114 Omega-3-enriched diet improves fertilization competence of cryopreserved sperm

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 184
Author(s):  
D. Kalo ◽  
D. Reches ◽  
A. Komsky-Elbaz ◽  
U. Moallem ◽  
Y. Zeron ◽  
...  

Intensive reproductive management in dairy herds is mostly based on AI using high-merit bulls. Therefore, semen quality of bulls is of high importance. An association between semen quality and fatty acid content in feed has been suggested. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to examine the effect of omega-3 supplementation on sperm traits and fertilization competence. Fifteen Israeli Holstein bulls were assigned to three experimental groups. Bulls were fed over 13 weeks with a standard ration top-dressed with encapsulated-fat supplementation-fish oil (FO) or flaxseed oil (FLX; i.e. omega-3 sources), or saturated fatty acids (SFA, control). Ejaculates were collected before initiation of the study, during the feeding trial, and 1 month after feeding trial. Ejaculates were treated according to the routine procedure of the Israeli AI centre (Sion Ltd.), frozen, and stored in straws. Frozen-thawed samples were subjected to “swim-up” procedure, and spermatozoon viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, acrosome membrane integrity, and DNA fragmentation were evaluated via flow cytometry, using sperm-specific kits (EasyCyte, IMV Technologies). Feeding with FO, FLX, or SFA did not affect the viability or mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm collected before, during, or after the feeding trial. On the other hand, a reduced proportion of sperm with ROS expression was recorded in the FLX samples compared to the SFA sample at the end of the feeding trial (42.2±1.2 vs. 47.3±4.3%, respectively; P<0.05) and one month later (36.3±2.2 vs. 41.6±4.6%, respectively; P<0.05). A low proportion of sperm with damaged acrosomal membrane was observed in both FLX and FO samples compared with SFA at the end of the feeding trial (48.8±3.4 and 41.7±2.7 vs. 59.8±3.4%, respectively; P<0.05). The proportion of sperm with fragmented DNA was lower in the FLX group than in the SFA group, collected one month after the end of the feeding trial (2.3±0.6 vs. 5.4±1.2%, respectively; P<0.05). To examine fertilization competence, oocytes were aspirated from ovaries collected from a local abattoir, then matured (n=216; 3 replicates) and fertilized invitro with a pool of samples from each group, collected one month after the end of the feeding trial (n=5 samples per group). The proportions of 2- to 4-cell-stage embryos and of blastocysts were determined 42h and 8 days after fertilization, respectively. Although the proportion of cleaved embryos did not differ between groups, a higher blastocyst formation rate was recorded in the FLX group (P<0.05), and a moderate increase was noted in the FO group, relative to the SFA group (28.1±4.4, 19.1±2.6, and 11.9±3.4%, respectively). Results imply that feeding bulls with omega-3 originating from FLX improves sperm quality, most likely due to improved redox status and decreased DNA fragmentation. This nutritional approach seems to be an effective tool for improving bull fertility competence. Nevertheless, invivo examination is required.

2017 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 134
Author(s):  
T. Nongbua ◽  
A. Utta ◽  
N. Am-In ◽  
J. Suwimonteerabutr ◽  
A. Johannisson ◽  
...  

