154 A method of oviductal semen deposition for use in the goat

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 203
Author(s):  
N. Buzzell ◽  
S. Blash ◽  
K. Miner ◽  
M. Schofield ◽  
J. Pollock ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to investigate a method of oviducal semen deposition as a strategy for producing offspring from poor-quality cryopreserved goat sperm. Invitro fertilisation (IVF) and AI are common assisted reproductive technologies used in small ruminants, but they have varied results in the goat. The use of poor-quality cryopreserved-thawed sperm (<50% live/dead ratio at post-thaw) can decrease the rate of success. These procedures were performed in the month of November in Central Massachusetts in the United States (42° N). Seven 10-year-old dairy goats (Saanen, Toggenburg, and Alpine breeds) were synchronised and superovulated using a progesterone implant on Day 0, a prostaglandin injection at Day 7, two daily injections of 36mg of FSH ~12h apart on Days 12-15, and progesterone implant removal on Day 14 followed by an injection of 50µg of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone. Sperm deposition was performed on Day 17 (72 h after implant removal). The animals were anaesthetised using a standardised protocol, intubated, and maintained using isoflurane, and sterile prep was performed before a midline laparotomy procedure. Straws from a single ejaculate from a transgenic founder that was cryopreserved using a commercial two-step glycerol-egg yolk-based extender were used. A straw from this collection was post-thawed 30 days after collection and, using a commercial live/dead stain, 67% live sperm was determined. The optimal type of sperm prep and sperm concentration is unknown and may be dependent on sperm quality. Therefore, different gradient preps using Vitrolife SpermGrad at three volumes (1.5 (used on two animals), 1.0, and 0.5mL) as well as two volumes of IVF Bioscience Bovine BO-SemenPrep (4.0mL (used on two animals) and 2.0mL) were used. All five pellets were diluted in 1.0mL of IVF Bioscience Bovine BO-IVF media. Sperm concentrations ranging from 75×106 to 27×106 spermmL−1 were deposited into one oviduct; then, a 10:1 dilution was performed and 7.5×106 to 2.7×10 spermmL−1 were deposited into the contralateral oviduct. The depositions were performed just proximal to the uterotubal junction in a volume of 0.1mL of diluent via a tuberculin syringe attached to a 20-gauge needle. Two days following the procedure, oviducts were flushed postmortem from three of the seven randomly selected goats. All three had fertilised embryos, and nineteen 8-cell embryos were retrieved. Three of these embryos were surgically transferred to the distal uterine horn of a suitable recipient. The recipient became pregnant and produced a single offspring. The remaining four of seven goats were killed 41 days post-surgery. Two of the four goats were pregnant, with one carrying one fetus and the other carrying five fetuses. Further studies are needed to optimise this method, but these initial results indicate that oviducal semen deposition directly into the oviduct proximal to the uterotubal junction may be a suitable alternative for producing offspring from suboptimal cryopreserved-thawed goat sperm.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. 2050313X1983415
Author(s):  
José Arturo Mora Rodríguez ◽  
Leonardo M Porchia ◽  
Felipe Camargo ◽  
Esther López-Bayghen

Male patients suffering from oligoasthenoteratozoospermia typically failed to achieve pregnancy, even with assisted reproductive technologies. Growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 have been shown to regulate sperm quality parameters; therefore, the insulin-like growth factor 1 supplement could improve sperm parameters. Here, we determine the effect insulin-like growth factor 1 has on sperm parameters in a patient suffering from oligoasthenoteratozoospermia. A 47-year-old male was administered once a day 1.5 IU of insulin-like growth factor 1 by intradermal injection for 2 months. Seminogram analysis was performed before and after. Treatment with insulin-like growth factor 1 resulted in a 15.5-fold improvement in sperm concentration (1.1 × 106 vs 18.3 × 106 per mL), 71.4% change in volume (0.7 vs 1.2 mL), increased progressive motility (2% vs 43%), and the total volume of sperm with progressive motility (0% vs 23.6%). Here, we show that administering a daily dose of insulin-like growth factor 1 can improve sperm quality parameters.


