• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.45-48
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to select high-quality boar semen after the glass wool filtration of extended boar semen. After collecting boar semen, its concentration, morphology, viability, and motility were examined according the glass wool's height and time. After glass wool filtration, the sperm concentration decreased, but the proportion of normal sperms and the sperm viability increased. Nevertheless, the sperm motility showed no changes. The above results showed that the glass wool filtration of boar semen is a method of obtaining sperms with relatively low abnormal rates and high viabilities.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.125-131
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• 2010

Bacterial contamination is an unavoidable finding of the semen collection process in boar and can lead in deleterious effects on semen quality and longevity if left uncontrolled. The purpose of this study is to identify the bacteria in extended boar semen and to select the effective antimicrobials to control of the contaminants. Of 116 extended boar semen samples submitted from eight AI centers in Korea, 39 (33.6%) samples were positive for bacterial contamination. Among 39 contaminated semen, most of them (84.6%) were contaminated with one or two bacterial species and there was no significant difference between two age groups $(\leq\;24\;and\;>\;24\;month\;old).$ Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 18) was the most predominant bacterium followed by Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (n = 12), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (n = 12), Myroides spp. (n = 5), Ochrobactrum anthropi (n = 3), and so on. Enrofloxacin (72.9%), florfenicol (72.9%), bacitracin (49.2%) and tylosin (49.2%) showed higher sensitivity compared with penicillin (13.6%) or aminoglycosides (6.8%-18.6%). Brucella spp., Leptospira spp., Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were not detected in semen by PCR.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.160-164
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• 2006

Currently, boars selected for commercial use as AI sires are evaluated on grow-finish performance and carcass characteristics. If AI sires were also evaluated and selected on semen production, it may be possible to reduce the number of boars required to service sows, thereby improving the productivity and profitability of the boar stud. The objective of this study was to estimate genetic correlations between production and semen traits in the boar: average daily gain (ADG), backfat thickness (BF) and muscle depth (MD) as production traits, and total sperm cells (TSC), total concentration (TC), volume collected (SV), number of extended doses (ND), and acceptance rate of ejaculates (AR) as semen traits. Semen collection records and performance data for 843 boars and two generations of pedigree data were provided by Smithfield Premium Genetics. Backfat thickness and MD were measured by real-time ultrasound. Genetic parameters were estimated from five four-trait and one five-trait animal models using MTDFREML. Average heritability estimates were 0.39 for ADG, 0.32 for BF, 0.15 for MD, and repeatability estimates were 0.38 for SV, 0.37 for TSC, 0.09 for TC, 0.39 for ND, and 0.16 for AR. Semen traits showed a strong negative genetic correlation with MD and positive genetic correlation with BF. Genetic correlations between semen traits and ADG were low. Therefore, current AI boar selection practices may be having a detrimental effect on semen production.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.86-86
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• 2001

The aims of this work were to determine the acrosin activity and to evaluate the structural and functional integrity of AS boar spermatozoa. The acrosin activity of spermatozoa were 5.40, 4.10 and 3.40 mIU/10$^{6}$ sperm in raw, extended and frozen semen respectively , which differed significantly each other (P<0.05). After the raw and extended semen were exposured to cold and thermal shock, the acrosin activities of spermatozoa in the raw semen were 5.39, 5.21 and 5.29 mIU/10$^{6}$ sperm for control (non-shock), cold shock and thermal shock, and those of extended semen were 4.21, 3.98 and 4.00 mIU/10$^{6}$ sperm. This value among treatments did not differ significantly. The acrosin activities of spermatozoa in the extended and stored semen were 3.27, 3.52, 3.46 and 3.23 mIU/10/suup 6/ sperm, while hypo-osmotic test(HOST) values were 56.5%, 64.7%, 66.0% and 56.0%, following 4 days storage at 4$^{\circ}C$, 17$^{\circ}C$ , $25^{\circ}C$ and 37$^{\circ}C$, respectively. The results at 17$^{\circ}C$ and $25^{\circ}C$ appeared to be best compared with the other storage temperatures.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.586-592
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• 2023

Oxidative stress is a critical factor affecting the quality and viability of sperm during boar semen storage. Oxidative stress is also a significant concern during the process of freezing semen. The process of semen storage involves exposing the sperm to various stressors, including temperature changes, cryoprotectants, and extended periods of incubation. In addition, oxidative stress can lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) within the sperm, resulting in oxidative damage to cellular components, such as lipids, proteins, and DNA. Striking a balance between ROS production and the antioxidant defense system is crucial for maintaining sperm viability and functionality during semen storage. Moreover, the prolonged storage of boar semen leads to an increase in ROS levels, which can impair sperm motility, membrane integrity, and DNA integrity. ROS-induced lipid peroxidation affects the fluidity and stability of sperm membranes, leading to decreased sperm motility. Moreover, oxidative damage to the DNA can result in DNA fragmentation, compromising the genetic integrity of the sperm. In conclusion, oxidative stress is a significant challenge in maintaining sperm quality during boar semen storage. Understanding the mechanisms underlying oxidative stress and their impacts on sperm function is crucial for developing effective strategies to minimize oxidative damage and improve sperm storage outcomes.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.241-246
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• 2010

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of storage time on fresh boar semen in Androhep and Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS). Boar semen samples extended in each extender were stored at $17^{\circ}C$ up to 4 days. Sperm motility kinematics was evaluated by computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and capacitation status by chlortetracycline (CTC)/Hoechst 33258 staining. Sperm motility (%) was not decreased during storage in BTS and Androhep. No significant difference between extenders was observed. Only significant differences in kinematic parameters on linearity during storage were found. The percentage of dead sperm significantly decreased during storage (p<0.05). Also the percentage of noncapacitated, capacitated, and acrosome-reacted sperm significantly modified during storage (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between extenders except proportion of capacitated sperm. This finding supported that modification in these parameters was not significantly different between extenders during this short-term storage. Our finding strongly indicated that both Androhep and BIS maintained favorable conditions for motility, motility kinematics, and capacitation status during short-term storage. Despite modifications in some parameters were apparent during sperm storage in extenders, these may not affect the fertilizing capacity of boar semen.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2013

