• 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.

• 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.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.323-330
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• 2006

본 연구의 목적은 3주 동안 장기간 냉각상태로 보관된 개 정자의 기능적 특성을 알아보고자 두 종류의 정자 희석액, Glucose-BSA(G-BSA), Dimitropoulos-II(BIMI)가 정자의 기능적 특성에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 한다. 개 정액을 수지법에 의해 채취하여 원심분리한 후 정장은 제거하였다. 정자를 G-BSA나 DIMI으로 희석하여 최종 농도를 $100\times10^6$ sperm/ml로 하였다. 희석된 정자를 정자 운송 시스템을 이용하여 루지애나 주립 대학에서 뉴올리언즈 실험실까지 운송하였다. 정자 운송 시스템은 $20^{\circ}C$에서 $9^{\circ}C$까지 분당 $0.08^{\circ}C$ 냉각율로 설정하였다. 희석된 정자는 $4^{\circ}C$에서 3주간 보관하였다. 보관 1일부터, 매주 단위로 정자의 활력, 정자 원형질막 고유성(생존성), 정자 첨체의 고유성을 검사하였다. 또한 체외조건하에서의 정자 번식 능력을 평가하기 위해 zona binding assay를 실시하였다. 실험 결과 냉각 상태로 3주 동안 보관된 개 정자는 여전히 정자의 기능적 특성을 나타냈다. 냉각기간이 길어질수록 정자의 활력 및 생존성은 감소하였으며(P<0.01), 첨체의 고유성은 냉각기간에 따라 감소하였으나 유의성은 없었다. 정자의 특성 중 활력이 다른 특성에 비해 냉각처리에 민감한 반응을 보였다. G-BSA배지에 보관된 정자의 활력 및 생존성이 DIMI에 비해 높게 나타났으며, 1 주 동안 보관된 정자의 생존성의 비교시 유의성이 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 그러나 첨체의 고유성은 1일 동안 DIMI에 보관된 정자에서 높게 나타났다(P<0.05). 3주 동안 냉각상태로 보관된 개 정자는 여전히 난자의 투명대에 결합하는 능력을 보였으며, G-BSA에 보관된 정자의 경우 난자에 부착되는 평균 정자 수가 보관일수에 따라 유의적으로 감소하였다(P<0.05). 그러나 희석액 종류에 따른 난자에 부착되는 평균 정자 수의 유의적 차이는 없었다. 정자의 활력 및 생존성과 난자의 투명대에 결합하는 정자 수와의 상관관계를 본 결과, 활력 및 생존성이 높은 정자일수록 난자의 투명대에 많이 결합하여 정자의 잠재적 번식력이 증가함을 보였다. 결론적으로 G-BSA나 DIMI의 희석액으로 희석된 후 $4^{\circ}C$에서 냉각 보관된 정자는 3주 동안 정자의 기능적 특성을 유지하였으며 냉각 보관 2주까지 좋은 성적의 정자 특성을 나타냈다. 개 정자 냉각 보존에 대안적인 희석액으로 G-BSA도 사용 가능한 것으로 사료된다.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-203
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were to investigate 1) the effects of Selenium(Se), Vitamin E (Vit. E) or recombinant Bovine Somatotropin(rBST) administration on fresh and frozen/thawed semen characteristics and 2) the effect of taurine on frozen/thawed semen characteristics in Hanwoo sires Hanwoo sires were randomly assigned to five groups (1. control, 2. rBST, 0.09mg/kg body weight (BW), 3. Vito E 1,500IU/kg BW, 4. Se 0.l mg/kg BW, 5. Vit. E 1,500IU plus Se 0.1 mg/kg BW). The administration of Se, Vit. E and rBST for each experimental group were given 6 times at 15 days interval by intramuscular injection. The administration of Se, Vit. E or rBST in Hanwoo sires didn't affect semen volume and pH values, but sperm viability was significantly increased comparing to the control group. Also, frozen/thawed semen analysis showed that the sperm viability increased, but any other effects were not found in total sperm :lumber, motility and abnormality among treatments. The addition of taurine in semen freezing extender had a beneficial effects on frozen/thawecl semen characteristics in all groups. The administrations of rBST, Vit. E and Se did not affect the sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction, either the ratio of F pattern(uncapacitated and acrosome intact sperm) or AR pattern(capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm), but the ratio of B patten(capacitated and acrosome intact sperm) of treatment groups was significantly higher than that of control group, These results indicated that the viability, motility and quality of semen in Hanwoo sires were slightly increased by the injection of rBST, Vit. E and Se, and the addition of taurine in semen freezing extender were also increased the semen characteristics after thawing.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2002.06a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2002

