autochthonous breed could be relevant for cryobank management.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 429-434
Author(s):  
Zoltán Bokor ◽  
Balázs Csorbai ◽  
Levente Várkonyi ◽  
Zsolt Szári ◽  
Ferenc Fodor ◽  
...  

The effects of a simple saline solution prepared using two different pH (4.4 and 8.5) on sperm motility in burbot were investigated. Results were recorded during a 96-hour chilled storage (4°C) in 24-hour intervals. Measurements were focused on the detailed characteristics of motility using 12 parameters obtained from the Computer-assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Significantly higher progressive motility (pMOT), distance average path (DAP), distance curved line, distance straight line (DSL), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, and beat cross frequency (BCF) were observed with the activating solution buffered at pH 8.5 in comparison with pH 4.4. Already after 24 h a significant reduction was measured in pMOT (0 h: 49 ± 24%, 24 h: 12 ± 7%). Similar decreasing tendency was recorded only after 72 h in DAP (0 h: 26 ± 4 µm/s, 72 h: 19 ± 9 µm/s), DSL (0 h: 21 ± 5 µm/s, 72 h: 17 ± 8 µm/s), VAP (0 h: 59 ± 9 µm/s, 72 h: 43 ± 21 µm/s), and BCF (0 h: 28 ± 2 Hz, 72 h: 18 ± 10 Hz). The response of different investigated CASA parameters to different treatments varied in our experiments. According to our studies, numerous burbot sperm motility parameters are sensitive to chilled storage and to low pH of the activating solution. Our results could support the effective sperm quality assessment and successful artificial propagation process in burbot.


Zygote ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Maya-Soriano ◽  
E. Taberner ◽  
M. Sabés-Alsina ◽  
M. Piles ◽  
M. Lopez-Bejar

SummaryThe generation of reactive oxygen species associated with cryopreservation could be responsible for mammalian sperm damage and the limitable value of stored semen in artificial insemination. The aim of this study was to assess several antioxidant agents supplemented in a commercial freezing extender (Gent B®) in order to improve post-thaw rabbit sperm quality. Ejaculates of 26 New Zealand White rabbit bucks were collected, evaluated and frozen using a conventional protocol. Antioxidant agents were tested at different concentrations: bovine serum albumin (BSA; 5, 30 or 60 mg/ml), retinol (RO; 50, 100 or 200 μM) and retinyl (RI; 0.282 or 2.82 μg/ml). Per cent viability, morphological abnormalities and intact acrosomes were determined using eosin–nigrosin staining. Motility and progressivity were analyzed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). In general, all sperm quality parameters were negatively affected by the cryopreservation process, the largest effect seen was for total motility. The addition of antioxidant agents did not improve thaw sperm quality. Furthermore, for RI groups a significant decrease in sperm quality parameters was recorded. In conclusion, rabbit sperm quality is negatively affected by the cryopreservation process. To our knowledge this report is the first using these antioxidants to supplement rabbit freezing extender. BSA and RO at concentrations used in the study did not improve sperm quality parameters after thawing, whereas RI supplementation appeared to be toxic. More studies are required to find the appropriate antioxidants necessary and their most effective concentrations to improve rabbit post-thaw sperm quality.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Ortiz ◽  
J. Dorado ◽  
D. Acha ◽  
L. Ramirez ◽  
M. Urbano ◽  
...  

