• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1996

The objective of this study was to determine effects of oviductal fluid on the sperm penetration and subsequent in vitro development of porcine oocytes. The addition of oviductal fluid to the fertilization medium decreased sperm pen etration and the mean number of spermatozoa in penetrated eggs. The number of spermatozoa firmly bound to zona pellucida was also decreased in the presence of oviductal fluid. Chlortetracy cline (CTC) fluorescence patterns were used to determine incidence of capacitation and acrosome reaction. The proportion of capacitated a and acrosome free spermatozoa increased when spermatozoa were exposed for 1.5 and 3 h to oviductal fluid. These results suggest that the factor(s) in secretion from the oviduct reduces polyspermic fertilization and the number of spermatozoa that will penetrate porcine oocytes. The reduction of polyspermic penetration by oviductal secretions may be due to a reduced number of spermatozoa in the fertilization me-dium into an intact acrosome.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1997

Acrosome reaction usually occures just before fertilization in most mammals, and it has been known that $Ca^{2+}$ plays an important role in the acrosome reaction and albumin also known as a critical factor for spermatozoan activities. The present study has been designed in order to observe maturing processes of the spermatozoa occurred in the ductus epididymidis and to clarify the relationships of $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with those processes, and to compare the enzymatic activities of ATPase and the lactate dehydrogenase of the spermatozoa in accordance with time before and after the spermatozoan maturation. From the results, we can confirm that most of the bat spermatozoa come to maturity within the epididymal cauda and may pass through capacitation outside the cauda. However it is expected to be studied that the fluctuation of spermatogenic activity depending on temperature changes and their relationships with the ductus epididymidis and their mutual influences.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.201-206
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of spring (March~May) and summer (June~August) influencing semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and serum testosterone concentration in Yorkshire boars. Results of this study were as follows: 1. There were no significant differences in the semen volume, pH and sperm concentration of sperm-poor fraction of Yorkshire boars between spring and summer. However, sperm concentrations of sperm-rich fractions in spring were higher than those in summer (P＜0.05). 2. Sperm motility and normal acrosome of raw semen in Yorkshire boars did not differ significantly between spring and summer, However, motility and normal acrosome of frozen-thawed sperm were higher in spring season than in summer season (P＜0.05). 3. Serum testosterone concentrations in Yorkshire boars were 4.04 ng/$m\ell$ in spring and 2.85 ng/$m\ell$ in summer. Serum testosterone concentrations in spring were higher than those in summer (P＜0.05). 4. In conclusion, when serum testosterone concentrations in Yorkshire boars were higher, frozen-thawed sperm viability was higher.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.133-138
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• 2001

The aim of this study was to identify the method on extended canine semen exposed to freezing as assessed by motility, survival and acrosomal changes following different freezing ramp rates. Five ejaculates collected by digital manipulation twice weekly from three dogs (Shih-Tzu) were added Tris-Egg Yolk (TE) buffer and divided into 4 aliquots according to formulation of our laboratory. After cooling to 4$^{\circ}C$ by ramp rate of 0.6$^{\circ}C$/min, the samples frozen by ramp rates of 1.6$^{\circ}C$/min to -$25^{\circ}C$, 3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$, 8.9$^{\circ}C$/min to -7$0^{\circ}C$ and 19$^{\circ}C$/min to -11$0^{\circ}C$, respectively, and then stored in L$N_2$for 2days. Each sample was evaluated on their motility, survivability and acrosome integrity at different thawing temperature. The ramp rate of 3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$/h for freezing and thawing temperature of 37$^{\circ}C$ obtained the highest results to improve survivability, motile spermatozoa and intact acrosome appearance than other onditions. In conclusion, we may suggest freezing semen for canine artificial insemination is more efficient with freezing at a ramp rate of -3$^{\circ}C$/min to -35$^{\circ}C$ and thawing with a water bath adjusted to 37$^{\circ}C$.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.395-404
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• 1995

