scholarly journals Status of Sperm Functionality Assessment in Wildlife Species: From Fish to Primates

Animals ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (6) ◽  
pp. 1491
Author(s):  
Gerhard van der Horst
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
3D Tracking ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Fast Analysis ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Monogamous Species ◽  
Wide Range

(1) Background: in order to propagate wildlife species (covering the whole spectrum from species suitable for aquaculture to endangered species), it is important to have a good understanding of the quality of their sperm, oocytes and embryos. While sperm quality analyses have mainly used manual assessment in the past, such manual estimations are subjective and largely unreliable. Accordingly, quantitative and cutting-edge approaches are required to assess the various aspects of sperm quality. The purpose of this investigation was to illustrate the latest technology used in quantitative evaluation of sperm quality and the required cut-off points to distinguish the differential grades of fertility potential in a wide range of vertebrate species. (2) Methods: computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) with an emphasis on sperm motility, 3D tracking and flagellar and sperm tracking analysis (FAST), as well as quantitative assessment of sperm morphology, vitality, acrosome status, fragmentation and many other complimentary technologies. (3) Results: Assessing sperm quality revealed a great deal of species specificity. For example, in freshwater fish like trout, sperm swam in a typical tight helical pattern, but in seawater species sperm motility was more progressive. In amphibian species, sperm velocity was slow, in contrast with some bird species (e.g., ostrich). Meanwhile, in African elephant and some antelope species, fast progressive sperm was evident. In most species, there was a high percentage of morphologically normal sperm, but generally, low percentages were observed for motility, vitality and normal morphology evident in monogamous species. (4) Conclusions: Sperm quality assessment using quantitative methodologies such as CASA motility, FAST analysis, morphology and vitality, as well as more progressive methodologies, assisted in better defining sperm quality—specifically, sperm functionality of high-quality sperm. This approach will assist in the propagation of wildlife species.

scholarly journals Sperm motility in fish: technical applications and perspectives through CASA-Mot systems

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 820 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Gallego ◽  
J. F. Asturiano
Keyword(s):  
Kinetic Parameters ◽  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Objective Assessment ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Fish Sperm ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Broodstock Management

Although a relatively high number of sperm quality biomarkers have been reported over the years in several fish species, sperm motility is nowadays considered the best biomarker for fish spermatozoa. The first scientific reports focusing on fish sperm motility date from a century ago, but the objective assessment allowed by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA-Mot) systems was not applied to fish species until the mid-1980s. Since then, a high number of sperm kinetic parameters from more than 170 fish species have been reported in more than 700 scientific articles, covering a wide range of topics, such as sperm physiology, sperm storage, broodstock management, the phenomenon of sperm competition, ecotoxicology and understanding the life cycle of the species. The sperm kinetic parameters provided by CASA-Mot systems can serve as powerful and useful tools for aquaculture and ecological purposes, and this review provides an overview of the major research areas in which fish sperm motility assessment by a CASA-Mot system has been used successfully.

17 Increased inbreeding levels negatively affect sperm kinetics and motility in Purebred Spanish horses

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 116
Author(s):  
Y. Pirosanto ◽  
A. Molina ◽  
M. Valera ◽  
J. Dorado ◽  
E. Terán ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Reproductive Traits ◽  
Study Groups ◽  
Inbreeding Coefficient ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Effective Population ◽  
Mean Velocity ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Head Displacement

Reproductive performance is one of the key factors in livestock production. It is well known that reproductive traits are influenced by several genetic factors, such as the increase of individual inbreeding levels, which are associated with changes in sperm motility and shape in several species. In horses, the increase in inbreeding is a common problem because of the reduction in effective population size and the increase in selection intensity observed in several breeds. However, studies assessing the effect of high levels of inbreeding on the sperm quality of stallions are scarce. In the present study, we aimed to determine the effect of increased inbreeding levels and age on the sperm motility patterns of Purebred Spanish horses (PRE). We performed kinetic characterisation of 557 sperm samples of 82 PRE stallions aged between 3 and16 years, using computer-assisted sperm analysis (Androvision™, Minitube). We evaluated 5 parameters in 6 different fields per sample: curved line velocity (VCL, µm/s), velocity average path (VAP, µm/s), velocity straight line (VSL, µm/s), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, µm), and beat-cross frequency (BCF, Hz). We determined the pedigree-based inbreeding coefficient (Fped) based on ∼300,000 PRE pedigree records to evaluate the inbreeding effect. Individuals were separated into 2 groups: highly inbred (n=339) and lowly inbred (n=218) according to an F value of 12.5%. Differences between groups were analysed using a generalized linear model. The analysis did not show significant differences (P>0.05) in the variables analysed with respect to the age of stallions. However, VAP, VCL, and AHL were lower in highly inbred than in lowly inbred animals (P<0.05), suggesting less velocity and amplitude of head displacement. In the case of BCF, no significant differences (P>0.05) were observed between the two study groups. In conclusion, age did not affect sperm quality parameters in the age group of stallions analysed. In addition, we demonstrated that high inbreeding coefficient reduced the mean velocity and trajectory pattern of spermatozoa in PRE.