Single layer centrifugation (SLC) with Bovicoll is a technique to enhance sperm quality. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of SLC before cryopreservation on bull sperm quality after thawing. Semen was collected from 8 bulls (American Brahman, n = 5 and Sahiwal, n = 3) at the North Eastern Bull Centre (KhonKaen, Thailand). The ejaculate was split: one part was prepared following the standard procedure at the bull centre (n = 88) as control. The other part was used for SLC with Bovicoll-B (Johannisson et al. 2016 Theriogenology 86, 140). The SLC-selected sperm samples were frozen using the same protocol as control (n = 88). After thawing at 37°C for 12 s, motility analysis was performed using the CEROS II® (Hamilton Thorne, Beverly, MA, USA); sperm chromatin structure, mitochondrial membrane potential, and sperm viability were assessed using a FC500 flow cytometer (Beckman Coulter, Brea, CA, USA). Treatment means were compared using the linear mixed model (Proc MIXED, SAS®, 9.3, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Results are reported as least-squares means ± standard error. The sperm kinematics for SLC samples were higher than controls for progressive motility (26.37 ± 1.59%, 19.56 ± 1.59%), Linearity (LIN) (52.80 ± 0.87%, 44.94 ± 0.87%), Straightness (STR) (83.06% ± 0.59, 76.20 ± 0.59%), beat cross frequency (BCF) (29.25 ± 0.50 Hz, 24.35 ± 0.50 Hz) and wobble (WOB) (61.78 ± 0.63%, 57.40 ± 0.63%) (all P < 0.0001) respectively, whereas SLC-selected samples were lower than controls for slow motility (13.61 ± 0.71%, 15.56 ± 0.71%; P < 0.05), Amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) (4.88 ± 0.18 μm, 6.67 ± 0.18 μm), velocity average path, (VAP) (61.17 ± 1.93μ/s, 67.88 ± 1.93μ/s), and curvilinear velocity (VCL) (99.78 ± 3.77 μ/s, 122.91 ± 3.77 μ/s) (all P < 0.0001), respectively. Other parameters of sperm quality were not different between treatments, although there was considerable variation among individual bulls in sperm chromatin structure assay, mitochondrial membrane potential, and sperm viability. These results suggest that SLC can be used before cryopreservation to improve the kinematics of thawed bull sperm samples without adversely affecting other parameters of sperm quality.


2011 ◽  
pp. 166-176
Author(s):  
María Elena Maldonado-Celis ◽  
Souad Bousserouel ◽  
Francine Gossé ◽  
Annelise Lobstein ◽  
Francis Raul

Introduction: We investigated the effects of apple procyanidins (Pcy), oligomers of catechins and epicatechins on Fas receptor expression and function in human colon adenocarcinoma cells (SW480) and in their derived metastatic cells (SW620). Methods: Pcy were characterized by reverse-phase HPLC. Cell death, Fas proteins, DNA fragmentation, and mitochondrial membrane potential were analyzed by flow cytometry. Fas mRNA was analyzed by RT-PCR in real time. Results: Pcy up-regulated the expression of the Fas receptor at the cell surface of both cell lines but activated Fas gene transcription only in SW620 cells. In SW480 cells, Pcy combined with Fas agonist CH-11 enhanced Fas-mediated apoptosis involving the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and DNA fragmentation, which were abrogated by the antagonist antibody of Fas receptor, the anti-Fas ZB4. On the contrary, in SW620 cells, CH-11 was not able to enhance Pcy-triggered apoptosis indicating that Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis was not activated in these cells despite an up-regulation of Fas receptor gene expression. However, it was observed in SW620 cells that Pcy activated the Fas receptor-mediated apoptotic pathway after a specific blockage of TRAIL-death DR4/DR5 receptors. Conclusions: The present data showed that Pcy were able to activate the Fas receptor apoptotic pathway in SW480 cells and favored a cross-talk between TRAIL and Fas receptors in SW620 cells because specific blocking of TRAIL death receptors favored activation of the Fas receptor-mediated apoptosis. These important data may allow the emergence of new therapeutic protocols targeting death receptors against resistant metastatic cells.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (2) ◽  
pp. G340-G350 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Lu ◽  
Michael S. Caplan ◽  
Anita P. Saraf ◽  
Dan Li ◽  
Luba Adler ◽  
...  

Plateletactivating factor (PAF) is a key mediator in pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) but mechanisms of PAF-induced mucosal injury are poorly understood. To determine whether apoptosis and the Bcl-2-family of apoptosis regulatory gene products play a role in PAF-induced mucosal injury, we stably and conditionally overexpressed bcl-2 in rat small intestinal epithelial cells-6 under the control of a lactose-inducible promoter. Western blot analysis and immuno-histochemistry were used to verify inducible Bcl-2 and to analyze Bcl-2 and a proapoptotic member of the Bcl-2 family, Bax, subcellular distribution. DNA fragmentation was quantified by ELISA, caspase activity was measured by using fluorogenic peptide substrates, and mitochondrial membrane potential was assayed by 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethylbenzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) and fluorescence digital imaging. Bcl-2 expression was highly inducible by lactose analog isopropyl-β-d-thiogalactoside (IPTG) and was localized predominantly to mitochondria. In the absence of bcl-2 overexpression and after treatment with PAF, Bax translocated to mitochondria, and mitochondrial membrane potential collapsed within 1 h, followed by caspase-3 activation, which peaked at 6 h with an ensuing DNA fragmentation maximizing at 18 h. After IPTG-induction of bcl-2 expression, PAF failed to induce DNA fragmentation, caspase-3 activation, Bax translocation, or a collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential. These data are the first to show that PAF can activate apoptotic machinery in enterocytes via a mechanism involving Bax translocation and collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential and that both of these events are under control by bcl-2 expression levels. A better understanding of the role of PAF and Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators in epithelial cell death might aid design of better therapeutic or preventive strategies for IBDs.


