Effects of semen dosage, oviductal sperm storage and insemination interval on egg fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability in Nera Black breeder chickens

The biological basis of sustaining fertility in poultry is their ability to store sperm cells in the sperm storage tubules (SST) located in the uterovaginal junction. However, artificial insemination in poultry industry is haphazardly administered in Nigeria without regulation on semen dose and frequency of insemination for optimum fertility. The objective of this study was to establish a semen dosage and insemination interval for maximum fertility and embryonic survival in Nera black layer breeder chickens. A total of 80 breeder hens (52 weeks) were allotted to five (5) treatments with four (4) replicate per treatment. Semen was pooled from 10 matured breeder cocks and inseminated to four groups of hens at varied semen dose of 0.02mL (T1), 0.04mL (T2), 0.06mL (T3) and 0.08mL (T4) of undiluted semen while hens in T5 were mated naturally, both for two consecutive days. 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08mL of pooled semen contained 20.43×10 , 40.87×106 , 61.30×106 and 81.74×106 motile spermatozoa. Eggs were collected, stored and artificially incubated weekly for 4 weeks. Fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability parameters were determined. Another 78 breeder hens were allocated into 4 treatments of 5 replicates per treatment with unequal number of hens and were inseminated with 0.02mL of raw semen containing 20.43 × 106 motile sperm cells at 3, 6, 9 and 12 days intervals. Fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were determined. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at &0.05 Hatch of fertile eggs in T5 at week 2 (65.36±13.28) was significantly higher (p<0.05) . than T1 (33.83±12.65), T2 (13.25±6.88), T3 (39.17±14.17) and T4 (28.21±11.37). At weeks 1 and 2, there was no significant different across the treatments. Fertility at 4 weeks in T1 (11.53±6.66) was significantly (p<0.05) different from treatments T2 (0.00±0.00), T3 (0.00±0.00), T4 (1.66±1.66) and T5 (0.00±0.00). Total and early embryo mortality in week 3 was significantly higher (p<0.05) in T1 (100.00±0.00, 95.00±5.00) than in treatments T2 (43.75±0.00, 43.75±25.77), T3 (66.67±23.57, 66.67±23.57), T4 (95.00±5.00, 85.00±15.00) and T5 (37.50±23.94, 22.92±15.73). Fertility was significantly (p<0.05) higher in 3 days insemination interval (52.65±7.25) compared with 6 days (39.87±4.70), 9 days (22.98±5.71) and 12 days (36.14±6.89). At weeks 1 and 3, the hatch of fertile eggs across the treatments was not significantly (p>0.05) different from one another. This study suggests that 6 inseminating semen dose of 0.02mL containing approximately 20.43×10 motile sperm cells in Nera black layer breeder chickens will give a maximum fertile period of 5 days, while insemination interval of 3 days using 0.02mLof semen gave highest fertility level.

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The relationship of infertility to antibody production in the uterovaginal sperm storage tubules of turkey breeder hens

Theriogenology ◽

10.1016/0093-691x(89)90478-0 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 31 (5) ◽

pp. 955-961 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

T.A. Kirk ◽

H.P. Van Krey ◽

R.M. Hulet ◽

E.A. Dunnington ◽

D.M. Denbow

Keyword(s):

Antibody Production ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Breeder Hens ◽

Sperm Storage Tubules ◽

Relationship Of ◽

The Relationship

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Localization of calcium and zinc in the sperm storage tubules of chicken, quail and turkey using X-ray microanalysis

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/reprod/118.2.331 ◽

2000 ◽

pp. 331-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

L Holm ◽

H Ekwall ◽

GJ Wishart ◽

Y Ridderstrale

Keyword(s):

Calcium Concentration ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

X Ray ◽

Elemental Concentrations ◽

Low Concentrations ◽

Intracellular Content ◽

Wet Weight ◽

The Mean ◽

Sperm Storage Tubules ◽

Scanning Electron

Sperm storage tubules from the utero-vaginal junction of chickens, quails and turkeys were analysed for calcium and zinc using X-ray microanalysis of ultra-rapidly frozen tissue in a scanning electron microscope. This technique enabled the tubular fluid surrounding the stored spermatozoa and the intracellular content of the cells of the sperm storage tubules to be analysed separately and, by using standards with known concentrations, their elemental concentrations were estimated. The mean (+/- SEM) concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid from chickens, quails and turkeys was 17 +/- 3, 19 +/- 3 and 17 +/- 4 mmol kg(-1) wet weight, respectively. The intracellular calcium concentration of the cells of the tubules did not differ significantly from these values and was also similar in the mucosal epithelial cells of the utero-vaginal junction. Zinc was localized in the cells of turkey sperm storage tubules and tubular fluid, but at low concentrations. No zinc could be detected in corresponding structures from chickens and quails. The concentration of calcium in the tubular fluid is within the range known to inhibit the motility of spermatozoa, supporting this function for calcium during storage. Zinc is known to depress turkey sperm metabolism and it may also be involved in inducing quiescence of spermatozoa during storage in this species.

