• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제67권3호
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• pp.701-713
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• 2025

Male infertility in dogs is a significant concern in veterinary reproductive medicine, with sperm quality being a key determinant of reproductive success. Traditional herbal medicine, particularly Panax ginseng, is widely recognized for its potential to enhance male reproductive function. However, its effects on canine reproduction remain unexplored. This study investigated the impact of different processed forms of Panax ginseng-white ginseng (WG), red ginseng (RG), and black ginseng (BG)-on sperm motility, testosterone levels, and biochemical parameters in dogs. Beagle dogs were administered WG, RG, or BG daily for 60 days in a crossover design. Serum testosterone levels and biochemical markers were measured at predefined intervals, while sperm motility and velocity parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The results demonstrated that BG supplementation significantly improved sperm motility and velocity parameters compared to WG and RG, with no adverse effects on biochemical markers. However, testosterone levels remained unchanged across groups. These findings suggest that BG may enhance canine sperm quality through mechanisms independent of testosterone regulation. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying molecular pathways and optimize dosing strategies for clinical applications.

• Animal Bioscience
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• 제34권8호
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• pp.1253-1270
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• 2021

Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.87-92
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• 2022

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of melatonin and selenium in freezing extenders on frozen-thawed rat sperm. Methods: Semen samples were collected from 20 adult male Wistar albino rats. Following dilution, the samples were divided into six groups: four cryopreserved groups with 1 mM and 0.5 mM melatonin and selenium supplements, and two fresh and cryopreserved control groups. The rapid freezing technique was used to freeze the samples. Flow cytometry was used to assess plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA damage, while computer-assisted sperm analysis was used to assess motility. Results: Total motility was higher in the 1 mM melatonin supplementation group than in the cryopreserved control group (mean±standard error of the mean, 69.89±3.05 vs. 59.21±1.31; p≤0.05). The group with 1 mM selenium had the highest plasma membrane integrity (42.35%±1.01%). The cryopreserved group with 0.5 mM selenium had the highest mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas the cryopreserved control group had the lowest (45.92%±4.53% and 39.45%±3.52%, respectively). Conclusion: Cryopreservation of rat semen supplemented with 1 mM melatonin increased sperm motility after freeze-thawing, while supplementation with 0.5 mM selenium increased mitochondrial activity.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.47-52
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• 2011

Objective: To determine whether characteristics of sperm motility obtained by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) could predict pregnancy after intrauterine insemination (IUI) in couples with unexplained infertility. Methods: Three hundred eighty-three cycles of intrauterine insemination with superovulation were retrospectively analyzed. Semen analysis was performed with CASA before and after swim-up and the parameters were compared between pregnant and non-pregnant women. Results: The pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.1%. Pregnant and non-pregnant women were comparable in terms of age, infertility duration, the number of dominant follicles. While sperm concentration, motility, and parameters such as average path velocity (VAP) and percentage rapid (RAPID) before semen preparation were significantly different between the pregnancy and non-pregnancy groups, there were no differences in sperm parameters when comparing the two groups after preparation. Using a receiver operating characteristic curve to measure sensitivity and specificity, the optimal threshold value for the predictors of pregnancy was revealed to be a concentration of ${\geq}111{\times}10^6/mL$, a motility of ${\geq}$ 51.4%, and RAPID ${\geq}$ 30.1% before preparation for IUI. Conclusion: Sperm parameters including concentration, motility, and RAPID before sperm preparation could have predictive value for pregnancy outcome after intrauterine insemination with superovulation in couples with unexplained infertility, and would be helpful when counseling patients before they make the decision to proceed with IVF/ICSI-ET.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.337-342
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• 2018

Cryopreservation is mainly used for preservation of boar sperm. However, this method stresses the sperm by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and the conception rate and the litter size are not more efficient than the liquid preservation of spermatozoa. Therefore, we use chitosan which is a natural product derived antioxidant compound. We used GnHA (chitosan+hyaluronic acid) and GnHG (chitosan hydrogel) as chitosan complexes to cryopreserve boar sperm for improve sperm metabolism and function. Sperm parameter (sperm motility, progressive motility, path velocity, straight-line velocity, curvilinear velocity) is measured by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) using frozen sperm with GnHA or GnHG (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1 mg/mL), respectively. Also, lipid peroxidation analysis using malondialdehyde (MDA) is performed to confirm the antioxidative effect of chitosan in frozen spermatozoa. CASA analysis showed GnHA and GnHG are effective against cryopreserved boar sperm. And antioxidant effect is measured by lipid peroxidation analysis. GnHA and GnHG, which is chitosan complex are effective for boar sperm cryopreservation by antioxidant effect.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.69-75
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• 2006

본 연구는 제주도 축산진흥원과 농촌진흥청 난지농업연구소에서 사육되고 있는 제주마 5두를 사용하여 인공질을 이용, 정액을 채취하여 정액의 일반성상 및 CASA를 이용하여 정자의 운동성과 생사 염색으로 기형률을 조사하였다. 제주마 정액의 일반 특성으로 총 정액량은 평균 42.5ml이었으며 평균 pH는 7.3, 평균 정자농도는 평균 $198.5X10^6/m1$ 이었다. 정자의 운동성은 $64.3{\pm}23.2%$이며, motility parameters 별로 VAP $70.4{\pm}28.7{\mu}m/s,\;VSL\;69.6{\pm}28.9{\mu}m/s,\;VCL\;94.1{\pm}30.0{\mu}m/s,\;ALH\;2.3{\pm}0.7{\mu}m/s,\;BCF\;7.6{\pm}1.1Hz,\;STR\;99.1{\pm}1.2%,\;LIN\;77.1{\pm}12.7%$로 나타났다. 정자 부위별 기형률은 두부가 평균 4 %, 경부가 평균 20 %, 미부가 평균 4 %로 나타났다. 이 연구를 통해 천연기념물로 지정되어 있는 제주마의 유전자원 보존과 증식을 위한 인공수정기술의 실용화를 위한 기초 자료를 제공하고자 한다.

