scholarly journals The Cryoprotective Potential of Propolis Supplemented in Frozen-Thawed Bull Semen: Biochemical and Physiological Findings

Author(s):  
Deniz Yeni ◽  
Mehmet Fuat Gülhan ◽  
Muhammed Enes İnanç ◽  
Fatih Avdatek ◽  
Şükrü Güngör ◽  
...  

Abstract In this study, the cryoprotective effect of different doses of propolis (P) on bull semen, which has strong pharmacological properties thanks to its rich phenolic components, was investigated biochemically and physiologically. Semen samples were collected from Simmental breed bulls via the artificial vagina and pooled. After dividing into five groups, control (C: no additive), and four different dose P (200, 100, 50, and 25 μg/mL) groups, the final concentration was diluted to 16×106 per straw. Semen samples were equilibrated at 4°C for approximately 4 hours, then placed in French straws and frozen. After thawing, sperm motility and kinetic parameters, DNA integrity by single-cell gel electrophoresis, sperm abnormalities by liquid fixation, and lipid peroxidation levels by the colorimetric method was analyzed by Computer-Assisted Semen Analyzer. P added to the diluent showed no effect on motility and kinetic parameters at P25 and P50 (p >0.05), while P100 and P200 had a negative effect (p <0.001). The addition of P (25 and 50) had a treatment effect on tail abnormality compared to C (p <0.05). Especially P50 had a positive effect on tail length, tail DNA, and tail moment, while P100 and P200 caused DNA damage (p <0.001). MDA levels increased in all P dose groups compared to C (p <0.001). This study has clearly demonstrated that P25 and P50 supplements could be used therapeutically in the treatment of sperm abnormalities and prevention of DNA damage in post-thawed bull sperm.

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 252 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Fraser ◽  
Ł. Zasiadczyk ◽  
C. S. Pareek

Assessment of sperm-DNA integrity is a crucial issue in male fertility. In the present study, parameters derived from the image analysis of comets after single-cell gel electrophoresis were used to analyse the types of DNA damage of frozen–thawed boar spermatozoa. Semen, frozen in a cryoprotectant-free extender or in cryoprotectant-based extenders, was analysed for DNA fragmentation and with the following comet tail measures: percentage DNA in comet tail, comet tail length and olive tail moment. The percentages of sperm DNA damage in the comet tails were classified as Type 0 (no DNA damage), Type I (very low DNA damage), Type II (light DNA damage), Type III (medium DNA damage) and Type IV (heavy DNA damage). Sperm motility characteristics and membrane integrity were assessed in the pre-freeze and frozen–thawed semen samples. Assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation and comet tail measures showed marked inter-boar variability following cryopreservation. However, consistent differences among the boars, with respect to cryo-induced sperm DNA damage, were detected by the comet tail length and olive tail moment. Besides Type IV, all types of DNA damage were detected in the cryoprotectant-based extenders. It was found that the frequency of Type II and Type III of DNA damage of frozen–thawed spermatozoa was significantly greater in the cryoprotectant-based and cryoprotectant-free extenders respectively. Deterioration in the quality of the sperm DNA integrity was concomitant with a marked decline in sperm motility characteristics, reduced plasma membrane integrity and higher lipid peroxidation and aspartate aminotransferase activity after cryopreservation. It can be suggested that the comet-assay parameters, coupled with routine laboratory tests, are useful to improve the sperm evaluations of post-thaw quality of semen from individual boars and would offer more comprehensive information for a better understanding of the degree of cryo-induced sperm-DNA damage.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 102
Author(s):  
J. D. Hourcade ◽  
M. Perez-Crespo ◽  
B. Pintado ◽  
A. Gutiérrez-Adán