scholarly journals Effects of chilled storage and pH of activating solution on different motility parameters in burbot (Lota lota) sperm

2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 429-434
Author(s):  
Zoltán Bokor ◽  
Balázs Csorbai ◽  
Levente Várkonyi ◽  
Zsolt Szári ◽  
Ferenc Fodor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Chilled Storage ◽  
Straight Line ◽  
H 26 ◽  
Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis ◽  
Motility Parameters ◽  
Activating Solution

The effects of a simple saline solution prepared using two different pH (4.4 and 8.5) on sperm motility in burbot were investigated. Results were recorded during a 96-hour chilled storage (4°C) in 24-hour intervals. Measurements were focused on the detailed characteristics of motility using 12 parameters obtained from the Computer-assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Significantly higher progressive motility (pMOT), distance average path (DAP), distance curved line, distance straight line (DSL), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, and beat cross frequency (BCF) were observed with the activating solution buffered at pH 8.5 in comparison with pH 4.4. Already after 24 h a significant reduction was measured in pMOT (0 h: 49 ± 24%, 24 h: 12 ± 7%). Similar decreasing tendency was recorded only after 72 h in DAP (0 h: 26 ± 4 µm/s, 72 h: 19 ± 9 µm/s), DSL (0 h: 21 ± 5 µm/s, 72 h: 17 ± 8 µm/s), VAP (0 h: 59 ± 9 µm/s, 72 h: 43 ± 21 µm/s), and BCF (0 h: 28 ± 2 Hz, 72 h: 18 ± 10 Hz). The response of different investigated CASA parameters to different treatments varied in our experiments. According to our studies, numerous burbot sperm motility parameters are sensitive to chilled storage and to low pH of the activating solution. Our results could support the effective sperm quality assessment and successful artificial propagation process in burbot.

scholarly journals Short-term liquid storage of ram semen in various extenders

1970 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 717-723
Author(s):  
N. Maksimović ◽  
A. Milovanović ◽  
T. Barna ◽  
V. Caro Petrović ◽  
V. Pantelić ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Morphology ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Field Analysis ◽  
Blue Staining ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Liquid Storage

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of three extenders on ram sperm quality after short-term liquid storage (24 hours’ holding time). The study included 20 crossbred rams (Pirot Pramenka x Wurttemberg x Ile de France), 12 months old. Animals were housed at the experimental sheep farm of the Institute for Animal Husbandry in Belgrade, Serbia. Semen was collected through electro ejaculation. The ejaculates were obtained from single services and routine field analysis of the semen was performed immediately after the collection. The semen was split and diluted with three extenders, namely Optidyl®, Andromed® and ultrahigh temperature processed (UHT) milk, in ratios of 1 : 50 or 1 : 100. The ejaculates were examined for sperm motility variables (sperm cell motility percentage, the progressive motility percentage, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), sperm linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), amplitude of lateral sperm head displacement (ALH), beat cross frequency (BCF) and circular tracks), and sperm morphology (live sperm percentage, percentage of normal sperm forms with intact acrosome, percentage of abnormal sperm forms and total damaged acrosome) by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and classic sperm cytology after supravital eosin/nigrosine/trypan blue staining, respectively. It was observed that the type of extender used in diluting ram semen is an important factor in the successful short-term liquid preservation (at 4 °C) of ram spermatozoa. In conclusion, this study showed that egg yolk (Optidyl) and soybean (Andromed)-based extenders gave better results of both sperm morphology and sperm motility parameters compared with UHT milk.Keywords: Diluents, morphology, motility, sperm

scholarly journals Effect of Lunasia amara Blanco on Sperm Number, Sperm Motility, and Testicular Histology of Male Rats

2015 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ja’far Luthfi
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Quality Analysis ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Testicular Histology ◽  
Positive Effect