• 한국동물생명공학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2025

Background: This study aimed to select high-quality spermatozoa by fresh domestic feline semen using sperm separation by magnetic activation (MASS), compared to density gradient centrifugation (DGC), and to evaluate cell quality after selection. Methods: Semen was collected from ten domestic felines by pharmacological sampling using dexmedetomidine and ketamine followed by urethral catheterization. The following parameters were analyzed: motility (computer assisted semen analysis), concentration (Neubauer chamber), semen morphology (humid chamber), and supravital test (eosin/nigrosine staining). In DGC, 20 × 10⁶ spermatozoa were used in a gradient of Percoll at 90% and 45%, centrifuged at 900 g for 5 min, and the pellet was diluted in HEPES buffer. In MASS, 10 × 10⁶ spermatozoa were diluted in HEPES buffer, centrifuged at 300 g for 10 min. The pellet was then resuspended in HEPES buffer with nanoparticles bound to annexin V, incubated for 15 min, and then filtered in the magnetic separation column. Results: The total abnormalities in the fresh semen were 47.9 ± 4.47%, with DGC and MASS being effective in reducing sperm abnormalities by 15.4 ± 0.95% and 29.80 ± 4.90%, respectively. Conclusions: This nanotechnological method is efficient in producing high-quality semen samples for assisted reproduction.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권7호
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• pp.1068-1076
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• 2020

Objective: In the present study, we determined efficiency of incorporating caffeine, melatonin or omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid in the diluent on mitigating consequences of (a) liquid chilled- and (b) cryo-storage of ram spermatozoa. Methods: In the first experiment, ejaculates (n = 30) were collected from 5 adult rams and were pooled, diluted (1:10) with Tris-citric acid (base diluent) and were split into 4 aliquots assigned for: control (untreated), caffeine (0.1 mM), melatonin (0.3 mM) or omega-3 fatty acids (0.3 mM) (T₀). The diluted specimens were stored at 4℃ for 48 h, during which sperm physical and cytological properties were evaluated along with oxidative stress indices (T₂₄, T₄₈). In the second experiment, 15 ejaculates (3 per male) were pooled, diluted with glycerolized base diluent (4% glycerol, v/v) and were split corresponding to the same previous treatment groups before being processed for cryopreservation. Post-thaw physical and kinematic sperm properties were assessed by a computer-assisted sperm analysis system. Results: The results clarified superiority of both melatonin and omega-3 supplementation on maintaining (p<0.05) sperm properties, while reducing (p<0.05) lipid peroxidase reaction and enzymatic activities of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alkaline phosphatase in preservation medium, compared to caffeine either during liquid-chilled storage or cryopreservation of spermatozoa. Conclusion: Melatonin and omega-3 are regarded efficient alternatives to caffeine when processing ram spermatozoa for application of artificial insemination or in vitro fertilization.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.97-101
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• 1999

Male genital tract inflammatory conditions may be associated with unexplained infertility. The presence of cytokine such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) was reported in the semen of infertile men. However, the effect of these cytokines on human sperm function is still unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate the in-vitro effects of TNF-alpha on human sperm motility with computer assisted sperm analysis. Washed sperm from 16 normal men were incubated without and with TNF-${\alpha}$ (0.1, 10, 1000 ng/ml). The changes of parameters of sperm motility were recorded at different time intervals (0, 5, 24 hour). There was no significant change of parameters of sperm motility in the incubation with TNF-${\alpha}$. It is suggested that TNF-${\alpha}$ alone does not interfere with the sperm motility and more studies are needed.

• 한국수정란이식학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.275-279
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• 2009

The beneficial effect of glycerol as a cryoprotectant, especially for sperm cryopreservation, has been shown in many studies. However, glycerol is toxic to living cells, and boar sperm in particular show greater sensitivity to glycerol than sperm from other domestic animals. Amides have been studied as alternative cryoprotectants for freezing stallion sperm. Sperm frozen in methylformamide or dimethylformamide as cryoprotectants show similar motility when thawed compared with sperm frozen in glycerol. We evaluated the cryoprotective effects of dimethylformamide on boar sperm freezing. To test the effect of amides, the concentration of boar semen was adjusted to $10^9sperm/mL$, and seminal plasma was removed using Hulsen solution. After centrifugation, the pellet was diluted in modified-Modena B extender. Lactose-egg yolk (LEY) extender was used as the cooling extender. The freezing extender was madeed aaddition of the optimal amount of glycerol and amides to LEY-Glycerol-Orvus ES Paste extender, and this extender was used for the second dilution. Diluted sperm were frozen in liquid nitrogen using the 0.5 mL straw method. Sperm frozen in extender with glycerol as a cderol were compared with those frozen in extender including the different amides. Sperm were tested for motility, viability, the sperm chromatin structure assay, and normal apical ridge after thawing. The percent of motile sperm diluted in glycerol was as high as that in the stallion study (61%). Dimethylformamide showed positive effects on sperm quality and was better than glycerol. Methylformamide provided similar sperm quality as glycerol. Therefore, dimethylformamide is useful for reducing cryoinjury in boar sperm and is expected to be useful as an alternative cryoprotectant.