In order to study the process of spermiogenesis of the korean striped field mouse Apodemus agrorfus coreae, the cell differentiation of seminiferous epithelium and morphological features of mature sperm in cauda epididymis was examined and the results are as follows: Spermiogenesis was divided, according to the features of cell structure; Golgi, cap, acrosome and spermiation phases were further subdivided into two steps of early and late phases respectively, and maturation phase has only one step. Hence, the spermiogenesis consists of nine phases. in the changes of the chromatin in nucleus, the chromatin granules began to be condensed in the cap phase and the condensation proceeded to form a globular of nucleus at the acrsome phase. Finally, the chromatin regularization was completed and perfect nucleus of sperm was formed at the maturation phase. Sperm head had the falciform, and the outer dence fibers of middle piece were arranged in a horseshoe fashion. The outer dence fiber number 1, 5, 6 and 9 was larger than other fiber number 2, 3, 4, 7, 8.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.74-83
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• 1996

The ultrastructure of the spermatozoa of the family Cobitidae, 6 genera and 12 species, was examinated under electron microscopes. Spermatozoa of the observed species consist of a head(nucleus), a short midpiece, and a single tai1(flagellum). It is of anacrosomal aquasperm type, lacking an acrosome. However, the spermatozoa of Nemacheilus toni has vestigal acrosome or acrosome-like vesicle in the anterior region of the nucleus during spermiogenesis, The nucleus of Cobitidae is approximately spherical except that N. toni is conic. The mid piece was under $3.0{\mu}m$ in length and contained 5-8 ring-shaped mitochodria. Genera Cobitis, Iksookimia, Niwaella, and Nemacheilus. have shorter midpiece, whereas Misgurnus and Lefua have longer midpiece. The flagellum was uniflagellate consisting of a typical 9+2 axoneme without fins.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.23-30
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• 2021

The differentiation process of male germ cells and sperm morphology of the abalone Haliotis discus hannai were described in ultrastructure. The differentiation process of sperm was divided into four stages: spermatogonium, spermatocyte, spermatid and sperm. The process of differentiation from spermatogonium to spermatocyte did not show significant morphological changes. However, during the spermiogenesis there were distinct morphological changes such as chromatin condensation, morphological changes of the nucleus, and formation of acrosome, midpiece and flagellum. The sperm of the abalone consisted of head, midpiece and tail. The head of approximately 5.3 ㎛ in length was composed of a nucleus of high electron dense and bullet-shaped acrosome. The midpiece was composed of the basal body and mitochondria, and five mitochondria were arranged in single layer around the basal body. The cross section of the tail showed a "9+2" axonemal structure. These morphological and structural features are the result of showing that the sperm of H. discus hannai is a primitive type.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.333-345
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• 2001

The mature sperms of three species of cephalopods (Octopus minar, Octopus ocellatus, Todarodes pacificus) were observed by electron microscopy. The results obtained are as follows: The sperm lengths of Octopus minor and Octopus ocellatus of octopods are long and they are about $390{\mu}m$ and $125\sim130{\mu}m$, respectively, but the sperm length of Todarodes pacificus is short and about $35{\mu}m$. The sperm of Octopus minor has a helical acrosome and a head bent a little like a banana while Octopus ocellatus of octopod has a twisted acrosome and a long rod-shaped head. A number of horizontal stripes are observed as a periodic structure in their subacrosome cavities and dense plugs are formed in the cavities of their heads. On the other hand, the acrosome of Todarodes pacificus is circular cap-shaped, and its head is long and oval. It is notable that two small cavities were observed in its basal acrosome. Juxtanuclear acrosomal materials of high electron density filled the subacrosomal cavity. In the middle piece of mature sperms of Octopus minor and Octopus ocellatus, the mitochondria form the mitochondrial sleeve, but the numbers of mitochondria differ between the species so that they are $11\sim12$ and $8\sim9$, respectively. Meanwhile, in the middle piece of mature sperms of Todarodes pacificus, the mitochondria are separated from the axoneme, forming a mitochondrial spur in which $10\sim13$ mitochondria and some electron dense materials concentrate. The axoneme of Octopus minor, Octopus ocellatus and Todarodes pacificus are of 9+2 type in common, surrounded by 9 coarse fibres. A number of glycogen were observed only in the axoneme of Todarodes pacificus. The coarse fibres were found as far as the main piece of sperm tail in Octopks minor and Todarodes pacificus, while to the end piece of sperm tail in Octopus ocellatus.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 2003

