scholarly journals Influence of Season and Liquid Storage at 16 °C on Beni Arouss Bucks’ Semen Quality

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1986
Author(s):  
Sara El Kadili ◽  
Nathalie Kirschvink ◽  
Marianne Raes ◽  
Jean Loup Bister ◽  
Bouchaib Archa ◽  
...  

The study aimed at determining the effect of storage and season on fresh semen of Beni Arouss goats. Ejaculates were collected at monthly intervals from seven mature bucks and were extended at a final concentration of 800 × 106 spermatozoa. ml-1 and stored at 16 °C for 24 h. Semen motility, viability and normal morphology were assessed at 0, 4, 8 and 24 h after collection. Motility and normal morphology parameters were recorded using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and viability was analyzed using eosin–nigrosin staining. As expected, motility, viability and normal morphology parameters showed a significant reduction within 24 h of storage and during all seasons (p < 0.05). However, semen collected in summer maintained a better quality after 24 h of storage at 16 °C than semen collected during the other periods (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the storage ability of Beni Arouss bucks’ semen stored at 16 °C was significantly higher during the summer.

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 201
Author(s):  
C. E. Ross ◽  
F. H. Choat ◽  
K. N. Plager ◽  
A. T. Desaulniers ◽  
R. A. Cederberg ◽  
...  

Pigs are the only livestock species encoding a functional protein for both the second isoform of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH-II) and its cognate receptor (GnRHR-II). Unlike the classical GnRH system (GnRH-I and GnRHR-I), GnRH-II and GnRHR-II are abundantly produced in porcine testes. Moreover, GnRH-II binding its receptor on Leydig cells stimulates luteinizing hormone-independent testosterone secretion. Interestingly, GnRHR-II is also localised to the connecting piece of mature, ejaculated spermatozoa, whereas GnRH-II is detected in seminal plasma, an interaction possibly influencing the function of sperm. To examine the role of GnRH-II and its receptor in the testis, we produced a swine line with reduced endogenous GnRHR-II levels (GnRHR-II KD). The objectives of this study were to (1) compare sperm characteristics between mature GnRHR-II KD and littermate control boars on the day of collection and following semen extension and (2) determine whether a GnRHR-I and GnRHR-II antagonist alters sperm characteristics after storage of extended semen. In Experiment 1, GnRHR-II KD (n=3) and littermate control (n=3) ejaculates were collected (Day 1) and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) was performed (IVOS II Animal; Hamilton Thorne) to determine measures of sperm motion (motility, progressive motility, slow, and static), morphology (normal morphology, bent tail, coiled tail, distal droplet, proximal droplet (PD), distal midpiece reflex, elongation, and area), and kinematics (length of average path (DAP), length of straight line path (DSL), length of curvilinear path (DCL), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness (STR), linearity (LIN), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH), beat-cross frequency, and wobble (WOB)). Next, 3 billion sperm were extended with Androstar Plus (80-mL doses; Minitube) and stored at 17°C until Day 7 CASA. Data were analysed with the MIXED procedure of SAS (SAS Institute Inc.). On Day 1, semen doses from GnRHR-II KD boars had reduced DSL, VSL, STR, LIN, and WOB (P&lt;0.05), whereas sperm from control boars possessed more PD (P&lt;0.01). Day 7 CASA revealed that transgenic sperm had reduced DAP, DCL, VAP, and VCL, although sperm from control boars were slower (P&lt;0.05). In Experiment 2, control ejaculates (n=3) were extended as above, treated with increasing concentrations (0, 0.0001, 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, and 10μM) of a GnRH antagonist inhibiting both GnRHR-I and GnRHR-II (SB-75, cetrorelix), and stored at 17°C until Day 7 and 9 CASA. On Day 7, only sperm characteristics in doses treated with 10μM SB-75 were significantly lower (normal morphology, DAP, DCL, VAP, VCL, and ALH) or higher (PD, WOB, and area) than controls. Similar differences (except ALH; P&lt;0.10) for the 10μM SB-75 treatment were detected on Day 9; however, motility, slow, static, STR, and LIN were also reduced (P&lt;0.05). Thus, these data suggest that GnRH-II and its receptor are important to sperm function, representing a potential avenue to improve semen preservation. This research was funded by USDA/NIFA AFRI (2017-67015-26508; BRW).


