scholarly journals MODEL FOR COOPERATION BETWEEN BOAR STUDS AND LABORATORIES FOR REPRODUCTION IN BOARS’ SEMEN QUALITY CONTROL

2013 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Aleksandar Milovanović ◽  
Tomislav Barna ◽  
Dubravka Milanov ◽  
Miodrag Lazarević

In this article we presented procedures and results of boar semen quality control performed at the Scientific Veterinary Institute “Novi Sad” based on continuous cooperation with the farms’ centers for boar semen production. Th e data obtained by computer analysis (CASA-computer assisted sperm analysis), flow cytometry and cyto-morphologic examination were used for semen quality evaluation. Th e selected parameters were compared with the reproductive results in sows, such as: farrowing rate, number of piglets per litter, ratio of piglets born alive and stillborn piglets). Semen quality evaluation based on spermatozoa progressive motility, sperm concentration, morphological characteristics and chromatine structure damage were used to give recommendations for semen processing, dilution degree, prospective therapy of boars, or, at least, their culing. Analysis of semen was complemented with seasonal bacterial cultivation and controls in cases of sudden drop on semen quality. Separate fi les containing semen quality graphs and reproductive indicators for easier monitoring were created for every boar. Systematic semen analyses performed by the use of several modern methods, along with periodic bacteriological control, offer possibilities for reliable assessment of boars’ semen quality.

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.


Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 174
Author(s):  
Jesús L. Yániz ◽  
Miguel A. Silvestre ◽  
Pilar Santolaria

The quality of honey bee drone semen is relevant in different contexts, ranging from colony productivity to pathology, toxicology and biodiversity preservation. Despite its importance, considerably less knowledge is available on this subject for the honey bee when compared to other domestic animal species. A proper assessment of sperm quality requires a multiple testing approach which discriminates between the different aspects of sperm integrity and functionality. Most studies on drone semen quality have only assessed a few parameters, such as sperm volume, sperm concentration and/or sperm plasma membrane integrity. Although more recent studies have focused on a broader variety of aspects of semen quality, some techniques currently used in vertebrates, such as computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) or multiparametric sperm quality testing, still remain to be developed in the honey bee. This may be attributed to the particular sperm morphology and physiology in this species, requiring the development of technologies specifically adapted to it. This article reviews the present knowledge of sperm quality in honey bee drones, highlighting its peculiarities and proposing future lines of research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rafael Suárez Mesa ◽  
Joan Estany ◽  
Iang Schroniltgen Rondón-Barragán

Abstract Background Colombian Creole pigs are a valuable resource for rural livelihood and research. There are three officially recognized Creole breeds in Colombia (Zungo, ZU; Casco de Mula, CM; and San Pedreño, SP). The phenotypic characterization of these breeds is still very limited, including the reproductive performance of their boars, which is a key issue for developing conservation and dissemination strategies. The aim of this research was to assess the semen quality of Colombian Creole breeds as compared to commonly used international breeds. Results Seven boars for each Colombian Creole (ZU, CM, and SP) and international (Duroc, Belgian Landrace, and Pietrain) breeds were used in the experiment. Two doses of semen per boar were assessed in duplicate for sperm kinetics and membrane and acrosome integrity using computer-assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometry, respectively. On average, the Creole pigs, as compared to international breeds, showed lower (P<0.05) volumeof fluid ejaculated(185.5 mL vs 239.9 mL) as well as sperm concentration (340.5 vs to 395.4, in million sperm/mL), motility (90.9% vs 95.3%) and progressive motility (63.1% vs 67.2%). No relevant differences between breeds for sperm velocity traits were observed, but Creole pigs had lower (P<0.05) proportion of morphologic normal sperm (86.1% vs 90.6%) and of sperm with intact mitochondria plasma membrane and acrosome (76.8% vs 87.5%). Mitochondrial membrane potential did not differ between Creole and international breeds. These results mean that Creole breeds had 60.5% less normal and motile sperm per ejaculate than international breeds. Amongst Creole breeds, SP had larger ejaculates and ZU showed greater proportion of normal and motile sperm, but they did not differ for the amount of normal and motile sperm per ejaculate. Conclusion The semen of Colombian Creole pigs is acceptable but less abundant and rich in normal and motile spermatozoa than that collected from commercial breeds. This fact should be considered in developing recommendations for semen processing in Creole pigs. Findings provided here can give new impetus to the conservation and insemination of Creole pigs.