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of bacterial contamination on elapsed time after preservation on boar semen. Known numbers of Escherichia coli (E. coli) were inoculated to freshly ejaculated semen and sperm parameters such as viability, motility, agglutination, acrosome integrity and hypo-osmotic swelling test were performed during 7 days of liquid preservation. Semen samples were prepared using antibiotic free BTS extender and 4 different levels of E. coli were treated to semen with following concentrations; 3,000, 5,000, 7,000, 10,000 CFU/ml of sperms. Semen samples were preserved at $17^{\circ}C$ for 7 days in semen storage until analyzed. Aliquots were subjected to measure the sperm viability, motility and agglutination using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system, acrosome integrity was performed using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining method and hypo-osmotic swelling test was performed using hypotonic solution from day 1 (day of semen collection) to 7. Detrimental effects on sperm motility and viability were observed 3 days after preservation at the level of 5,000 CFU/ml (p<0.05). Percentage of sperm abnormality was higher (p<0.05) in over 5,000 CFU/ml groups. Sperm agglutination rate was also significantly higher (p<0.05) in groups of 5,000 and 7,000 CFU/ml. The rate of acrosome reacted sperm was higher as preservation time goes in all the samples but the pattern was clearly higher among E. coli contaminated groups (p<0.05). The sperm membrane integrity in terms of hypo-osmotic test, E. coli affects little compared to other sperm parameters. The deleterious effects observed due to the bacterial contamination in semen suggest that importance of hygiene protocol to minimize the bacterial contamination during semen collection and processing.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.59-64
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to estimate modification of semen quality during storage. Liquid boar semen samples extended in Beltsville Thawing Solution were stored at $17^{\circ}C$ up to 5 days. While % motility and linearity significantly decreased eon day 3 in extender, the qualitative motility patterns were maintained satisfactorily. Also the storage of boar semen up to 5 days before insemination did not significantly changed the acrosome intactness. However, acrosome changed sperm significantly increased and capacitated sperm significantly decreased from day 4. No significant modifications in acrosome integrity were showed during sperm storage; these results suggest that liquid boar semen may keep the quality in extender for 3 days.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.494-498
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• 2008

MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethyl thiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide) reduction assay is a method that validates the viability of an active cell. Dehydrogenase in mitochondria converts yellow colored insoluble tetrazolium salt to purple colored water-soluble formazan. Sperm also have mitochondria in the midpiece, therefore sperm viability could be evaluated by MTT reduction assay. Several studies have already demonstrated the capability of application of the MTT reduction assay to sperm of several species in Hepes-BSA buffer. Because most liquid semen was diluted in extender like BTS (Beltsville Thawing Solution), Modena or Androhep when it is used or transferred, semen needed another dilution in Hepes-BSA buffer to assess sperm viability. In this study, we evaluated boar sperm viability especially in BTS extended semen and compared the efficiency of this test with eosin-nigrosin staining. We used the fresh BTS extended semen from a local A.I center. Semen sample was diluted to $3.0{\times}10^7$ sperms/ml in BTS. The rates of formazan production were measured in 96-well microtiter plates immediately and 1h after incubation at $17^{\circ}C$ using a spectrophotometer at wave length 560 nm. Simultaneously, split samples of the same semen were tested, using eosin-nigrosin staining to compare the efficiency of the MTT assay of sperm viability in BTS. The correlation between the results of these tests was calculated using Student-t test and ANOVA. The results revealed a strong correlation between the results of MTT reduction rate and the results that were simultaneously determined by eosin-nigrosin staining at 1 h. In conclusion, the MTT reduction test was an effective and simple method to validate sperm viability and it could be used as a simple tool to evaluate sperm viability in the local A.I center and laboratory.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.19-26
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• 1986

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effect of bovine serum ablumin (BSA), sugars, glycerol equilibration time, straw size and thawing method on the survival index and the morphology of frozen boar spermatozoa. The results obtained were summarized as follow: 1. When the semen frozen in BF5 dilutor as pellet form was thawed in BTS at 37$^{\circ}$and 50$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with fructose showed higher sperm survival index than that with dextrose, however, when the semen was thawed on dry test tube at 37$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with sucrose showed higher sperm survival index than with other sugars. 2 When the semen forzen in BF5 dilutor with straw and thawed at 37$^{\circ}C$, BF5 dilutor with dextrose showed higher sperm survival index than those with other sugars, and there was no difference in sperm survival index between 0.5 and 1.0 ml straws. 3. The sperm survival index of frozen sperm was significantly (P<0.05) improved due to addition of BSA (0.05%) to BF5 dilutor. 4. When the extended semen with BF5 dilutor contatining 0.01 to 0.05% of BSA was frozen in the straw, the semen without glycerol equilibration showed significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm survival index than those with 2, 4 and 6 hrs glycerol equilibration time. 5. The sperm frozen in BF5 dilutor with dextrose or fructose, sucrose and raffinose showed 77 to 88% in normal acrosome rate and no difference among sugars. 6. The frozen semen showed lower normal acrosome rate than the first and second diluted semen, whereas the frozen semen showed higher swollen, damaged and missing acrosome rate than the first and second diluted semen. 7. Damaged and missing acrosome rate of sperm head due to freezing was somewhat inhibited by addition of BSA (0.01 to 0.05) to the BF5 dilutor.