Physiological bases of the sperm selection processes within the female reproductive tract before they meet and fertilize the oocyte are unknown. The aim of this work was to determine if one of the keys of spermatozoa selection could be DNA integrity. It has been reported that sperm DNA damage does not impair in vitro fertilization (IVF). However, it has been suggested that the zona pelucida (ZP) is able to select spermatozoa with unfragmented DNA (Liu and Baker 2007 Hum. Reprod. 22, 1597–1602). In this work, DNA damage of spermatozoa was artificially induced by scrotal heat treatment (HT) (42°C, 30 min). Twenty-one days after the HT, spermatozoa were recovered from the epididymis caudae of CD1 mice and from the uterine horns near the cervix (Uc), from the uterine horns near the oviducts (Uo), and from the oviducts (Ov) of CD1 females 1–2 h after mating with HT and control males. In each region we determined numbers of spermatozoa, individual motility and sperm DNA integrity by COMET assay (% DNA in tail, tail length, and COMET moment was calculated). Also, females naturally mated either with HT or control males were killed at Day 14 of pregnancy, and number of foetuses and resorptions was recorded. Additionally, IVF was performed with epididymal sperm from HT or control males, Two hours after IVF attached and un-attached spermatozoa to the ZP were recovered and samples were evaluated for sperm motility (CASA), sperm zona-binding, and sperm DNA fragmentation (COMET). Also cleavage rate of fertilized oocytes with sperm from HT or control males was analyzed. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the results form each group. Epididymal sperm count (12*106 and 4.4*106 for control and HT respectively), sperm motility (75 and 21% respectively) and testis weight (133.90 and 68.76 mg, respectively) were significantly reduced after heat treatment (P < 0.001). For the heat treatment, COMET values decreased significantly during the transit from Uc to Uo and from Uo to Ov (Tail DNA: 25.7, 23.5, and 14.4% respectively, P < 0.01; Tail length: 38.4, 29.4, and 11.2 pixels, P < 0.001; COMET Moment: 12.5, 8.5, and 2 respectively, P < 0.001). Heat treatment reduced numbers of foetuses (7 ± 0.5 v. 5 ± 0.49, control and HT group, respectively), but number of resorptions was not altered. Spermatozoa bound per ZP in IVF experiments (55 ± 7 and 13 ± 6, control and HT, respectively) and cleavage rate (61 ± 1 v. 15 ± 6, control and HT, respectively) were significantly reduced in the HT group. Two hours after IVF, spermatozoa attached to the ZP in HT group showed a significant decrease in COMET parameters as in tail length (59.46 ± 2.895 v. 34.66 ± 3.531), and in tail moment compared with unattached spermatozoa. Our results indicate that DNA integrity sperm selection mechanisms are present in both the female tract and the ZP. We suggest that genital tract and sperm-ZP binding process plays an important role in selection of sperm with normal chromatin DNA.


2009 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Burns ◽  
N. Wong ◽  
H. Arnold ◽  
N. Sirs ◽  
R. Romero ◽  
...  

Mares inseminated with frozen–thawed sperm have reduced pregnancy rates compared with mares inseminated with fresh sperm. Processing mammalian sperm for cryopreservation increases the concentration of free radicals and induces oxidative stress, which can result in DNA damage and may lead to lower fertility. The objective of this experiment was to examine the effects of several plant antioxidant extracts on stallion sperm post-thaw motility and DNA quality. Single ejaculates were collected from 4 stallions and the concentration of sperm cells in each ejaculate was determined spectrophotometrically. Semen was centrifuged at 300g for 10 min at room temperature and seminal plasma was removed. Sperm pellets were resuspended to a final concentration of 200 × 106 cells mL–1 in E-Z Freezin LE (ARS, Chino, CA) extender (control) or extender containing 1 of 3 plant extracts (3% v/v) from 2 different commercial sources. Extended sperm cells were loaded into 0.5-mL straws and frozen over liquid nitrogen vapor for 10 min. Straws were then plunged into liquid nitrogen and stored until further evaluation. Motility and velocity parameters were determined at 0, 30, and 60 min post-thaw using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. DNA fragmentation was determined immediately after thawing using a single-cell gel electrophoresis (Comet) assay. Motility (total and progressive) and velocity parameters of sperm cells did not differ between controls and plant extract treatments (P > 0.05). However, total Comet length and tail length were reduced in sperm cells stored in extender containing each plant extract (P < 0.05). Tail and olive moment tended to be reduced (P < 0.10) in sperm cells stored in plant extracts. In conclusion, sperm cells stored in plant extracts had reduced post-thaw DNA damage. The addition of plant extracts to commercial freezing extenders may be a practical method for improving sperm quality.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (9) ◽  
pp. 102 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Osman ◽  
S. Ibrahim ◽  
M. Ismail ◽  
S. Das ◽  
M. Abd Rahman ◽  
...  