Single-layer centrifugation (SLC) with EquipureTM Bottom Layer has been used to enhance the quality of stallion semen samples; however, no studies have been performed on donkeys. The aim of this study was to determine if SLC with EquipureTM Bottom Layer improves kinematic parameters on frozen–thawed donkey sperm. Semen was collected from 4 Andalusian donkeys by artificial vagina. Three ejaculates from each donkey were centrifuged with EquiproTM, supernatant was removed, and pellet was re-extended in the freezing medium GentTM to a final concentration of 200 × 106 spermatozoa per milliliter. Sperm were slowly cooled to 5°C for 2 h, loaded in 0.5-mL plastic straws, and frozen in liquid-nitrogen vapors. After at least one week of storage, straws were thawed in a water bath at 37°C for 30 s. After thawing, semen samples were divided in 2 aliquots: aliquot 1 was used as such (control) and aliquot 2 was processed by SLC using EquipureTM Bottom Layer. Computer-assisted sperm analysis was performed, and sperm kinematics total motility (%), progressive motility (%), curvilinear velocity (VCL; µm s–1), velocity straight line (VSL; µm s–1), velocity average path (VAP; µm s–1), linearity (LIN; %), straightness (STR; %), wobble (WOB; %), lateral head displacement (ALH; µm), and beat cross frequency (BCF; Hz) were statistically compared using GLM model between frozen–thawed semen samples processed or not with EquipureTM. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between SLC-selected and unselected semen for total motility (77.44 ± 5.83 v. 58.89 ± 6.07), progressive motility (76.88 ± 4.52 v. 56.59 ± 5.44), VCL (137.50 ± 0.75 v. 133.0 ± 0.99), LIN (69.43 ± 0.31 v. 68.23 ± 0.41), STR (78.45 ± 0.29 v. 76.90 ± 0.37), WOB (85.06 ± 0.18 v. 83.91 ± 0.26), ALH (2.76 ± 0.01 v. 2.44 ± 0.01), and BCF (9.13 ± 0.05 v. 8.53 ± 0.06), respectively. No significant differences were observed for VSL (102.89 ± 0.70 v. 104.32 ± 0.95) and VAP (123.21 ± 0.71 v. 121.50 ± 0.98). Most of the computer-assisted sperm analysis parameters used in the present study have been previously identified as reliable markers of sperm motility in relation to sperm quality and fertility. It has also been reported that VCL appears to be critical for the formation of the sperm reservoir and penetration of the zona pellucida. In addition, other variables improved in the SLC-selected samples have been described as measure of progressivity (LIN, STR) and spermatozoa vigor (BCF, ALH). These preliminary results suggest an additional option for improving sperm quality in donkey semen doses. In conclusion, SLC with EquipureTM can be used to enhance kinematic parameters on frozen–thawed donkey sperm.


2008 ◽  
Vol 70 (9) ◽  
pp. 1550-1559 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Filliers ◽  
T. Rijsselaere ◽  
P. Bossaert ◽  
V. De Causmaecker ◽  
J. Dewulf ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips ◽  
Francisco E Martín-Cano ◽  
José M Ortiz-Rodríguez ◽  
Antonio Silva-Rodríguez ◽  
Maria C Gil ◽  
...  

Abstract The identification of stallions and or ejaculates that will provide commercially acceptable quality post-thaw before cryopreservation is of great interest, avoiding wasting time and resources freezing ejaculates that will not achieve sufficient quality to be marketed. Our hypothesis was that after bioinformatic analysis, the study of the stallion sperm proteome can provide discriminant variables able to predict the post-thaw quality of the ejaculate. At least three ejaculates from 10 different stallions were frozen following a split sample design. Half of the ejaculate was analyzed as a fresh aliquot and the other half was frozen and then analyzed as a frozen-thawed aliquot. Computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry were used to analyze sperm quality. Detailed proteomic analysis was performed on fresh and frozen and thawed aliquots, and bioinformatic analysis was used to identify discriminant variables in fresh samples able to predict the outcome of cryopreservation. Those with a fold change &gt; 3, a P = 8.2e-04, and a q = 0.074 (equivalent to False discovery rate (FDR)) were selected, and the following proteins were identified in fresh samples as discriminant variables of good motility post-thaw: F6YTG8, K9K273, A0A3Q2I7V9, F7CE45, F6YU15, and F6SKR3. Other discriminant variables were also identified as predictors of good mitochondrial membrane potential and viability post-thaw. We concluded that proteomic approaches are a powerful tool to improve current sperm biotechnologies.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 86
Author(s):  
M. Filliers ◽  
T. Rijsselaere ◽  
P. Bossaert ◽  
V. De Causmaecker ◽  
J. Dewulf ◽  
...  