<p>Sanrego (<em>Lunasia amara</em>), has been used in the folk medicine to increase and/or to treat male fertility. However there is no scientific evidence to confirm the positive effect of the plant on an improvement of male fertility. The objective of this research was to study the effects of the plant (on adult Sprague-Dawley male rats) at the doses of 30 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg, and 90 mg/kg on the sperm count, motility, and testicular histology. Administration were given by force-feeding between 10.00 am and 12.00 pm daily for a period of 42 days followed by sperm quality analysis and testicular histology evaluation. The sperm analysis showed that the sanrego increased the sperm count and sperm motility. The testicular histology also revealed positive effect of the plant on spermatogenesis.   Overall the present study showed the sanrego is potential plant to increase male fertility.</p>

Probiotic administration improves sperm quality in asthenozoospermic human donors

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.G. Valcarce ◽  
S. Genovés ◽  
M.F. Riesco ◽  
P. Martorell ◽  
M.P. Herráez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
Cell Viability ◽  
Dna Fragmentation ◽  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Bifidobacterium Longum ◽  
Fold Change ◽  
Sperm Chromatin ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Sperm Analysis

The objective of this study is to analyse the effect of the ingestion of two selected antioxidant probiotics strains (Lactobacillus rhamnosus CECT8361 and Bifidobacterium longum CECT7347) on sperm quality parameters in asthenozoospermic males after three and six weeks of administration. Nine asthenozoospermic men without any medical treatment under similar diet conditions participated in the study. The quality of individual sperm samples was evaluated before (previous to ingestion), during (after 3 and 6 weeks of ingestion) and after probiotic administration (3 and 6 weeks after finishing the treatment). Sperm motility was evaluated by computer-assisted sperm analysis system, DNA fragmentation by sperm chromatin structure assay, cell viability by flow cytometry and measurement of intracellular H2O2 (reactive oxygen species; ROS) by flow cytometry using dichloro-dihydrofluorescein diacetate. Sperm motility was drastically improved after the treatment (approximately 6 fold change), DNA fragmentation was statistically reduced after probiotic administration from (approximately 1.2 fold change) and intracellular H2O2 level was decreased (approximately 3.5 fold change). Cell viability was not affected by the treatment. The significant improvement in sperm motility and the decrease in DNA fragmentation reported in this study provide preliminary evidence that probiotics could be administrated to improve motility and decrease DNA fragmentation and ROS levels in asthenozoospermic human males.

scholarly journals Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase modifies boar sperm motion parameters

Reproduction ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 283-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
I M Aparicio ◽  
M C Gil ◽  
M Garcia-Herreros ◽  
F J Peña ◽  
L J Garcia-Marin
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3 Kinase ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Camp Analog ◽  
Boar Sperm ◽  
Motion Parameters ◽  
Sperm Motion ◽  
Phosphatidylinositol 3

Motility is the most widely used indicator of sperm quality. Besides modulation by the cAMP pathway little is known regarding the intracellular pathways that regulate boar sperm motility. Recently the role of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) in the regulation of human sperm motility has been described. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the role of PI3-K in boar sperm kinematics by using the specific PI3-K inhibitor, LY294002. Boar sperm was incubated up to 1 h in non-capacitating medium in the presence or absence of the cAMP analog, 8Br-cAMP or the PI3-K inhibitor, LY294002 or both. Boar sperm incubated in capacitating medium was treated in the presence or absence of LY294002. First, we have clearly identified that PI3-K is present in whole lysates of boar spermatozoa. Inhibition of PI3-K significantly increased boar sperm straight-line velocity, circular velocity and average velocity without an effect on the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa in both media. Inhibition of PI3-K induced the same effects on boar sperm velocities as activation of the cAMP/protein kinase A (PKA) pathway and treatment with the PI3-K inhibitor, LY294002 had neither summatory nor synergic effects on boar sperm motion parameters when treated simultaneously with the cAMP analog 8Br-cAMP. Our data suggest that PI3-K plays a negative role, regulating boar sperm motion parameters through a possible inhibition of the cAMP/PKA activating pathway, and since some Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA)-derived parameters have been related to field fertility our results point to the possibility of modulating sperm motile quality by modifying the PI3-K cellular pathway.