2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 227-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Šichtař ◽  
A. Nehasilová ◽  
O. Šimoník ◽  
F. Bubeníčková

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two different extenders on sperm characteristic before equilibration and post-thaw in the endangered Old Kladruber stallions. Also, the response of individual stallions to the extenders used was tested. Semen was collected from six stallions every other day within one week. After centrifugation of the collected sperm-rich fraction, the supernatant was removed and sperm pellets were divided to two aliquots; these were diluted either with Gent (Minitube, Germany) or privately manufactured lactose-EDTA-egg yolk extender (Lact). Three cryopreserved insemination doses (IDs) from each extender (Gent and Lact) were prepared for each stallion from one collection (108 samples from six stallions in total). As a parameter of quality, the motility (computer assisted sperm analysis), viability (fluorescence staining), and morphology (eosin/nigrosine staining) were evaluated after dilution with freezing extenders (fresh) and after thawing (frozen-thawed). The different effects of chosen extenders on the quality of fresh semen were only manifested in higher kinematic parameters of sperm when the Lact extender was used. However, in frozen-thawed samples, the Gent extender yielded significantly better results in all of the evaluated parameters. The representation of sperm subpopulation was significantly influenced by extender in fresh as well as frozen-thawed samples; moreover, we found a significant effect of freezing on the distribution of these subpopulations. The response of individual stallions to chosen extenders was evident in the different quality of fresh as well as frozen-thawed IDs; Gent extender yielded better frozen-thawed IDs. Based on our results, among others describing quality parameters of ejaculate in endangered Old Kladruber stallions, we can recommend using Gent extender for the production of frozen-thawed IDs.  


Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2619
Author(s):  
Margarida Fernandes ◽  
Pablo Rodríguez Hernández ◽  
João Simões ◽  
João Pedro Barbas

This study aimed to evaluate and compare the effect of three semen extenders (S-EXT) on 22 spermatozoa (SPZ) parameters (subjective and computer-assisted sperm analysis evaluations), before and after semen cryopreservation throughout different months of the breeding season in the Portuguese Merino breed. According to the multivariable model, the SPZ viability (alive %), kinetics subjective individual motility, total motility, total progressive motility and its subpopulations, and beat cross frequency) were higher in the egg yolk-based S-EXT improved by Estação Zootécnica National (Portugal) than in Ovixcell® or Andromed® extenders. All the differences were only observed in thawed semen, except for total motility and total progressive motility, in which Ovixcell® also showed the poorest results on fresh semen. An interaction effect between S-EXT and semen processing was observed on 72.3% (17/22) of the evaluated parameters, evidencing a variable cryoprotective action between S-EXT. The SPZ viability was poorer in the onset of the breeding season (end of April/early May) than in the previous middle breeding season (November/early December), suggesting the influence of a short anoestrous season on ejaculate quality, even though the volume and SPZ concentration of the ejaculates remained stable throughout the experiment. Additionally, S-EXT x semen processing x month interaction effect on 59.1% (13/22) of the evaluated parameters evidenced the importance of SPZ time collection in a natural environment to cryopreserve ram’s semen. We concluded that, overall, the egg yolk-based S-EXT provided a greater value to the cryopreservation of Merino rams´ semen. Nevertheless, the causes of the interaction effect between S-EXT, semen processing and/or month on several SPZ parameters should be addressed, including SPZ molecular research in new studies, in order to improve egg yolk-based as well as in egg yolk-free-based S-EXT.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 87
Author(s):  
C. O. Hidalgo ◽  
A. Rodríguez ◽  
C. Díez ◽  
D. Martín ◽  
M. Carbajo ◽  
...  

