THE OVIDUCTAL SPERM RESERVOIR: OVIDUCTAL ANNEXINS AS RECEPTORS FOR BULL SPERM BSP PROTEINS

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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DeepSperm: A robust and real-time bull sperm-cell detection in densely populated semen videos

Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine ◽

10.1016/j.cmpb.2021.106302 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 106302

Author(s):

Priyanto Hidayatullah ◽

Xueting Wang ◽

Toshihiko Yamasaki ◽

Tati L.E.R. Mengko ◽

Rinaldi Munir ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Real Time ◽

Sperm Cell ◽

Cell Detection ◽

Bull Sperm

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Protective effect of vitamin C and lycopene on the in vitro fertilization capacity of sex‐sorted bull sperm by inhibiting the oxidative stress

Reproduction in Domestic Animals ◽

10.1111/rda.13748 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 55 (9) ◽

pp. 1103-1114

Author(s):

Pei‐Pei Zhang ◽

Jing‐Jing Wang ◽

Chong‐Yang Li ◽

Hai‐sheng Hao ◽

Hao‐Yu Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

In Vitro Fertilization ◽

Vitamin C ◽

Protective Effect ◽

Vitro Fertilization ◽

Bull Sperm ◽

Fertilization Capacity

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Expression of hyaluronan synthase-3 in porcine oviducal epithelium during oestrus

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd02100 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. 99 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

Paisan Tienthai ◽

Naoko Kimura ◽

Paraskevi Heldin ◽

Eimei Sato ◽

Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Reverse Transcription ◽

Hyaluronan Synthase ◽

Critical Periods ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Mean Values ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Sperm Reservoir ◽

Oviduct Fluid

Hyaluronan (HA) has been related to fertilization and embryo development in the pig. Furthermore, HA is present in pig oviduct fluid and the lining epithelium, particularly of the pre-ovulatory sperm reservoir. Because the mechanisms that regulate HA synthesis have not yet been clarified, semiquantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was conducted to assess the expression of mRNAs of two HA-synthesizing enzymes (has2 and has3) in the oviduct epithelium (uterotubal junction, isthmus, ampullary–isthmic junction and ampulla segments) of non-inseminated (control) and inseminated (treatment) sows at pre-, peri- and post-ovulatory oestrus. Only has3 mRNA was detected; it was present in all tubal segments of both control and treatment samples. The level of has3 expression did not vary significantly between non-inseminated and inseminated specimens, but there was a tendency (NS) for increased mean values during the peri- and post-ovulatory stages compared with pre-ovulation. It is concluded that has3 is expressed by the porcine endosalpinx epithelium and the levels of expression do not vary during the critical periods of sperm transport and fertilization, despite fluctuating levels of HA in the tubal fluid at corresponding periods.

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