Reproduction ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 153 (5) ◽  
pp. 577-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
G D A Gastal ◽  
B G Alves ◽  
K A Alves ◽  
M E M Souza ◽  
A D Vieira ◽  
...  

The method of transportation and the conditions imposed on the ovarian tissue are pivotal aspects for the success of ovarian tissue cryopreservation (OTC). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the size of the ovarian tissue (e.g. whole ovary, biopsy size and transplant size) during different times of storage (0, 6, 12 and 24 h) on the structural integrity of equine ovarian tissue transported at 4°C. Eighteen pairs of ovaries from young mares (<10 years old) were harvested in a slaughterhouse and processed to simulate the fragment sizes (biopsy and transplant size groups) or kept intact (whole ovary group) and stored at 4°C for up to 24 h in α-MEM-enriched solution. The effect of the size of the ovarian tissue was observed on the morphology of preantral follicles, stromal cell density, DNA fragmentation and mitochondrial membrane potential. The results showed that (i) biopsy size fragments had more morphologically normal preantral follicles after 24 h of storage at 4°C; (ii) mitochondrial membrane potential was the lowest during each storage time when the whole ovary was used; (iii) DNA fragmentation rate in the ovarian cells of all sizes of fragments increased as storage was prolonged and (iv) transplant size fragments had increased stromal cell density during storage at cool temperature. In conclusion, the biopsy size fragment was the best to preserve follicle morphology for long storage (24 h); however, transportation/storage should be prior determined according to the distance (time of transportation) between patient and reproduction centers/clinics.


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 2948
Author(s):  
Tanya Kogan ◽  
Dana Grossman Dahan ◽  
Ronit Laor ◽  
Nurit Argov-Argaman ◽  
Yoel Zeron ◽  
...  

An association between progressive motility (PM) and spermatozoa fertility competence has been suggested. However, the mechanism that underlies PM is not clear enough. We examined physiological characteristics and fatty acid composition of fresh spermatozoa with high and low PM. Additional analysis of fatty acid composition and structural characteristics was performed on spermatozoa samples with high and low progressively motile spermatozoa’s survival (PMSS), i.e., the ratio between the proportion of progressively motile spermatozoa after and before cryopreservation. Finally, a fertility field trial was conducted to examine the association between the number of PM spermatozoa within the insemination straw post thawing and conception rate. Analysis of fresh spermatozoa revealed a higher omega-6 to omega-3 ratio in ejaculates with low PM relative to those with high PM (p < 0.01). The proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acids was higher in low-PMSS fresh samples (p < 0.05) relative to their high-PMSS counterparts. Fresh samples with high-PMSS expressed a higher mitochondrial membrane potential (p < 0.05) and a higher proportion of viable cells that expressed reactive oxygen species (ROS; p < 0.05). Post-thawing evaluation revealed a reduced proportion of progressively motile sperm, with a prominent effect in samples with high PM relative to low PM, defined before freezing (p < 0.01). No differences in spermatozoa mitochondrial membrane potential or ROS level were found post-thawing. A fertility study revealed a positive correlation between the number of progressively motile spermatozoa within a standard insemination straw and conception rate (p < 0.05). Considering these, the bull PMSS is suggested to be taken into account at the time of straw preparation.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Weiqi Sun ◽  
Fang Tian ◽  
Hongjie Pan ◽  
Xiuli Chang ◽  
Minjie Xia ◽  
...  