The Bermeya goats are an endangered autochthonous breed distributed in the north of Spain. To ensure their genetic diversity and long-term survival, morphological and functional parameters of the semen must be known in order to preserve the current genetic stock in a germplasm bank. The aim of this work was to establish basic characteristics and post-thaw survival of Bermeya goat's semen obtained by electro-ejaculation, that is not well described in the literature. The semen was collected by electro-ejaculation from 7 bucks, 1 to 7 years old, twice per week, for 9 weeks (n = 83). Fresh semen was evaluated for volume (V), concentration (C), motility, morphology, functional integrity of the sperm (spz) membranes (hypoosmotic swelling test; HOST), and acrosome integrity rate (NAR). Individual and progressive sperm motility were analyzed by means of a computer-assisted sperm analysis system (CASA: SCA 2002�, Microptic, Barcelona, Spain) immediately after dilution with the extender at 37�C, and after cooling to 4�C; five fields per sample (diluted to 204 � 106 spz mL–1) were evaluated under a phase contrast microscope (100�). The NAR and morphological abnormalities of sperm head, midpiece, tail, and cytoplasmic droplets were determined by counting 100 spz under 1000�. For freezing, ejaculates with at least 80% motile spz were diluted at 32�C with Krebs-Ringer solution containing 20% egg yolk and 14% glycerol to a final concentration of 400 � 106 spz mL–1, cooled to 4�C for 90 min, aspirated into 0.25-mL plastic straws (IMV�, L'Aigle, France), frozen at 7 cm above liquid nitrogen (LN2) phase for 10 min, and then plunged into the LN2. Straws were thawed in a water bath at 39�C for 30 s for post-thaw survival analysis. Data were analyzed by the GLM and FREQ procedures (SAS; SAS Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA) and expressed as means � standard error. Fresh semen characteristics were: V = 1.7 � 0.1 mL; C = 2619 � 106 � 153 spz mL–1; total and progressive motility were 89.0 � 2.1% and 66.9 � 2.1%, respectively. Percentages of head abnormalities were 4.8 � 0.5; midpiece: 3.8 � 0.7; tail: 4.7 � 1.0; cytoplasmic droplets: 8.3 � 0.7; intact acrosome: 91.8 � 0.6; and membrane integrity: 49.2 � 2.1. At 4�C, the % of total motile spz was 62.6 � 1.6, and the post-thaw survival rate was 46.3 � 1.5. There were only individual differences (P < 0.001) between bucks on sperm concentration, head abnormalities, and cytoplasmic droplets. In conclusion, our results indicate that semen quality is related to each individual animal and that electro-ejaculation allows collection of semen of satisfactory quality to use as fresh and for cryopreservation. However, the validity of our results for possible future sperm banking of endangered Bermeya goats semen must be confirmed by field trials.


2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 429-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Domosławska ◽  
Sławomir Zduńczyk ◽  
Wojciech Niżański ◽  
Tomasz Janowski

Abstract Semen quality parameters of infertile and fertile dogs were compared. Sperm concentration and semen motility parameters were measured by the Hamilton-Thorne Semen Analyser IVOS 12.3. The spermatozoal morphology and the percentage of live spermatozoa were examined microscopically. Forty-six dogs of various breeds were examined. Twenty dogs had a conception failure within last year. These dogs had a history of prior normal fertility. Twenty six fertile dogs served as control. All animals underwent a clinical examination as well as ultrasonography. Sperm concentration was significantly lower in infertile dogs than in fertile dogs. For most determined motility parameters (MOT, PMOT, VAP, VSL, VCL, BCF, RAPID, STATIC) significant differences between infertile and fertile dogs were found. The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology also significantly differed between both groups. Ultrasonography of the prostate gland and testes revealed no pathological conditions. The testicular degeneration was assumed to be a possible cause of infertility in these dogs. The present study showed that the most sperm CASA motility parameters were significantly lower in infertile dogs in comparison to the fertile ones, and confirmed the usefulness of the Hamilton-Thorne Semen Analyser for a quick and objective analysis of sperm concentration and motility in dogs.