Current perspectives of CASA applications in diverse mammalian spermatozoa

2018 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerhard van der Horst ◽  
Liana Maree ◽  
Stefan S. du Plessis
Keyword(s):  
Computer Technology ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Wildlife Species ◽  
Mammalian Sperm ◽  
Software Algorithms ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
Morphology And Morphometry ◽  
Commercial Applications ◽  
Mammalian Spermatozoa

Since the advent of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) some four decades ago, advances in computer technology and software algorithms have helped establish it as a research and diagnostic instrument for the analysis of spermatozoa. Despite mammalian spermatozoa being the most diverse cell type known, CASA is a great tool that has the capacity to provide rapid, reliable and objective quantitative assessment of sperm quality. This paper provides contemporary research findings illustrating the scientific and commercial applications of CASA and its ability to evaluate diverse mammalian spermatozoa (human, primates, rodents, domestic mammals, wildlife species) at both structural and functional levels. The potential of CASA to quantitatively measure essential aspects related to sperm subpopulations, hyperactivation, morphology and morphometry is also demonstrated. Furthermore, applications of CASA are provided for improved mammalian sperm quality assessment, evaluation of sperm functionality and the effect of different chemical substances or pathologies on sperm fertilising ability. It is clear that CASA has evolved significantly and is currently superior to many manual techniques in the research and clinical setting.

scholarly journals Quantitative sperm characteristics of Tankwa goats with special reference to hyperactivated motility

2021 ◽  
Vol 50 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ngcauzele Ngcauzele ◽  
G. Van der Horst ◽  
A. Kotze ◽  
T. Jonker ◽  
L. Maree
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Procaine Hydrochloride ◽  
Computer Assisted ◽  
Sperm Analysis ◽  
Sperm Morphometry ◽  
Fertility Potential ◽  
Phosphate Buffered Saline

Computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) is an automated and objective method of evaluating structural (e.g. morphology) and functional sperm parameters (e.g. motility and hyperactivation). Sperm hyperactivation is essential for successful fertilization and is thus an important aspect in determining the fertility potential of a male. In the current study, CASA was used for standard semen analysis and for comparison of the ability of phosphate buffered saline (PBS), BO sperm wash (10 mM caffeine), 4% lignocaine, and 5 mM procaine hydrochloride to induce hyperactivation in Tankwa goat spermatozoa. Twenty-nine ejaculates were collected from randomly selected male goats by electroejaculation. Although none of the four media affected percentage total sperm motility, lignocaine caused a significant decrease (P >0.05) in percentage progressive motility. Exposure to procaine resulted in an increase in swimming speed (P ≤0.05) and star-spin motility tracks, which are typical of sperm hyperactivation. Using PBS and procaine motility data from individually selected spermatozoa, receiver operator characteristic curves were constructed to distinguish the kinematic parameters employed as cut-off values for sperm hyperactivation. PBS and BO sperm wash did not induce hyperactivation (0.1 + 0.2% and 0.04  0.2% respectively), while lignocaine induced little hyperactivation (3.4 + 3.0%) and procaine hydrochloride had the highest percentage hyperactivation (25.3 + 13.6%). The large variation in hyperactivation (0–54.5%) may reflect inter-individual differences in sperm quality among these males. This study indicated procaine hydrochloride was the most promising hyperactivation-inducing medium for Tankwa goat spermatozoa and should be considered for similar assessments in other animal species Keywords: computer-aided sperm analysis, procaine hydrochloride, sperm kinematics, sperm morphometry, sperm motility

scholarly journals CagA-PositiveHelicobacter pyloriInfection and Reduced Sperm Motility, Vitality, and Normal Morphology

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 ◽  
pp. 229-234 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Moretti ◽  
G. Collodel ◽  
L. Mazzi ◽  
M. S. Campagna ◽  
N. Figura
Keyword(s):  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Normal Forms ◽  
Molecular Mimicry ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Semen Analysis ◽  
Normal Morphology ◽  
Partial Linear ◽  
Caga Status ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Autoimmune Phenomena

Helicobacter pylori(HP) infection, particularly when caused by strains expressing CagA, may be considered a concomitant cause of male and female reduced fertility. This study explored, in 87 HP-infected males, the relationship between infection by CagA-positive HP strains and sperm parameters. HP infection and CagA status were determined by ELISA and Western blotting; semen analysis was performed following WHO guidelines. The amino acid sequence of human enzymes involved in glycolysis and oxidative metabolism were “blasted” with peptides expressed by HP J99. Thirty-seven patients (42.5%) were seropositive for CagA. Sperm motility (18% versus 32%; ), sperm vitality (35% versus 48%; ) and the percentage of sperm with normal forms (18% versus 22%; ) in the CagA-positive group were significantly reduced versus those in the CagA-negative group. All the considered enzymes showed partial linear homology with HP peptides, but four enzymes aligned with four different segments of the samecagisland protein. We hypothesize a relationship between infection by strains expressing CagA and decreased sperm quality. Potentially increased systemic levels of inflammatory cytokines that occur in infection by CagA-positive strains and autoimmune phenomena that involve molecular mimicry could explain the pathogenetic mechanism of alterations observed.

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