• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.139-143
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the reproductive characteristics of the cloned Hanwoo bulls produced by SCNT. The semen ejaculated from the cloned bulls (C-38 and C-39) and normal Hanwoo bull was properly measured the volume, the number of sperm, and the viability of frozen-thawed sperm. The sperm activity was analyzed using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). To analyze fertilizing ability of the cloned bulls, in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination were performed using the frozen-thawed semen. There were no differences in semen volume, sperm concentration, and the viability of frozen-thawed sperm between cloned bulls and normal bull. The difference was statistically significant in total motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), and average-path velocity (VAP) of both cloned bulls compared to those of normal Hanwoo bull, respectively (p<0.05). The cleavage and blastocyst development rate were not different between the groups. five cloned cows were artificially inseminated using the frozen-thawed semen of C-38, two of them became pregnant. Two second generation calves (one male and one female) were produced. Based on these results, the cloned Hanwoo bulls showed normal reproductive abilities of semen parameters and sperm activity to their comparators and produced cloned calves, although there are some individual differences on the parameters.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.269-275
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• 2001

This study was carried out to investigate the general characteristics such as volume, sperm concentration, sperm motility, sperm abnormality on whole semen, RSP-S and RSP-T semen and fractional semen of small size dogs, and the effect of temperature and preservation time and cryoproservation on motility of whole and RSP-S and RSP-T semen. Multiple ejaculates were collected from small dogs by the digital manipulation of penis. 1. The volume per ejaculate semen, sperm of concentration and motility and abnormal sperm rate of 1st fractional semen were 0.65$\pm$0.09 $m\ell$, 4.52$\pm$0.35$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 15.64$\pm$3.85% and 5.50$\pm$0.62%. Also, 2nd fractional semen were 1.25$\pm$0.20$m\ell$, 3.35$\pm$0.48$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 96.25$\pm$4.65% and 4.24$\pm$0.46%. And 3rd fractional semen were 1.45$\pm$0.21$m\ell$, 3.55$\pm$0.52$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 92.82$\pm$4.24% and 4.66 $\pm$0.58%, respectively. 2. The sperm of concentration and motility and abnormal sperm rates of whole, RSP-S and RSP-T semen were 5.45$\pm$0.82$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 95.55 $\pm$4.65%, 4.58$\pm$0.45% and 4.82$\pm$0.36$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 90.10$\pm$3.42%, 6.48$\pm$0.68% and 4.55$\pm$0.45$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 93.25$\pm$3.85%, 4.82$\pm$0.58%, respectively. 3. The motility of whole, RSP-S and RSP-T semen were higher at 4$^{\circ}C$ than at 38$^{\circ}C$. When preservation temperature was at 4$^{\circ}C$, survival rates of RSP-S and RSP-T sperm were 97.54~6.25% at 1~72 hrs, 97.40~5.62% at 1~100 hrs, respectively. 4. The survival rates of slow and rapid frozen 2nd fraction, RSP-S and RSP-T semen were 67.3$\pm$4.45%, 88.8$\pm$4.46% and 46.4$\pm$3.84%, 74.4$\pm$4.20%, respectively. Survival rates was significantly higher in frozen RSP-S and RSP-T semen than that in control group(8.5$\pm$2.12%).

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.108-108
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• 2003

The purpose of this is to investigate the effects of vitrification in open pulled straws (OPS) on in vitro survival of porcine embryos. Blastocysts were produced by in vitro fertilization of slaughterhouse-derived, in vitro matured oocytes with frozen-thawed boar semen, and subsequent culture on granulosa cell monolayer. After frozen-thawing, embryos were culture in NCSU-23 medium with 5 mM hypotaurine, 4 mg/$m\ell$ BSA and 10 ng/$m\ell$ for 48 hrs to survival tests. When blastocysts were frozen-thawed by OPS methods, the embryos with normal morphology were 32.1, 34.5 and 38.9 % in early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded blastocyat stages. The rates of partial damaged embryos were significantly (P<0.05) higher in early biastocysts than expanded blastocysts. In another experiment, the embryos frozen by OPS methods were cultured for 48 hrs for survival and developmental rates in vitro. The proportions of embryos hatched were 11.8, 20.2 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. On the other hand, The proportions of embryo with normal morphology after culture were 23.5, 25.0 and 33.3% in embryos frozen-thawed at stages of early blastocyst, blastocyst and expanded embryos. These finding indicate the possible broader application for OPS methods that this procedure described is relatively harmless, that it can be used for blastocysts of different developmental stages.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.271-274
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• 2009