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is a popular technique in treating infertile male that bypasses sperm natural selection. Due to this, the occasional and unintentional use of spermatozoa in ICSI with high amount of DNA fragmentation seems to be unpreventable. The objective of this study was to develop single sperm selection technique and in the process to determine the relationship between sperm kinetic parameters and sperm DNA damage. Semen from sexually matured male Boer buck cross species were collected and cryo-preserved. After taking into consideration semen sperm count, sperm were isolated individually in an ELISA plate by diluting semen in extender. Then every sperm’s kinetics was assessed by computer-assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) while neutral comet assay was used to quantitate and categorise its DNA damage condition. DNA damage was categorised from minimal damage (category 0) to extensive damage (category 4). Relationship between CASA parameters and DNA damage category of 490 sperms was determined using a Classification and Regression modelling (C&R). A total of 208 sperm data was used to generate a suitable C&R model. A further 250 sperm data was then used to determine accuracy of the model. Results obtained indicated that VSL, WOB and VCL were important factors in determining the overall condition of a particular sperm. A low value of VSL would indicate minimal DNA damage. Identification of higher category of DNA damage would require combination assessment of VSL, WOB and VCL. Accuracy of the developed C&R model was at 83.6%. Based on the above procedure it has been shown that sperm kinetics and DNA integrity can be considered together in selecting potential sperm for ICSI procedure.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (3) ◽  
pp. 590 ◽  
Author(s):  
Santiago T. Peña Jr. ◽  
Felicity Stone ◽  
Bruce Gummow ◽  
Anthony J. Parker ◽  
Damien B. B. P. Paris

Summer infertility continues to undermine pig productivity, costing the pig industry millions in annual losses. The boar’s inefficient capacity to sweat, non-pendulous scrotum and the extensive use of European breeds in tropical conditions, can make the boar particularly vulnerable to the effects of heat stress; however, the link between summer heat stress and boar sperm DNA damage has not yet been demonstrated. Semen from five Large White boars was collected and evaluated during the early dry, late dry and peak wet seasons to determine the effect of seasonal heat stress on the quality and DNA integrity of boar spermatozoa. DNA damage in spermatozoa during the peak wet was 16-fold greater than during the early dry and nearly 9-fold greater than during the late dry season. Sperm concentration was 1.6-fold lower in the peak wet than early dry whereas no difference was found across several motility parameters as determined by computer-assisted sperm analysis. These results demonstrate that tropical summer (peak wet season) induces DNA damage and reduces concentration without depressing motility in boar spermatozoa, suggesting that traditional methods of evaluating sperm motility may not detect inherently compromised spermatozoa. Boar management strategies (such as antioxidant supplementation) need to be developed to specifically mitigate this problem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federica Turri ◽  
Emanuele Capra ◽  
Barbara Lazzari ◽  
Paola Cremonesi ◽  
Alessandra Stella ◽  
...  