Abstract BackgroundFlurochloridone (FLC), a selective herbicide used on a global scale, has been reported to have male reproductive toxicity which evidence is limited and the mechanism is still unclear. The present study was conducted to systematically explore the male reproductive toxicity of FLC, including sperm quality, spermatogenesis process, toxicity targets and possible mechanisms. MethodsMale C57BL/6 mice aged 6-7 weeks received gavage administration of FLC (365/730 mg/kg body weight) for 28 consecutive days. Then the tissue and sperm of mice were collected for analysis. We measured the coefficient of male reproductive organs, and analyzed sperm concentration, motility, malformation rate and mitochondrial membrane potential. Spermatocyte immunofluorescence staining was performed to analyze meiosis processes. At the same time, we performed pathological staining on the testis and epididymis tissue, and performed TUNEL staining, immunohistochemical analysis and ultrastructural observation on the testicular tissue.ResultsThe results showed that FLC caused mice testicular weight reduction, dysfunction and architectural damage, but no significant adverse effect was found in epididymis. The exposure interfered with the proliferation of spermatogonia and the process of meiosis, affecting sperm concentration, motility, kinematic parameters, morphology and mitochondrial membrane potential, leading to sperm quality decline. Furthermore, mitochondrial damage and apoptosis of testicular Sertoli cells were observed in mice treated with FLC. ConclusionWe found that FLC has significant adverse effects on spermatogonia proliferation and meiosis. Meanwhile, apoptosis and mitochondrial damage may be the potential mechanism of Sertoli cell damage. Our study demonstrated that FLC could induce testicular Sertoli cell damage, leading to abnormal spermatogenesis which resulted in sperm quality decline and provided a methodological reference for related studies.


2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 222
Author(s):  
M. Bianchi Rodrigues Alves ◽  
A. Furugen Cesar de Andrade ◽  
R. Paes de Arruda ◽  
L. Batissaco ◽  
R. Lançoni ◽  
...  

Testicular degeneration, an important cause of male infertility, adversely affects sperm motility and morphology. However, few studies describe effects on integrity of plasma and acrosomal membranes, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation; therefore, they were evaluated in the present study. Testicular degeneration was induced in 17 White Dorper rams (scrotal insulation for 72 h). Semen was collected (artificial vagina) twice before insulation and twice thereafter (15-day intervals between post-insulation collections). Sperm motility and morphology were analysed by SCA software (Sperm Class Analyser®, MICROPTIC®, Barcelona, Spain) and differential interference contrast microscopy (DIC, model 80i, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan), respectively. Membrane integrity and potential were assessed with fluorescent probes: Hoescht 33342, propidium iodide, FITC-PSA, and JC-1 (Celeghini et al. 2010 Arq. Bras. Med. Vet. Zootec. 62, 536–543) and imaged with fluorescence microscopy (Nikon Model 80i, Nikon, Tokyo, Japan). Fragmentation of DNA was evaluated with a Halomax® kit (Halotech® DNA, Madrid, Spain). Data were analysed with Statview software (Stat View 1998, SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA). Data obtained from the periods (before × after insulation) were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and means were compared using Tukey's test. Total motility (before: 87.53 ± 1.21%; after: 46.53 ± 4.46%) and progressive motility (before: 58.64 ± 2.00%; after: 31.33 ± 3.82%) were reduced (P < 0.01) by scrotal insulation, as were sperm major defects (before: 10.64 ± 1.65%; after: 54.30 ± 3.67%) and total defects (before: 20.50 ± 2.40%; after: 63.85 ± 3.41%; P < 0.0001). Sperm with intact plasma and acrosomal membranes and high mitochondrial potential (PIAIH) decreased (P < 0.0001) after insulation. In that regard, 53.19 ± 2.20 and 28.48 ± 3.48% of sperm were classified as PIAIH before v. after insulation, respectively. Furthermore, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome membrane integrity, and high mitochondrial potential were assessed independently. The quantity of plasma membrane integrity cells (before: 62.01 ± 2.07%; after: 33.92 ± 3.94%), acrosome membrane integrity cells (before: 57.17 ± 2.30%; after: 31.47 ± 3.77%), and high mitochondrial potential cells (before: 85.72 ± 1.42%; after: 57.28 ± 3.12%) were also reduced (P < 0.0001) after insulation. Likewise, DNA integrity decreased (P = 0.002) from 98.87 ± 0.26% before insulation to 91.88 ± 2.6% afterward. In conclusion, sperm plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA fragmentation were adversely affected by testicular degeneration in rams induced by scrotal insulation.Research was supported by FAPESP process 2012/00040-0 and 2011/16744-3.


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