• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.189-193
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• 2012

This experiment was conducted to study variations of serum testosterone and seminal characteristics of Markhoz male goats. Blood samples were obtained via jugular vein, and semen was collected by using an artificial vagina from 14 fertile male goats (2-3 years of age), at 15-day intervals starting on 15 July and ending on 30 October 2010 (during breeding and non-breeding season). Semen volume, total sperm (volume${\times}$concentration), live sperm (%), abnormal sperm (%) and semen pH were significantly superior during the late summer and early autumn (breeding season). Variation of sperm density, motility and progressive motility was not significant during the sampling period. The results presented show that the lowest and highest levels of lactate dehydrogenase in the seminal plasma were recorded in late October (2.82 U/ml) and in late August (4.81 U/ml), respectively. Moreover, the study indicated that the serum testosterone concentration was higher during late summer and early autumn (p<0.05) than at any other of sampling period. There were negative correlations between volume and sperm density (-0.135, p<0.05), and positive correlations between volume and percentage live sperm (0.224) and percentage progressive motility (0.194, p<0.01). Sperm density was correlated with live sperm (0.200, p<0.05) and progressive motility (0.202, p<0.01). The correlation between live sperm and progressive motility was 0.554 (p<0.01). Furthermore, the results in this study indicated a significant positive correlation between live sperm and LDH (0.450) and a negative correlation between sperm density and LDH concentration (-0.272) (p<0.01). Significant, but positive correlations were found between sperm motility and LDH (0.542) and testosterone concentration (0.522), respectively (p<0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the best obtained semen was collected in late summer (during decreasing photoperiod) and early autumn (September and October). This also coincides with the natural breeding season of Markhoz goats in Iran.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.97-104
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• 2021

Male infertility has a complex etiopathology, which mostly remains elusive. Although research has claimed that oxidative stress (OS) is the most likely underlying mechanism of idiopathic male infertility, the specific treatment of OS-mediated male infertility requires further investigation. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), a vitamin-like substance, has been found in measurable levels in human semen. It exhibits essential metabolic and antioxidant functions, as well as playing a vital role in mitochondrial bioenergetics. Thus, CoQ10 may be a key player in the maintenance of biological redox balance. CoQ10 concentrations in seminal plasma directly correlate with semen parameters, especially sperm count and sperm motility. Seminal CoQ10 concentrations have been shown to be altered in various male infertility states, such as varicocele, asthenozoospermia, and medical or surgical regimens used to treat male infertility. These observations imply that CoQ10 plays an important physiological role in the maintenance and amelioration of semen quality. The present article thereby aimed to review the possible mechanisms through which CoQ10 plays a role in the regulation of male reproductive function, and to concisely discuss its efficacy as an ameliorative agent in restoring semen parameters in male infertility, as well as its impact on OS markers, sperm DNA fragmentation, pregnancy, and assisted reproductive technology outcomes.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.11
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• pp.1666-1674
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• 2022

Objective: Letrozole, a potent aromatase inhibitor, is known to have the potential to modify male reproductive function by altering sex hormone levels. This study aimed to evaluate the semen and testicular characteristics and hormonal profile of aged Mrakhoz bucks (Capra hircus) treated with letrozole. Methods: Twelve Markhoz male goats, aged between 4.5 to 5.5 years with an average body weight (BW) of 61.05±4.97 kg were used for the study. Animals were randomly divided into two equal groups and subcutaneously received either 0.25 mg/kg BW of letrozole or a control every week for 2 months. The semen collections were performed every 10 days, and blood samples and testicular biometric records were collected at 20 days intervals. Results: Letrozole causes increased testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels, testosterone to estradiol ratio, semen index and reaction time during the period from 20th to 60th days (p<0.05). Furthermore, letrozole-treated bucks had higher semen volume, sperm concentration, and total sperm per ejaculate from 30th to 60th days (p<0.05). However, no differences occurred between the groups in scrotal circumference, relative testicular volume, semen pH, abnormality, acrosome integrity, and membrane integrity of sperm during the study (p>0.05). The serum luteinizing hormone levels, sperm viability, motility, and progressive motility increased, and estradiol levels decreased after 40th to 60th days of letrozole treatment (p<0.05). Conclusion: Letrozole application to aged Markhoz bucks provokes reproductive hormonal axis which, in turn, induces enhancement of semen production and quality.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.9 no.1_2
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• pp.69-77
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• 1982

암모니움 썰페이트 분획분리법. 초미량여과. DEAE - 셀루로오즈 및 젤 여과 크로마토그라피법 등을 사용하여 사람의 정액에서 베타 글룩유로니다아제를 분리하였다. 이 효소는 pH4.4와 온도 50${\sim}$$54^{\circ}C$에서 최고의 활동도를 나타내었다. 파라-나이트로페닐-디-글룩유로나이드를 기질로 사용하였을때 Km치는 0.59mM이었다. 또한 이 효소는 수은이온, 구리이온, 은이온에 의해 활동도가 방해되고 반면에 망간이온 및 코발트 이온에 의해서 효소의 활동도가 증가되었다. 세파댁스 G-200 젤여과법에 의해 측정된 사람의 정액 베타글룩유로니다아제의 분자량은 400,000 이었다. 이렇게 정제된 효소는 수정과정 중에서 카페시태시션의 연구에 도움을 주리라고 본다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.25-28
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• 1981