To establish a protocol of estrus induction and synchronization in European mouflon, we performed artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen and exogenous hormones. CIDR was inserted into vaginas of four mouflons for 16 days. A day before removal of CIDR, PG 600 was injected intramuscularly. $PGF_2{\alpha}$ was injected when removing CIDR. Artificial insemination was cervically conducted with injecting LHRH 48 hours after CIDR withdrawal. Even though no pregnancy was confirmed, estrous signs were notified like open cervix, congestion of vaginal wall and discharge of cervical mucus. Further research in the wild sheep would be needed for development of artificial breeding methods and advancing sustainability of domestic zoos.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.9
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• pp.1411-1420
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of study was to investigate the effects of season and single layer centrifugation (SLC) before cryopreservation on post-thaw bull sperm quality in Thailand. Methods: Semen was collected from 6 bulls (Bos indicus) in summer, rainy season and winter 2014 through 2016. Semen characteristics, sperm morphology, sperm kinematics, viability, chromatin structure and mitochondrial membrane were evaluated. Meteorological data were available from the local meteorological station; Results: Season had an effect on semen characteristics in the raw ejaculate, with higher proportions of normal spermatozoa and lower abnormalities in winter than in the other two seasons. Sperm kinematics, viability, DNA fragmentation index, and mitochondrial membrane potential were not different between seasons. Sperm samples selected by SLC had greater normal morphology and a lower proportion with bent tails than controls and higher values of progressive motility (PRO), beat cross frequency, linearity, straightness, wobble (WOB), and lower values of slow motility, velocity average path (VAP), velocity curved line, and amplitude of lateral head displacement than controls. In addition, SLC-selection had a favorable effect on PRO, VAP, and WOB that differed among seasons. Conclusion: Our results suggested that these bulls were well adapted to their location, with season having an effect on sperm morphology. Moreover, SLC could be used prior to cryopreservation, regardless of season, to enhance normal morphology and kinematics of bull sperm samples without adversely affecting other parameters of sperm quality. However, there was considerable variation among bulls in DNA fragmentation index, mitochondrial membrane potential and sperm viability. In addition, SLC had a positive effect on sperm morphology and sperm kinematics, which could be expected to influence fertility.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.177-182
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• 2018

Objective: To investigate the effects of in vitro myo-inositol (Myo-Ins) supplementation of cryopreserved human semen on the cryo-survival rate (CSR). Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 41 infertile men. Following routine semen analysis, each sample was divided into two equal aliquots (0.5 mL each). One aliquot was treated with 1 mg of Myo-Ins dissolved in $10{\mu}L$ of sperm preparation medium. The second aliquot was treated with $10{\mu}L$ of the same medium (control). Both aliquots were incubated for 20 minutes prior to freezing to slow the freezing process. The frozen samples were examined for post-thaw percentages of total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and the CSR, defined as the percentage of post-thaw TM divided by the percentage of pre-freeze TM and multiplied in 100. The results were expressed as median and interquartile range (25th and 75th percentiles). Results: The pre-freeze TM (50% [30%-50%]) and PM (35% [20%-35%]) were significantly higher than the post-thaw TM and PM in the MyoIns group (15% [10%-35%] and 10% [5%-20%]; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) and the control group (10% [6%-30%] and 5% [3%-15%]; p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). The CSR of the 41 semen aliquots supplemented with Myo-Ins (40% [25%-70%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (30% [13%-58%], p=0.041). The CSR of the 26 abnormal semen samples that were supplemented with Myo-Ins (38% [20%-50%]) was significantly higher than that of the control samples (23% [12%-30%], p=0.031). Conclusion: In vitro Myo-Ins supplementation of ejaculated human sperm from infertile men resulted in a significant increase in the CSR in samples with abnormal pre-freeze sperm parameters.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.209-217
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• 2023

Objective: The conservation of Bali bulls, the Indonesian native breed of cattle, is crucial for cattle breeding in Indonesia. To guarantee the spread of Bali bulls through artificial insemination the quality of the frozen semen must be high. To this end, adding an extender material to semen that increases spermatozoa's survival during cryopreservation is important. Green tea extract (GTE) can be used as cryoprotectant because its high antioxidant activity can help avoid reactive oxygen species formation. Methods: Semen of five Bali bulls from the National Artificial Insemination Center at Singosari, Indonesia was collected routinely twice a week. First, fresh semen inspection was performed to determine the feasibility of using Bali bulls as animal samples. The extender used in this study was Tris-based egg yolk. The samples were divided into four treatments: T0, no GTE added to the extender; T1, 0.05 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; T2, 0.10 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender; and T3, 0.15 mg GTE plus 100 mL extender. The semen freezing process was conducted according to standard procedures and sperm quality parameters, i.e., sperm motility, viability, abnormalities, and membrane integrity observed pre-freezing and post-thawing. Results: There were significant differences in total motility, progressive motility, viability, and integrity membrane of Bali bull sperm at both pre-freezing and post-thawing after adding GTE into the extender. In contrast, there were no differences in abnormalities among treatments. Conclusion: Adding GTE at a 0.15 mg into 100 mL Tris-based egg yolk extender can improve the quality of cryopreserved Bali bull sperm.

• 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.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.12
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• pp.1796-1805
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to identify heat shock protein70-2 (HSP70-2) and protamine-1 (PRM1) mRNA and protein in Madura bull sperm and demonstrate their relation as bull fertility biomarkers. Methods: The Madura bull fertility rates were grouped based on the percentage of first service conception rate (%FSCR) as high fertility (HF) (79.04%; n = 4), and low fertility (LF) (65.84%; n = 4). mRNA of HSP70-2 and PRM1 with peptidylprolyl isomerase A (PPIA) as a housekeeping gene were determined by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, while enzyme-linked immunoassay was used to measure protein abundance. In the post-thawed semen samples, sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, and sperm DNA fragmentation index were analyzed. Data analysis was performed on the measured parameters of semen quality, relative mRNA expression, and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1, among the bulls with various fertility levels (HF and LF) in a one-way analysis of variance analysis. The Pearson correlation was used to analyze the relationship between semen quality, mRNA, proteins, and fertility rate. Results: Relative mRNA expression and protein abundance of HSP70-2 and PRM1 were detected and were found to be highly expressed in bulls with HF (p<0.05) and were associated with several parameters of semen quality. Conclusion: HSP70-2 and PRM1 mRNA and protein molecules have great potential to serve as molecular markers for determining bull fertility.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.4
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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.