Effect of racial crossing on the seminal parameters of rams submitted to heat stress

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of racial crossing on seminal parameters of eight Santa Inês and crossbred (Santa Inês x Dorper) rams submitted to heat stress, and to monitor the return of these parameters to previously reported. Before to place the insulation bags, two collects of semen through electroejaculation were performed. The insulation pouches were made with double-layer plastic, internally lined with cotton, and fixed around the spermatic funiculus and scrotum with adhesive tape and bandage remaining on the testes of the animals for seven days. The first collect was performed on the day that the pouches were taken (day 0) and thereafter, every seven days, totalizing 15 measurements. Data were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA). The analyzed variables were subjected to Dunnett test at 5% probability to compare the values obtained before treatment with those obtained in the following days. In this study it was found that the animals restored normal seminal parameter after the insulation effects, however, the return rate differed slightly among the studied breeds. The crossbred animals restored the seminal patterns, on average, a week before Santa Inês. It is concluded that the racial crossing influences the semen parameters of rams submitted to heat stress. Keywords: motility, scrotal insulation, sperm concentration, sperm quality.

Semen Parameters of Fertile Guinea Pigs (Cavia porcellus) Collected by Transrectal Electroejaculation

The guinea pig, as a livestock species, is still developing and growing throughout Peru and neighboring countries, as reflected by its increasing export since 2000. However, the selection of proven fertile males is tedious due to the absence of seminal parameter standards and the lack of safe semen collection techniques. Thus, pregnancy detection or live births are required for males’ selection. The purpose of this study was to describe the qualitative and quantitative semen parameters of fertile guinea pig males, to set reference values, and to validate a novel electroejaculation technique for the species. Semen was collected at weekly intervals from sixteen fertile males. Four transrectal electroejaculations were performed per male with 95% successful collections, yielding 39 viable semen samples. Seminal characteristics were as follows: pH 7.0 ± 0.13; ejaculate volume 0.67 ± 0.55 mL; sperm motility 90.81 ± 6.64%; sperm concentration 36.7 ± 28.41 × 106 sperm/mL; sperm count 20.09 ± 17.56 × 106 sperm/ejaculate; percentage of abnormal morphology 18.26 ± 8.52%; and percentage ubiquitinated spermatozoa 5.57 ± 6.28%. These values will serve as a reference to detect best breeding and infertile males rapidly. The described techniques are reproducible by commercial producers.

α1-Acid glycoprotein and seminal parameter in chronic hemodialysis patients

Introduction: To find out the changes in seminal quality of hemodialysis chronic renal patients, we investigated the possible relationship between seminal parameter and seminal α1-acid glycoprotein levels in chronic hemodialysis patients. Methods: Prospective study of prevalence realized in the Hemodialysis Sector of the University Hospital of the University of Brasília, between July 2016 and December 2016. Men aged 18–60 years grouped into case groups (n = 81) represented by chronic hemodialysis patients and control group (n = 20) of healthy men without clinical or laboratory signs of infection and eugonadic. We performed a spermogram, hormonal profile, and assessment of leukocytes and seminal α1-acid glycoprotein level in the semen. The most appropriate statistical test was applied to verify differences and correlations between the studied variables. Results: The age in case and control is similar (49.47 ± 5.55 years vs 50.53 ± 4.24 years; p = 0.060). Mean level of α1-acid glycoprotein in human seminal plasma were not significantly different between case and control (48.52 ± 4.90 mg/L vs 46.33 ± 4.29 mg/L; p = 0.10) and between normosperm and oligosperm (47.76 ± 5.15 mg/L vs 49.48 ± 4.49 mg/L; p = 0.19). Mean level of α1-acid glycoprotein in human seminal plasma in the case group, which were classified into severe, moderate, mild, and normosperm, were similar to each other (p = 0.27) and did not correlate (p > 0.05) with the analyzed seminal parameters. All participants presented normal hormonal profile. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that the seminal α1-acid glycoprotein levels do not help in the initial evaluation of patients with seminal parameter changes.

Cystatin C and Seminal Parameter Evaluation in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease

Objective: We aimed to investigate the possible relationship between seminal parameters and cystatin C seminal levels in an infertility evaluation of chronic hemodialysis patients. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, aged 18-60 years, in a group of 60 men undergoing hemodialysis (case) for more than 6 months, and a group of 15 healthy men (control) without clinical or laboratory signs of genitourinary tract infection. We performed a spermogram, hormonal profile, and assessment of leukocytes and cystatin levels in the semen. Results: The ages in the case and control were similar (p = 0.060).The seminal cystatin was significantly different between the case group and control group (41.16 ± 26.59 vs. 79.00 ± 05.68 mg/l, respectively, p < 0.001) and between normospermia and oligospermia (83.50 ± 02.40 vs. 30.34 ± 02.52 mg/l, respectively, p < 0.001). The mean seminal cystatin levels identified by the degrees of oligospermia (severe, moderate, and slim) were similar to each other (p > 0.05) and significantly different (p < 0.05) in relation to normospermia in the case group. The seminal cystatin levels positively correlated (p < 0.05) with sperm motility and sperm density. Conclusion: Seminal cystatin levels are associated with the numerical and motility changes evidenced in the spermogram and may be of help in the initial evaluation of clinical suspicion of sub-fertility and infertility.

Semen Quality and Ferritin and Transferrin Seminal Levels

Background: We proposed to investigate the possible relationship between seminal quality and ferritin and transferrin seminal levels in chronic hemodialysis (CH) patients. Materials and methods: This is a cross-sectional study in a group of 60 men (case) undergoing CH for more than 6 months, and a group of 30 healthy men (control), aged 18-60 years, without clinical or laboratory signs of infection/inflammation and eugonadic. A spermogram was performed by manual method and measured the ferritn and transferrin seminal levels. Results: The case and control groups were age-matched (49.47±5.56 versus 47.90±6.22, p = 0.229). Comparison between case and control group, the exception of seminal ferritin levels that were similar (p = 0.136), were significantly lower in the case group (p<0.001) for all constituents of the seminal parameter and seminal transferrin levels. Seminal ferritin does not appear to be associated with seminal parameters and seminal transferrin (p>0.05); but there was an association between seminal transferrin and seminal parameters (p<0.001). Conclusions: Our results suggest that seminal quality is related to seminal transferrin level and not with seminal ferritin level being useful in the initial evaluation of chronic hemodialysis patients with clinical suspicion of sub / infertility.

Seminal Ferritin And Seminal Parameters In Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis

Background: to verify the association of seminal parameter (SP) and seminal ferritin(SF) levels in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis (CH), admitting possible antioxidative activity of SF. Methods: this was a case-control study in group of 60 men (case) in CH with more than 6 months and group of healthy men(control), aged 18-60 years, without clinical or laboratory signs of infection / inflammation. Patients underwent semen analysis, fertility index(FI) calculation, measurement of SF and hormonal profile(follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, total testosterone, and prolactin levels). Results: There were significant differences between cases and control (Table 1) in SP(p = 0.000), sex hormones (p = 0.000) and FI [0, 85(0,57) vs 5,54(1,3), p=0,000]. There was no difference between cases and control(Table 1) in SF levels (226.45 ± 51.03 vs 241.52 ± 30.52, p = 0.137) and age(49,47 ±5,56 vs 47,90 ± 6,22, p=0,229).There was no correlation (Table 2) between SF and FI(r = 0.049, p = 0.711) and SP(p> 0.05). Conclusion: the results suggest that SF is not associated with changes in seminal parameters in patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis, and is not useful singly for initial evaluation of seminal parameters.