2020 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 197-199
Author(s):  
Eszter Balogh ◽  
Anna Boglárka Dálnoki ◽  
László Rózsa ◽  
Viktória Johanna Debnár ◽  
Orsolya Varga-Balogh ◽  
...  

AbstractWhen using artificial insemination in porcine reproduction, one of the most important requirements is the suitable quality of semen regarding its total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM). Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) is an appropriate method to analyse the quality of semen. Recently a portable instrument has been developed to help specialists in their everyday field work. In our study, semen quality was measured simultaneously by the portable device (Ongo) and a laboratory CASA system (Microptic) to compare TM and PM values obtained by these appliances at a concentration of 50 × 106 spermatozoa/mL. Agreement between measurements was evaluated with a Bland-Altman plot. Strong correlation was found between the investigated instruments for all the three parameters, i.e. sperm concentration, TM and PM. However, a few measurements fell outside the defined range of acceptance.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-334

The aim of this research was to evaluate the Bali cattle semen quality during cryopreservation with different types of extenders in term of live, total motility, progressive motility, and abnormality of post-thawed bull sperms. The treatments were AndroMed® (T0), Tris-based egg yolk diluent (T1), Tris-based coconut water diluent (T2), Coconut water egg yolk diluent (T3). Bulls’ semen was collected from two adult Bali cattle maintained at the semen production facility at Bali Artificial Insemination Center, Tabanan Bali. The age of the bulls were 6 years old. Sperm live, total motility, progressive motility, and abnormality were analyzed with computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) post-dilution, before and after thawed. The study was replicated five times, and data were analyzed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that AndroMed ® and Tris-based egg yolk had significantly higher sperm live, total motility, progressive motility and abnormalities of spermatozoa for post-dilution, after equilibration and post thawed than Tris egg yolk coconut water and Coconut water egg yolk diluent. It was concluded that AndroMed® and Tris-based egg yolk can be considered as the best suitable extender for Bali cattle sperm cryopreservation. Coconut water had a deleterious effect when supplemented with 20% in tris and egg yolk.


2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 361
Author(s):  
A. Garcia Guerra ◽  
J. Villareal ◽  
G. Larraburu ◽  
G. M. Brogliatti

There is a highly significant relationship between semen quality and the percentage of fertilized ova and transferable embryos in superovulated donors (Stroud B and Hasler JF 2006 Theriogenology 65, 65-76). Computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) provides an objective and highly repeatable system for sperm analysis. It has been observed that linearity (LIN) measured by CASA has a high correlation with fertility (Foote RH et al. 1998 Theriogenology 49, 871-879). In the present report, retrospective analysis was done to determine the effect of sperm linearity as assessed by CASA on the number of ova and viable embryos recovered from superstimulated cows. This research was carried out using different breeds of donors (n = 150, 80% Angus) during the last 5 years in an embryo transfer center in Buenos Aires province, Argentina. Donors with a CL received an intravaginal progesterone device (DIB®, Syntex, Buenos Aires, Argentina), 2 mg of 17? estradiol, and 50 mg of progesterone (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), i.m. on the same day. On Day 4 after DIB® insertion, superstimulatory treatment was initiated as a decreasing dose regimen of FSH i.m. (Pluset®, Callier, Spain, or Folltropin®, Bioniche Animal Health, Inc., Belleville, Ontario, Canada) every 12 h during 4 days. On Day 6, DIB® devices were removed and cows were administered cloprostenol (2 mL) twice at 12-h intervals. When estrus was detected, donors received GnRH (2 mL i.m. Dalmarelin®, Von Franken, Buenos Aires, Argentina) and were inseminated 12 and 24 h thereafter. Semen was thawed in a water bath at 37°C for 1 min. Before insemination, every semen dose was evaluated for motility characteristics using the IVOS Sperm Analyzer (Hamilton Thorne Biosciences, Beverly, MA, USA). Two chambers of 20-(im depth and 5 fields per chamber were analyzed (30 frames/0.5 s for each field). According to CASA results, 3 groups were defined based on LIN: Group 1 = <50%; Group 2 =≥50% and <60%; and Group 3 =≥60%. Seven days later, embryo collection was performed and ovarian response was evaluated by transrectal ultrasonography to assess number of CL + anovulatory follicles. Ova/embryos were evaluated and classified according to the IETS manual. Kruskal-Wallis test was used to compare variables among groups, and results are shown in Table 1. There was a significant difference between Groups 1 and 3 for total number and percentage of viable embryos. More embryos were recovered from donors inseminated with higher LIN semen. Also, there was a significant difference between Group 1 and both Groups 2 and 3 in the number of total fertilized ova, percentage of fertilized ova, and percentage of unfertilized ova. The present results suggest that insemination of donors with semen of high LIN results in higher fertilization rates and number of viable embryos. Table 1.Number of fertilized ova and viable embryos of donor cows inseminated with semen with different linearity