돼지 난포란의 체외성숙, 수정 및 배양에 관한 연구는 생명공학 기술을 도입하기 위한 기반 기술로 최근까지 계속 진행되고 있으나, 돼지 난포란을 이용한 효율적인 수정란 생산은 불규칙적인 웅성전핵 형성율과 높은 다정자 침입율 그리고 체내에서 발달된 배반포에 비하여 적은 세포수는 돼지 체외수정 체계에 있어서 끊임없는 문제점으로 제기되고 있다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 난포란을 이용한 보다 효율적인 수정란 생산을 위하여 돼지난자의 체외수정시 정자의 adenylate cyclase 활성을 조절하여 수정능획득 및 자발적인 첨체반응을 조절하여 정상적인 수정을 돕는 것으로 알려진 ADP를 체외수정 배양액에 첨가했을 때 수정율, 다정자 침입율, 배발달율 및 배반포의 세포수에 미치는 영향을 조사하였다. (중략)

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.275-289
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• 2002

The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro assessment of sperm fertilizing capacity of bulls and investigate the factors influencing sperm function and characteristics of frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. in vitro fertilization (IVF), the evaluation of motility and normal morphology, HOST (hypoosmotic swelling test), Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, luminol and lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence for the measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the measurement of malondialdehyde formation for the analysis of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and the evaluation of DNA fragmentation using the method of 747-mediated nick end labelling (TUNEL) by flow cytometry were performed in frozen-thawed bovine spermatozoa. Correlations between the rates of fertilization, blastocyst formation after IVF and the values of respective assays were investigated. 1. IVF rate and blastocyst formation rate averaged 64.4% and 34.3% for spermatozoa from high -fertility bull group and averaged 18.5% and 6.2% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectively. There were significantly different between two bull groups. Sperm motility and percentage acrosome reaction averaged 79.0% and 66.2% for spermatozoa from high-fertility bull group and averaged 40.7% and 22.9% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectivitely. There were not different between two bull groups. 2. Luminol depenent chemiluminescence, LPO and DNA fragementation averaged 6.4, 2.0 nmol and 2.6% from spermatozoa from high-fertility bull group and averaged 6.5, 3.1 nmol and 7.4% for spermatozoa from low-fertility bull group, respectively. There were significantly different between two bull groups. There was no significant difference in lucigenin dependent chemiluminescence between two bull groups. 3. Fertilization rate was positively correlated with motility and the rate of Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, but negatively correlated with the frequency of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, the rate of LPO, and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. There was no correlation between fertilization rate and the percentage of swollen spermatozoa, normal morphology, and the frequency of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. 4. Blastocyst formation rate was positively correlated with the rate of Ca-ionophore induced acrosome reaction, but negatively correlated with the frequency of luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, the rate of LPO, and the percentage of sperm with DNA fragmentation. There was no correlation between blastocyst formation rate and motility, the percentage of swollen spermatozoa, normal morphology, and the frequency of lucigenin-dependent chemiluminescence. In conclusion, these data suggest that ROS significantly impact semen quality. The assays of this study may provide a basis fur improving in vitro assessment of sperm fertilizing capacity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.4
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• pp.237-244
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• 2000

It has been reported that plasma membrane activity of the spermatozoa may be susceptible to be influenced by extracellular osmolality and such membranous changes involve infracellular molecular changes, special regard to the structure of membranous lipids, and the accompanying ion-channel of which are closely related with their fluidity of $Ca^{2+}$ and HCO$^{-}_{3}$. It is of common recognition that a certain kind of sterol acceptor player an important to induce lipid fluctuation of the sperm plasma membrane which have been influenced by BSA administration and came in effect to outflow of cholesterol from the spermatozoa and resulted in changes of ionic fluidity to facilitate adenylyl cyclase, and to induce protein tyrosine phosphorylation by increase of cAMP and activation of PKA. Thus it seems likely that an augmentation of the acrosomal reaction is closely related with protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The following experimental results were obtained in the present study; Under the high osmolality conditions, the spermatozoa motility declined significantly and the structural change of the plasma membrane diminished to confirm that the response degrees to the osmolality depended upon the water transfer volume through the plasma membrane and the changes of cellular volume. Those experimental results suggest that a physiological parameter such as low temperature condition played an important role for presentation of spermatozoa and that inducement of spermatozoa activation for reinforcement of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. On the other hand, it seemed likely that the BSA administration as one of sterol accepters might represent a key role also under the high osmolality condition and their result also suggests that osmolality change, special regard to high osmolality condition may play an important role also in the processes of signal transmission.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.175-179
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• 2007