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Female sperm storage in the bonnethead Sphyrna tiburo oviducal gland: immunolocalization of steroid hormone receptors in sperm storage tubules

General and Comparative Endocrinology ◽

10.1016/j.ygcen.2021.113827 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 113827

Author(s):

Melissa Gonzalez De Acevedo ◽

James Gelsleichter

Keyword(s):

Hormone Receptors ◽

Steroid Hormone ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Steroid Hormone Receptors ◽

Oviducal Gland ◽

Sphyrna Tiburo ◽

Sperm Storage Tubules

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Fertility in Cheviot ewes. 2. The effect of level of pre-mating nutrition on ovulation rate and early embryo mortality in North and South Country Cheviot ewes in moderately-good condition at mating

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100012113 ◽

1979 ◽

Vol 29 (1) ◽

pp. 17-23 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

R. G. Gunn ◽

J. M. Doney ◽

W. F. Smith

Keyword(s):

Food Intake ◽

Good Condition ◽

Early Embryo ◽

Ovulation Rate ◽

Corpora Lutea ◽

Restricted Feeding ◽

Embryo Mortality ◽

The North ◽

Breed Difference ◽

High Level

ABSTRACTIn two experiments over 2 years, 57 North Country Cheviot and 82 South Country Cheviot hill ewes were differentially group-fed indoors over a 2-month period to achieve either good or moderate body con- dition. Over 5 weeks prior to mating, ewes in good condition were brought down in condition by restricted feeding and ewes in mod- erate condition were raised in condition by a high level of feeding. The ewes were thus in moderately-good condition at mating. After mating, ewes were maintained in this condition until killed either on return to service or at 29 ± 8 days for counts of corpora lutea and viable embryos.Ovulation rate in each breed was positively related to the level of pre-mating food intake at the condition level studied. Embryo mortality, as ova loss, was not influenced overall by the level of pre-mating food intake but loss of multiple-shed ova was greater than that of single-shed ova in ewes which had been on restricted feeding before mating. Although a greater proportion of ewes in the North Country Cheviot breed were not pregnant at slaughter, this could not be identified as a breed difference since the breeds were studied in different years.

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Productive performance of broiler breeder hens fed 25-hydroxycholecalciferol

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982009000700018 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (7) ◽

pp. 1286-1290 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Cibele Araujo Torres ◽

Sergio Luiz Vieira ◽

Renata Nuernberg Reis ◽

André Klein Ferreira ◽

Pedro Xavier da Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vitamin D3 ◽

Egg Production ◽

Productive Performance ◽

Broiler Breeder ◽

Embryo Mortality ◽

Breeder Hens ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Broiler Breeder Hens ◽

Egg Shells ◽

25 Hydroxycholecalciferol

An experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the addition of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH) D3) in diets of broiler breeder hens. The experiment used Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens and was allotted to a complete randomized design with four treatments and eight replications of twenty females and two males each. The treatments consisted of vitamin premixes with 2,000 and 3,400 IU/kg diet vitamin D3 as the only source of vitamin or 2,000 IU D3 plus 35 or 69 mg/t of 25(OH) D3. Results of this experiment indicated that 25(OH) D3 had no significant effect on egg production parameters from 32 to 67 weeks. The supplementation of 25(OH) D3 resulted in better quality egg shells evaluated by the specific gravity at 60 weeks of age, regardless of the dosage. No significant differences were observed for hatchability of broiler breeder fertile eggs at 54 and 64 weeks. At 64 weeks, the hatch residue breakout showed less embryo mortality at the third week for treatments receiving 2,000 UI D3 in the diet and less embryo mortality at the second week of development from hens aged 67 weeks and supplemented with 2,000IU D3 and 2,000IU D3+ 69 mg 25(OH)D3. It was concluded that the supplementation with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol with cholecalciferol had similar effects as the diets with vitamin D3 as the only source on the productive performance of broiler breeder hens.

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Localization of calcium and zinc in the sperm storage tubules of chicken, quail and turkey using X-ray microanalysis

Reproduction ◽

10.1530/jrf.0.1180331 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 118 (2) ◽

pp. 331-336 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

L Holm ◽

H Ekwall ◽

G. Wishart ◽

Y Ridderstrale

Keyword(s):

Sperm Storage ◽

X Ray ◽

Sperm Storage Tubules

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Magnetic Micromotors for Multiple Motile Sperm Cells Capture, Transport, and Enzymatic Release

Angewandte Chemie ◽

10.1002/ange.202005657 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 132 (35) ◽

pp. 15139-15147

Author(s):

Haifeng Xu ◽

Mariana Medina‐Sánchez ◽

Oliver G. Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Sperm Cells ◽

Motile Sperm

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Gene co-expression network analysis reveals key potential gene modules in utero-vaginal junction associated with duration of fertility trait of breeder hens

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-019-50148-6 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lantao Gu ◽

Ruoxi Jing ◽

Yanzhang Gong ◽

Mei Yu ◽

Abdelmotaleb Elokil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Network Analysis ◽

Sperm Storage ◽

Production Performance ◽

Rt Pcr ◽

Hub Genes ◽

Breeder Hens ◽

Fertility Trait ◽

Gene Modules ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Insight Into

Abstract The number of days (DN) when hens lay fertile eggs as well as the number of fertile eggs (FN) were produced after a single artificial insemination (AI), including the two duration of fertility (DF) traits. Indeed, they are the key production performance that associates with the production cost of hatching egg when its determination the interval between successive artificial inseminations. However, the relevant genes response for regulating the DF has not been uncovered yet. Therefore, we performed a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to investigate the insight into co-expression gene modules on DF process in hens. The total mRNA was extracted from the utero-vaginal junction (UVJ, with the sperm storage function in hen’s oviduct which is the biological basis for DF) of 20 hens with several levels of DF traits, and performed transcriptome sequences of mRNA. As a result, three co-expression gene modules were identified to be highly correlated with DF traits. Moreover, the expression changes of top 5 hub genes in each module with DF traits were further confirmed in other 20 hens by RT-PCR. These findings highlighted the co-expression modules and their affiliated genes as playing important roles in the regulation of DF traits.

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