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 269
Author(s):  
R. W. Fürst ◽  
V. L. Pistek ◽  
S. Bauersachs ◽  
D. Waberski ◽  
H. D. D. Meyer ◽  
...  

In male developing piglets, low endogenous oestrogenic hormone levels prevail. Sensitive tissues expressing high levels of oestrogen receptors, such as the epididymis, might thus be of specific relevance for early disturbances by estrogenic endocrine disruptors. We have previously shown that distinct concentrations of the natural oestrogen oestradiol-17β (E2) orally applied during the whole period of pregnancy in sows lead to a distinct shift in body composition. Therefore, we aimed at investigating whether prenatal E2 exposure had the potential to program male reproductive organs toward altered semen quality. The E2 treatment groups (n = 4 sows/group) were designed to represent doses of pharmacological relevance (PR; 1000 µg kg–1 of body weight per day), oral no-effect level (10 µg kg–1 of body weight per day), and acceptable daily intake level (0.05 µg kg–1 of body weight per day). Total RNA was extracted from the epididymis of 8-week-old piglet twins (n = 2 per sow). The RNA of littermates was pooled and subjected to microarray analysis (MA) using Agilent Porcine Genome Arrays (Agilent Technologies Inc., Santa Clara, CA, USA). Ejaculates of adult male pigs from the control group and the pharmacological group (n = 4) were collected and analysed for quantitative and qualitative parameters by using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry. In total, 105 transcripts exhibited a significant difference of more than 1.5-fold for at least one of the treatment groups compared with the control group (P < 0.05; FDR 5%). Several transcripts revealed gradually decreasing amounts subject to the dose of E2 exposure. Eight transcripts showed significant differences in all 3 treatment groups compared with the control group. Thirty-two transcripts had reduced abundance in the PR group and the oral no-effect level group, whereas 20 transcripts were downregulated in the PR group only. Semen parameters of adult males did not differ regarding volume and semen concentration, morphology, and membrane integrity. Computer-assisted sperm analysis evaluations did not show differences in motility and other kinematic parameters. Eight weeks after E2 exposure, male prepubertal piglets exhibited significant differences in epididymal messenger RNA transcript abundance subject to an in utero E2 treatment. This points toward possible epigenetic programming of the epididymis. Although the differential transcript abundance indicates a perturbation, normal semen quality was found after adolescence. Either these transcriptional changes are of minor functional importance or flexible mechanisms account for the developmental adaptations. Considering that identical transcripts were regulated in offspring exposed to both pharmacological and very low doses, further investigations of set points obviating long-term adverse consequences are needed.


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