Predicting bull fertility is one of the main challenges for the dairy breeding industry and artificial insemination (AI) centers. Semen evaluation performed in the AI center is not fully reliable to determine the level of bull fertility. Spermatozoa are rich in active miRNA. Specific sperm-borne miRNAs can be linked to fertility. The aim of our study is to propose a combined flow cytometric analysis and miRNA profiling of semen bulls with different fertility to identify markers that can be potentially used for the prediction of field fertility. Sperm functions were analyzed in frozen-thawed semen doses (CG: control group) and high-quality sperm (HQS) fraction collected from bulls with different field fertility levels (estimated relative conception rate or ERCR) by using advanced techniques, such as the computer-assisted semen analysis system, flow cytometry, and small RNA-sequencing. Fertility groups differ for total and progressive motility and in the abnormality degree of the chromatin structure (P &lt; 0.05). A backward, stepwise, multiple regression analysis was applied to define a model with high relation between in vivo (e.g., ERCR) and in vitro (i.e., semen quality and DE-miRNA) fertility data. The analysis produced two models that accounted for more than 78% of the variation of ERCR (CG: R2 = 0.88; HQS: R2 = 0.78), identifying a suitable combination of parameters useful to predict bull fertility. The predictive equation on CG samples included eight variables: four kinetic parameters and four DNA integrity indicators. For the HQS fraction, the predictive equation included five variables: three kinetic parameters and two DNA integrity indicators. A significant relationship was observed between real and predicted fertility in CG (R2 = 0.88) and HQS fraction (R2 = 0.82). We identified 15 differentially expressed miRNAs between high- and low-fertility bulls, nine of which are known (miR-2285n, miR-378, miR-423-3p, miR-191, miR-2904, miR-378c, miR-431, miR-486, miR-2478) while the remaining are novel. The multidimensional preference analysis model partially separates bulls according to their fertility, clustering three semen quality variable groups relative to motility, DNA integrity, and viability. A positive association between field fertility, semen quality parameters, and specific miRNAs was revealed. The integrated approach could provide a model for bull selection in AI centers, increasing the reproductive efficiency of livestock.


2014 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 135-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Monica S. Bachmann ◽  
Hansjörg Znoj ◽  
Katja Haemmerli

Emerging adulthood is a time of instability. This longitudinal study investigated the relationship between mental health and need satisfaction among emerging adults over a period of five years and focused on gender-specific differences. Two possible causal models were examined: (1) the mental health model, which predicts that incongruence is due to the presence of impaired mental health at an earlier point in time; (2) the consistency model, which predicts that impaired mental health is due to a higher level of incongruence reported at an earlier point in time. Emerging adults (N = 1,017) aged 18–24 completed computer-assisted telephone interviews in 2003 (T1), 2005 (T2), and 2008 (T3). The results indicate that better mental health at T1 predicts a lower level of incongruence two years later (T2), when prior level of incongruence is controlled for. The same cross-lagged effect is shown for T3. However, the cross-lagged paths from incongruence to mental health are marginally associated when prior mental health is controlled for. No gender differences were found in the cross-lagged model. The results support the mental health model and show that incongruence does not have a long-lasting negative effect on mental health. The results highlight the importance of identifying emerging adults with poor mental health early to provide support regarding need satisfaction.


Author(s):  
Hossam Ebaid ◽  
Mohamed Habila ◽  
Iftekhar Hassan ◽  
Jameel Al-Tamimi ◽  
Mohamed S. Omar ◽  
...  