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of thawing temperature on the sperm viability and acrosomal morphology for semen storage of miniature pig by the 0.5ml straw method. In this present study, sperm viability (SYBR-14/PI staining), membrane integrity (Hypoosmotic Swelling Test), acrosome intactness, intensity and capacitation status (chlorotetracycline staining) in frozen miniature pig sperm were evaluated after thawing at 37, 50 and $70^{\circ}C$ for 5, 10 and 45 sec, respectively. Interestingly, the results indicated that sperm thawed at $70^{\circ}C$ for 5 sec significantly (p<0.05) increased sperm viability, but lower the percentage of AR (acrosome reacted spermatozoa) pattern compared to sperm thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ for 45 sec and $50^{\circ}C$ for 10 sec. In terms of thawing condition, high temperature for a short time using the 0.5ml straw was improved cryosurvival of miniature pig semen. Therefore, appropriate thawing method for cryopreservation of miniature pig is required for increasing post-thawing viability.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.241-253
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• 1999

Fertilization pattern of north temperate bats is known to be unique for their sperm storage in the female reproductive tract during hibernation (e.g. Korean greater horseshoe bats). They copulate in fall but their ejaculated spermatozoa survive until the next spring. In another words they can persist to survive during long hibernation under the cold condition $(8\sim13^{\circ}C)$ and are to be fertilized with the ovum ovulated in the next spring, so called delayed fertilization. The present study was designed to observe morphological and functional changes of spermatozoa plasma membrane of the bats, hamsters which are hibernators, and mice which are non-hibernators in the room and the cold (bat-hibernation) temperatures and to confirm influence of the temperature on spermatozoa; survival rate, acrosome reaction rate, protein distribution, $Na^+-K^+-ATPase$ activities and scanning electron microscopic histochemistry. Based on the experimental results obtained in the present study, there were no significant morphological and functional differences in the spermatozoa plasma membrane in both the room and cold (bat-hibernation) temperatures and such an absence of difference suggests that the spermatozoa plasma membrane might play a pertinent role as a protector for consistent fertilization during and after hibernation.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2004

Dog spermatozoa were recovered from the caudae epididymides of 23 domestic dogs which were 11 pure breed and 12 mix-breed dogs ranging in age from 0.6 to 3 years. The experimental designs were as follows: 1) the effect of chilling to 0. 10 or 37$^{\circ}C$. 2) the kinetics of chilling injury at 0 or 4$^{\circ}C$, and 3) the effect of sugars at $0^{\circ}C$. Viable spermatozoa were recovered by percoll gradient separation and adjusted to 5${\times}$10$^{7}$ spermatozoa/ml. In experiment 1, spermatozoa were diluted with 0.33 M glucose supplemented with 3% BSA (G-BSA) at 1:2 dilution. Spermatozoa were loaded into straws and exposed at 0, 10 or 37$^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. In experiment 2, spermatozoa were prepared as the experiment 1 and exposed for 0.5, 5, 15, or 30 min at 0 or 4$^{\circ}C$. In experiment 3, spermatozoa were diluted with different sugars (0.33 M galactose, glucose, fructose, mannitol, lactose, sucrose, raffinose) and cooled to $0^{\circ}C$ for 30 min. Sperm membrane integrity, motility and acrosome integrity were assayed after rewarming at 37$^{\circ}C$ for 5 min. Sperm motility and membrane integrity abruptly decreased with decreasing temperature but acrosome integrity gradually decreased (P<0.05). Sperm motility was more sensitive to cold shock than membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. Spermatozoa cooled to $0^{\circ}C$ were more damaged than those at 4$^{\circ}C$. Sperm motility was not different among exposed times at both. 0 and 4$^{\circ}C$. However, membrane integrity of spermatozoa exposed for 30 min at both 0 and 4$^{\circ}C$ was significantly lower (P<0.05). Spermatozoa diluted in 0.33 M fructose or galactose showed lower motility and higher morphological abnormality with coiled tail at $0^{\circ}C$. These sperm characteristics were strongly related. These results indicate that dog epididymal spermatozoa are relatively sensitive to rapid cooling and higher morphological abnormality at $0^{\circ}C$ was shown in spermatozoa diluted in fructose and galactose.