Infertility rates in India becoming increased in last decade principally due to the urbanization conditions and the lifestyle habits. It is giving alarm by continuously reporting the progress in incident cases of infertility amongst the young Indian adults of both male and female population. Among the various Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART) available today in the treatment of infertility, In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is found to be the most applicable treatment method of choice. This involves the administration of different hormones and drugs to treat infertility. In the present scenario technically IVF treatment process is tedious, laborious, high cost and most importantly success rates reported to be very low (20-30%). The prediction of IVF success rates is becoming an important scientific knowledge and practice, which helps both the doctor and the candidate couple to know about the conditions hence to take the right decision. The accurate prediction of the IVF success rate is really a challenging task in obstetrics and gynecology medicine. The success rates of the IVF depends on the various factors such as Intrinsic factors i.e, Genetic predisposition, Age, Body mass Index, Hormonal balance, Embryo viability, Sperm quality, Endometriosis and overall patient’s response level of the candidate couple and the Extrinsic factors such as Medical equipment technology, Treatment methods, Personal experiences of clinicians and embryologists, Process time, Stress due to the lifestyle etc.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
O Somova ◽  
H Ivanova ◽  
N Sotnyk ◽  
K Kovalenko ◽  
I Feskova

Abstract Study question To evaluate the effect of platelet-rich plasma (PRP) testicular injections on spermogram parameters of men with severe oligoasthenoteratozoospermia (OAT). Summary answer The PRP testicular injections have beneficial effects on spermatogenesis and enhance sperm concentration and motility in infertile men with OAT. What is known already The use of PRP therapy in assisted reproductive technologies is debatable. Despite the recent evidence of its positive effects in promoting endometrial and follicular growth, data from clinical studies are limited. There are only a few papers on the effectiveness of PRP therapy in the treatment of male infertility and sexual dysfunction. In more detail, the influence of PRP on spermatogenesis was carried out only on experimental animals. Although the mechanisms of its action have not yet been clarified, it is assumed that PRP, containing many biologically active molecules, realizes its effect through the tissue regeneration and cell proliferation. Study design, size, duration This prospective study included 68 men (34.6±5.2) years old with severe OAT (≤4 million/ml, motility ≤30%, normal sperm morphology ≤1%) receiving hormonal and antioxidant (AO) therapy during 6 months before in vitro fertilization cycles. 33 of them were injected once with autologous PRP (0.5 ml in each testicle). Spermogram and testosterone level were analyzed before the treatment and in 3, 4 and 6 months after it. Participants/materials, setting, methods: Sperm concentration, motility and morphology in ejaculate of 33 men of PRP group were compared with those in the group of 35 men without PRP within 6 months of starting the treatment. Total and free testosterone level were measured in blood serum. PRP was prepared by centrifuging the patient’s own blood in the anticoagulant-containing tubes. The final concentration of platelets in the obtained sample was 950.000 – 1.250 000 cells in 1 ml. Main results and the role of chance 4 months after the PRP injection, sperm concentration and motility increased in 18 of 33 men of the PRP group compared with the baseline (before the treatment) – 4.2 (1.0; 6.9) vs 1.4 (0.1; 3.4) mln/ml (p < 0.05) and 36.7 (30.6; 45.8) vs 17.7 (6.7; 28.2)% respectively (p < 0.05).The maximum increase in sperm motility (but not in sperm concentration!) was observed in 24 men in 6 months – 49.6 (39.6; 56.4)% (p < 0.05). Percent of morphologically normal spermatozoa in ejaculate slightly increased only in 12 men in that time period from 0–1% to 1–2%. The total testosterone level was 2.4 times higher than the baseline (31.6±7.2 vs 13.2±4.3 nmol/l, p < 0.05), the free testosterone level was 1.8 times higher (14.5±3.5 vs 7.9±3.0 pgl/ml, p < 0.05). Unlike the PRP group, in the group of men without PRP treatment, the sperm parameters did not changed compared with the baseline in 4 months after the starting hormonal and AO treatment. A significant increase of sperin concentration was observed only in 17 of 35 patients in 6 months. Sperm motility and percent of morphologically normal spermatozoa after the treatment did not differ from the baseline. Changes in the testosterone levels were similar to changes in PRP group. Limitations, reasons for caution Only young and middle-aged men were considered in the study. Large randomized controlled studies are required to confirm the PRP therapy efficacy and safety of f various fertility disorders. There are also no standardized protocols for PRP preparation. Wider implications of the findings: PRP therapy may have great potential for the treatment of male infertility and improving spermatogenesis. Optimization of methods of PRP preparation and dosage of testicular injections can enhance reproductive outcomes in assisted reproductive technologies. Trial registration number Not applicable