Background: Hepatotoxicity remains an important clinical challenge. Hepatotoxicity observed in response to toxins and hazardous chemicals may be alleviated by delivery of the curcumin in silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-curcumin). In this study, we examined the impact of AgNPs-curcumin in a mouse model of carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced hepatic injury. Methods: Male C57BL/6 mice were divided into three groups (n=8 per group). Mice in group 1 were treated with vehicle control alone, while mice in Group 2 received a single intraperitoneal injection of 1 ml/kg CCl4 in liquid paraffin (1:1 v/v). Mice in group 3 were treated with 2.5 mg/kg AgNPs-curcumin twice per week for three weeks after the CCl4 challenge. Results: Administration of CCL4 resulted in oxidative dysregulation, including significant reductions in reduced glutathione and concomitant elevations in the level of malondialdehyde (MDA). CCL4 challenge also resulted in elevated levels of serum aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transaminase (ALT); these findings were associated with the destruction of hepatic tissues. Treatment with AgNPs-curcumin prevented oxidative imbalance, hepatic dysfunction, and tissue destruction. A comet assay revealed that CCl4 challenge resulted in significant DNA damage as documented by a 70% increase in nuclear DNA tail-length; treatment with AgNPs-curcumin inhibited the CCL4-mediated increase in nuclear DNA tail-length by 34%. Conclusion: Administration of AgNPs-curcumin resulted in significant antioxidant activity in vivo. This agent has the potential to prevent the hepatic tissue destruction and DNA damage that results from direct exposure to CCL4.


Author(s):  
G N Subramanian ◽  
M Lavin ◽  
H A Homer

Abstract Premature loss of ovarian activity before 40 years of age is known as primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) and occurs in ∼1% of women. A more subtle decline in ovarian activity, known as premature ovarian ageing (POA), occurs in ∼10% of women. Despite the high prevalence of POA, very little is known regarding its genetic causation. Senataxin (SETX) is an RNA/DNA helicase involved in repair of oxidative stress-induced DNA damage. Homozygous mutation of SETX leads to the neurodegenerative disorder, ataxia oculomotor apraxia type 2 (AOA2). There have been reports of POI in AOA2 females suggesting a link between SETX and ovarian ageing. Here, we studied female mice lacking either one (Setx+/−) or both (Setx−/−) copies of SETX over a 12- to 14-month period. We find that DNA damage is increased in oocytes from 8-month-old Setx+/− and Setx−/− females compared with Setx+/+ oocytes leading to a marked reduction in all classes of ovarian follicles at least 4 months earlier than typically occurs in female mice. Furthermore, during a 12-month long mating trial, Setx+/− and Setx−/− females produced significantly fewer pups than Setx+/+ females from 7 months of age onwards. These data show that SETX is critical for preventing POA in mice, likely by preserving DNA integrity in oocytes. Intriguingly, heterozygous Setx loss causes an equally severe impact on ovarian ageing as homozygous Setx loss. Because heterozygous SETX disruption is less likely to produce systemic effects, SETX compromise could underpin some cases of insidious POA.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 750
Author(s):  
Werner E. G. Müller ◽  
Meik Neufurth ◽  
Shunfeng Wang ◽  
Heinz C. Schröder ◽  
Xiaohong Wang

The anti-cancer antitumor antibiotic bleomycin(s) (BLM) induces athyminic sites in DNA after its activation, a process that results in strand splitting. Here, using A549 human lung cells or BEAS-2B cells lunc cells, we show that the cell toxicity of BLM can be suppressed by addition of inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), a physiological polymer that accumulates and is released from platelets. BLM at a concentration of 20 µg ml−1 causes a decrease in cell viability (by ~70%), accompanied by an increased DNA damage and chromatin expansion (by amazingly 6-fold). Importantly, the BLM-caused effects on cell growth and DNA integrity are substantially suppressed by polyP. In parallel, the enlargement of the nuclei/chromatin in BLM-treated cells (diameter, 20–25 µm) is normalized to ~12 µm after co-incubation of the cells with BLM and polyP. A sequential application of the drugs (BLM for 3 days, followed by an exposure to polyP) does not cause this normalization. During co-incubation of BLM with polyP the gene for the BLM hydrolase is upregulated. It is concluded that by upregulating this enzyme polyP prevents the toxic side effects of BLM. These data might also contribute to an application of BLM in COVID-19 patients, since polyP inhibits binding of SARS-CoV-2 to cellular ACE2.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document