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).


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Y. Pirosanto ◽  
M. Valera ◽  
A. Molina ◽  
J. Dorado ◽  
S. Demyda-Peyrás

Inbreeding depression, a genetic condition produced by the mating of close-related individuals, has been associated with a reduction of fertility in several species. However, a loss in sperm quality was also associated with age. In horses, the few existing reports have described a tendency of both parameters to produce a negative effect on sperm quality. However, those reports were performed using a subjective evaluation of sperm motility. In the present study, a total of 692 ejaculates from 86 Pure Spanish stallions (PRE), aged between 3 and 22 years, were evaluated using a computer-assisted methodology to determine the effect of inbreeding in four semen parameters: free-gel volume (V), sperm concentration (C, by haemocytometer), and total (TM) and progressive (PM) sperm motility (by Spermvision sperm class analyser; Minitube). The inbreeding coefficient (F) was estimated using 300 000 PRE pedigree records approximately (minimum pedigree depth, eight equivalent complete generations; range, between 1 and 30.1%). Stallion, age, ejaculate, and season of semen collection were the variables included in the statistical model (general linear model), with ejaculate and season being the variables with a major effect (by variance components analysis). Our results showed that sperm concentration (r=−0.18; P&lt;0.0001) and volume (to a lesser extent) were reduced with advancing age, both showing a major decline after 15 years of age. To the contrary, sperm motility was not affected by age of the stallion. We also found a negative correlation between the inbreeding coefficient and ejaculate volume (r=−0.14; P&lt;0.001), with a marked decrease seen when F was between 7 and 20%. Also, a negative correlation was observed in PM (r=−0.08; P&lt;0.05), although to a lower extent. Conversely, C and TM were not affected by inbreeding depression (P&gt;0.05). In conclusion, our results demonstrated that high levels of inbreeding can compromise severely the sperm quality of the PRE stallion, which, subsequently, may have a negative influence on fertility. Ongoing studies using genomic data will help to detect genetic variants associated with stallion semen quality and how it is influenced by inbreeding in specific genomic regions.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (8) ◽  
pp. 1134 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aimee J. Silla

Anurans exhibit a greater reproductive diversity than any other vertebrate order. However, studies investigating the effects of the external fertilisation environment on fertilisation success are limited to aquatic-breeding species. This study investigated the effects of fertilisation medium osmolality, sperm concentration and short-term oocyte storage on fertilisation success in a terrestrial-breeding anuran, Pseudophryne guentheri. Split-clutch experimental designs were used to determine optimal fertilisation conditions. To determine the effect of short-term sperm storage, sperm viability was assessed using fluorescence microscopy and percentage sperm motility and velocity quantified with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Fertilisation success was highest in media ranging in osmolality from 25 mOsm kg–1 to 100 mOsm kg–1, representing a broader range and higher optimal osmolality than previously reported for aquatic breeders. High rates of fertilisation (>75%) were achieved in relatively low sperm concentrations (2.5 × 104 mL–1). Oocytes stored in isotonic solutions (200 mOsm kg–1) retained fertilisation capacity (32%) after 8 h of storage, while sperm suspensions maintained motility (≥26%) for 13 days. Additional studies on terrestrial-breeding anurans will be required to ascertain whether the optimal fertilisation conditions reported reflect adaptations to achieve fertilisation in a terrestrial environment.


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