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 170 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Kouba ◽  
E. Willis ◽  
C. Vance ◽  
S. Hasenstab ◽  
S. Reichling ◽  
...  

Species-specific differences in breeding strategies and physiology have limited the application of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for critically endangered amphibians in captive assurance colonies. In 2006, the Memphis Zoo (MZ) initiated a program to develop ART for the critically endangered Mississippi gopher frog after natural breeding failed. Standard gamete collection and IVF developed by MZ for reproducing endangered toads such as the Wyoming or boreal toad were applied to the gopher frog with little success, especially hormonal therapy for sperm production. Using the leopard frog as a model species for Ranids, we tested the time and dose dependence of a luteinizing hormone releasing hormone analogue (LHRHa) and hCG on sperm quantity and quality. Initial findings from the leopard frog study were critical in designing the study on gopher frogs. Our objectives were to (1) compare 2 different hormones administered intraperitoneal (500 IU hCG vs 15 μg LHRHa) or their combination on spermiation in gopher frogs; (2) develop in vivo oocyte maturation and ovulation protocols using LHRHa (15 μg) and hCG (500 IU); and (3) transfer this technology to another institution as proof of principle. In gopher frogs, 100 and 83% of the males produced sperm in response to the LHRHa and the combination treatment, respectively, whereas only 16% responded to hCG alone. Sperm concentration peaked at 1 h post-administration for all treatments, with the LHRH/hCG cocktail treatment producing the highest concentration of sperm (mean = 4.6 × 106 ± 1.2 × 106 sperm mL–1, n = 6). No differences in motility were observed between treatments (P > 0.05). For females, a series of priming hormones of hCG and LHRHa were given several months before an ovulatory hormone regimen resulting in ovulation by 100% of the females (n = 6), whereas animals not primed failed to ovulate (n = 4). These 3 separate priming and IVF trials conducted between 2008 and 2010 resulted in each female laying ∼2000 eggs, with an average fertilization rate of 76% for inseminated eggs and hundreds of tadpoles produced. These IVF tadpoles represent the first captive reproduction of gopher frogs and highlight how ART can be applied to conservation and genetic management of threatened species. Subsequently, we tested our IVF protocols on gopher frogs at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo using fresh (collected on site) and chilled, shipped sperm from MZ. We collected 6169 eggs from 9 hormone-primed females with all animals ovulating. A portion of the total eggs ovulated were inseminated, resulting in 2401 fertilized eggs (38.9% of total eggs collected) across 18 different male–female pairings leading to viable tadpoles. In addition, sperm transferred overnight from the MZ produced 202/441 fertilized eggs (46%). The transfer of this technology and production of endangered amphibians using chilled, shipped sperm from live animals is a conservation milestone that can be applied to other captive breeding programs.


Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 33
Author(s):  
Christine Green ◽  
Jessica P. Rickard ◽  
Simon P. de Graaf ◽  
Angela J. Crean

Males can adjust sperm motility instantaneously in response to the perceived risk of sperm competition. The speed of this response suggests that sperm motility is regulated by changes in seminal plasma rather than changes in the sperm cells themselves. Hence, here we test whether inter-ejaculate variation in seminal plasma can be used to alter sperm quality prior to use in assisted reproductive technologies. We supplemented fresh ejaculates of Merino rams with seminal plasma collected from previous ‘donor’ ejaculates to test whether changes in sperm kinetics were related to the relative quality of donor to focal ejaculates. We found a positive relationship between the change in sperm traits before and after supplementation, and the difference in sperm traits between the donor and focal ejaculate. Hence, sperm motility can be either increased or decreased through the addition of seminal plasma from a superior or inferior ejaculate, respectively. This positive relationship held true even when seminal plasma was added from a previous ejaculate of the same ram, although the slope of the relationship depended on the identity of both the donor and receiver ram. These findings indicate that seminal plasma plays a key role in the control and regulation of sperm kinetics, and that sperm kinetic traits can be transferred from one ejaculate to another through seminal plasma supplementation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 130-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Speier

Both the Czech Republic and the United States are destinations for cross-border reproductive travellers. For North Americans, including Canadians, who opt to travel to the Czech Republic for IVF using an egg donor, they are entering a fertility industry that is anonymous. This makes the Czech Republic different from other European countries that necessitate open gamete donation, as in Austria, Germany and the United Kingdom. For reproductive travellers coming to the United States for fertility treatment, there is a wider menu of choices regarding egg donation given the vastly unregulated nature of the industry. More recently, professionals in the industry are pushing for ‘open’ egg donation. For intended parents traveling to either location seeking in vitro fertilization using an egg donor, they must choose whether or not to pursue open or closed donation. As pre-conception parents, they navigate competing discourses of healthy parenting of donor-conceived offspring. They must be reflexive about their choices, and protective when weighing their options, always keeping their future child's mental, physical and genetic health in mind. Drawing from ethnographic data collected over the course of six years in the United States and the Czech Republic, this paper will explore both programs, paying special attention to the question of how gamete donation and global assisted reproductive technologies intersect with different notions about healthy pre-conception parenting.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sinlan Poo ◽  
Kristin M. Hinkson ◽  
Edward Stege

Hibernation is an integral part of the life history of species living in seasonal environments. However, our knowledge about the link between hibernation and reproductive success in amphibians remains limited, which poses an obstacle for critical conservation efforts. To fill this gap, we quantified the effects of captive hibernation on sperm quality, sperm quantity and body condition in an endangered anuran, the Wyoming toad (Anaxyrus baxteri), and used naturally hibernated wild toads as a standard for comparison. We hypothesised that hibernation is essential for optimal sperm output but is detrimental to body condition. Sperm collection was performed using assisted reproductive technologies for both captive and wild toads. Contrary to our hypotheses, no differences were observed in sperm metrics (total number of cells, concentration, motility and viability) or in body condition across captive treatment groups (0, 30 or 60 days of hibernation). Moreover, no difference was found between sperm metrics of captive toads and wild toads. These unexpected findings suggest that hibernation may not be an essential process for spermiation in A. baxteri while using exogenous hormones, and illustrate the potential of temperate amphibians to adapt to varying environmental conditions during winter months.


2015 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 71-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Stapleton ◽  
Daniel Skinner

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) has prompted numerous gender and sexuality controversies. We describe and analyze those involving assisted reproductive technologies (ART). ART in the United States has been regulated in piecemeal fashion, with oversight primarily by individual states. While leaving state authority largely intact, the ACA federalized key practices by establishing essential health benefits (EHBs) that regulate insurance markets and prohibit insurance-coverage denials based on pre-existing conditions. Whatever their intentions, the ACA’s drafters thus put infertility in a subtly provocative new light clinically, financially, normatively, politically, and culturally. With particular attention to normative and political dynamics embedded in plausible regulatory trajectories, we review—and attempt topreview—the ACA’s effects on infertility-related delivery of health services, on ART utilization, and on reproductive medicine as a factor in American society.


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