The aim of this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of sugar kinds and combination of various sugars on acrosome damage of post-thaw spermatozoa in canine. The extender used in this study was Tris-citric acid extender (Tris-buffer) supplemented with 20% Egg-yolk, 8% glycerol, 1% Equex STM paste, and 70 mM sugars such as monosaccharide (fructose and xylose) and disaccharide(trehalose). To evaluate of sugar combination, the sugars supplemented in Tris-buffer were combined such as control (fructose, xylose, trehalose), two combinations (Fru+Tre, Fru+Xyl, Tre+Xyl) and three combinations (Fru+Tre+Xyl). The acrosome damage rate of post-thaw spermatozoa in Eosin B & Fast Green stain in Fruc+Tre was higher than those in fructose, trehalose, xylose, Fruc+Xyl, Tre+Xyl, Fruc+Tre+Xyl (83.0$\pm$5.6 vs. 82.3$\pm$3.1%, 81.7$\pm$2.1%, 72.0$\pm$2.0%; 80.3$\pm$4.5%, 76.7$\pm$3.8%, 81.0$\pm$5.6). The motility after CASA analysis in Fru+Tre was higher than those in Fru+Tre+Xyl, Tre+Xyl, Fru+Xyl, Xylose, Trehalose, Fructose(79$\pm$6 vs 75$\pm$3, 74$\pm$8, 71$\pm$11, 70$\pm$4, 66$\pm$15, 63$\pm$ 12%). However, the progressive motility after CASA analysis in Fru+Tre group was higher than those in Fru+Tre+Xyl, Tre+Xyl, Fru+Xyl, Xylose, Trehalose, Fructose (67$\pm$7, 64$\pm$3, 62$\pm$6, 61$\pm$8, 60$\pm$2, 57$\pm$13, 53$\pm$10%). The results indicated that the acrosome damage & progressive motility of post-thaw spermatozoa in 70 mM Fruc+Tre (two combination) following Eosin B & Fast Green stain and CASA analysis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.203-212
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• 2008

Objective: During cryopreservation process, cold shock and cryo-injury affect the fertilizing capacity of the sperm by damaging cell membranes with loss of functional integrity. A longstanding concept for preventing the cryo-damage is to stabilize the plasma membrane by incorporating cholesterol. This study was to determine the effects of cholesterol in freezing media on the motility and functional integrity of human sperm after cryopreservation. Methods: Control group (non-cholesterol treated) and different concentrations of cholesterol-treated sperm (14 healthy males) were frozen and thawed. After freezing and thawing of sperm, the quality of sperm was evaluated by sperm analysis, acrosome reaction test and sperm chromatin structure assay. Results: When human sperm were incubated in sperm freezing medium (SFM) containing $0.5{\mu}g$ cholesterol and then freezing/thawing, the motility of sperm have significantly improved compared to those untreated cholesterol ($33.46{\pm}1.48%$ vs. $30.10{\pm}1.07%$, p<0.05). The rate of calcium ionophore-induced acrosome reactions in post-thawed sperm was significantly higher than that ($53.60{\pm}1.60%$ vs. $47.40{\pm}1.86%$, p<0.05) in SFM containing cholesterol. Sperm chromatin structure assay revealed that DNA damage to the sperm in the cholesterol-treated group was lower than that of non-treated group. Conclusion: These results suggest that increased cholesterol content of sperm plasma membrane by supplementation of cholesterol in SFM improves sperm motility, capacitation status, and DNA integrity. Therefore, addition of cholesterol into SFM could be a useful for protecting human sperm from cold shock and cryo-injury during cryopreservation.