Feline epididymal sperm is commonly used for in vitro fertilization. It also yields the opportunity to conserve genetic material from valuable males that suddenly die. Epididymal sperm quality parameters vary considerably among laboratories, implicating the need for objective evaluation methods. The aim of the present study was to describe reference values of computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) parameters of fresh epididymal cat sperm and to assess the effect of prolonged cooled storage (4�C) on various sample characteristics. Epididymides obtained from tomcats after routine orchiectomy (2–4 pairs/replicate) were sliced to release spermatozoa. The sperm suspension was placed on a 2-layer gradient and, after centrifugation, the sperm pellet was recovered. In Experiment 1 (20 replicates), sperm motility parameters were assessed immediately after retrieval (T0) using the Hamilton Thorne analyzer Ceros 12.1 (HTR; Hamilton Thorne Biosciences, Beverly, MA, USA). In Experiment 2, fresh (T0) sperm samples (4 replicates) were evaluated for motility parameters (HTR), acrosomal status (FITC-Pisum sativum agglutinin staining), morphology (eosin/nigrosin (E/N) staining), and membrane integrity (E/N and SYBR�-14-propidium iodide staining; Molecular Probes, Inc., Eugene, OR, USA). After addition (1:2) of a Tris-glucose-citrate diluent containing 20% egg yolk, samples were cooled and reassessed on Days 1 (T1), 3 (T3), 5 (T5), 7 (T7), and 10 (T10). Results were analyzed in a mixed linear model, with replicate as random factor and time as fixed effect (S-PLUS 7.0; Insightful Corp., Seattle, WA, USA). Results of Experiment 1 were as follows (mean � SD): motility (MOT): 80.8% � 23.5; progressive motility (PMOT): 69.9% � 23.2; velocity average pathway (VAP): 98.7 µm s–1 � 24.2; velocity straight line (VSL): 89.3 µm s–1 � 25.4; velocity curved line (VCL): 134.8 µm s–1 � 31.9; amplitude lateral head (ALH): 4.3 µm � 2.0; beat cross frequency (BCF): 34.6 Hz � 7.0; and straightness (STR): 89.6% � 6.6. In Experiment 2, MOT, PMOT, VAP, VSL, VCL, BCF, and the percentage of normal spermatozoa showed a decrease over time (P < 0.05) compared to fresh samples, starting from T1, T3, T5, T7, T5, T3, and T1, respectively. In contrast, STR, ALH, membrane integrity, and the percentage of acrosome-intact spermatozoa were not affected (P > 0.05) by cooled storage. To summarize, we have presented a set of reference values for CASA-parameters of fresh, epididymal cat spermatozoa. Cooled storage impaired most motility parameters and lowered the percentage of normal spermatozoa, but did not influence membrane integrity or acrosomal status. The effect of cooled storage on DNA fragmentation of sperm and its subsequent influence on in vitro embryo development require further investigation.


Author(s):  
D.E Kime ◽  
K.J.W Van Look ◽  
B.G McAllister ◽  
G Huyskens ◽  
E Rurangwa ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Mihai CENARIU ◽  
Emoke PALL ◽  
Mihai BORZAN ◽  
Liviu BOGDAN ◽  
Ioan GROZA

The aim of the study was to assess bull semen fertility parameters using the classical techniques of sperm quality evaluation (density, motility, viability, and morphology, evaluated by light microscopy, in addition to concentration, evaluated via the hemocytometer and microspermatocrit), as well as advanced techniques, like computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry. Results obtained for classical techniques were comparable to those obtained by automated methods, without significant differences between parameters. The classical methods were inexpensive but required more time and attention, while the operator’s experience was a key element for accurate assessment of sperm parameters. The advanced techniques were fast and objective, but required expensive equipment and dedicated personnel, with proper training in the field. Therefore, classical techniques are suitable for clinics where occasional evaluation of bulls’ fertility parameters is performed, while the advanced methods should be implemented in semen companies, as well as in fertility clinics and research laboratories.


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