정자의 아크로좀에 존재한다고 알려진 효소들중 실온에 방치할 경우 또는 완충용액으로 정자를 세척할 경우 쉽게 아크로좀 막으로부터 흘러나옴을 관찰하였다. 신선하게 사용된 토끼의 정액을 $0^{\circ}C$에서 트리스 완충용액에 방치할 경우 하이얄유로니데이스는 39%정도가 유출되어 나오고, 또 $37^{\circ}C$에서 1시간 더 둘 경우 나머지 30%, 그리고 두시간째에 17%가 방출되며, 계면활성제로 아크롬을 처리할 경우 단 4%의 효소가 추출되었다. 다른 두 탄수화물 분해요소인 베타 엔 애시틸글루코사미니데이스 및 베타 그룩유로니데이스도 하이얄유로니데이스처럼 쉽게 분리되어 나오고 계면활성제로 추출될 수 있는 양은 대단히 적었다. 이와같이 효소가 아크로좀에서 방출되는 정도에 따라 아크로좀막에 흡착된 정도를 알 수 있으며 동시에 수정과정에서 역활을 이해하는데 도움이 될 것이다.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.47-51
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• 2006

Experiments were performed to find out the physico-chemical properties of milt and sperm motility in various storage conditions using starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus). The average sperm concentration and spermatocrit in stripped milt were $6.00{\pm}0.98{\times}10^8/mL\;and\;72{\pm}5$, respectively. The osmolality and pH were $337{\pm}9mmol/kg$ and $7.7{\pm}0.1$, respectively. The sperm of starry flounder was preserved with artificial seminal plasma (ASP), Stein's solution (SS) and marine fish Ringer's solution (MFRS) at $0^{\circ}C,\;2^{\circ}C,\;and\;4^{\circ}C$. The most effective condition for cold storage was SS at $0^{\circ}C$, and the preserved sperm remained motile for 30 days.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.397-401
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• 2014

The boar sperm has more lipid droplets and specialty of seminal plasma compared with other species, causing difficulties of freezing sperm and decreases for the utilization of frozen semen into the artificial insemination. However, several studies reported significant results for the recovery of sperm motility and reproductive by addition of cryoprotectants and seminal plasma after thawing. This study was designed to investigate the effects of supplementation of trehalose or glycerol in the LEY (lactose and egg yolk in BTS) solution for the conventional freezing and vitrification process. Two boars aged 16 months were used to collect semen for 2 times in a week. The samples were allotted to 3 freezing solutions (LEY + glycerol 10.5% + OEP 1.5%, LEY + trehalose 1M + OEP 1.5%, and sucrose 1.5M + trehalose 1 M + OEP 1.5%) after centrifugation at 800 g for 10 minutes. Semen was equilibrated in freezing solutions for 10 minutes and injected into plastic straws with 2~3 air bubbles to minimize freezing damages. Vitrification was performed to locate sperm in 5 cm above $LN_2$ for 5 minutes, and the conventional freezing was conducted with an automatic freezer. Motility and survival rates were measured by CASA (Computer assisted sperm an alyzing system) and FITC (Fluorescein isothiocyanate), respectively after thawing semen at $50^{\circ}C$ for 12 seconds. The results were analyzed by ANOVA with STATVIEW statistical program. The vitrificatioin solution (LEY + 10.5% glycerol + 1.5% OEP) presented higher motility (20.9%) than other solutions while the solution (LEY + 1M trehalose + 1.5% OEP) showed the lowest (motility : 5.2%). However, survival rates of vitrified sperms detected by FITC showed 1~4% live sperms in almost of dead sperms at all vitrification solutions' groups, but survival rate of freezing solution of LEY + 1M trehalose + 1.5% OEP LEY and LEY + 10.5% glycerol + 1.5% OEP were showed 49%, and 79%, respectively. There were differences (P<0.05) survival rate of conventional freezing in LEY + 10.5% glycerol + 1.5% OEP and LEY + 1M trehalose + 1.5% OEP and the remaining showed no differences. The results suggested that vitrified boar semen was not enough to be utilized for the artificial insemination, but it showed possibility to utilize for ICSI and conventional freezing with glycerol would be useful method for artificial insemination in pig while we choose the outstanding semen against tolerance to freezing damages.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2017

To preserve genetic materials, cryopreservation of the semen from live animals is the main technique to establish cryo-banking system which could be used for artificial insemination and embryo transfer. However, the population of Korean black goat (KBG) becomes to dwindle in number and is now faced genetic erosion by crossbreeding with non-native breeds in small KBG farms. In this study, simple freezing method was used to preserve frozen semen from KBG using spermatozoa of cauda epididymis (CE) and electro-stimulated semen (ES). The negative effects of seminal plasma on fresh sperm was confirmed using precipitation test of Triladyl egg yolk diluent and sperm viability after thawing was compared between CE and ES spermatozoa. When seminal plasma of fresh ES semen was washed with semen washing media (SWM), the rates of live sperm shown no significant difference between CE and ES spermatozoa before freezing. However, the survival rate of frozen/thawed CE sperm was higher than ES ($74.6{\pm}10.6%$ vs $53.8{\pm}5.2%$) with significant difference (p < 0.05). The results of longevity test on frozen/thawed sperm from CE showed healthier sperm than ES. Therefore, spermatozoa from CE could be used for cryo-banking system in KBG lines. The more studies are needed to increase survival rate of ES semen.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-177
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• 2007

An experiment was performed to obtain cryopreservation techniques of starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) sperm. Milt obtained from 24 males were cryopreserved using two diluents, artificial seminal plasma (ASP) and Stein's solution (SS) with three cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), methanol, and glycerol concentrated from 5% to 20%. Post-thaw sperm activity (motility and/or speed) revealed the highest in 10% DMSO and 15% methanol in ASP and SS as diluent. Motility and speed of cryopreserved sperm were decreased according to increase of glycerol concentration. To conclude, DMSO was a better cryoprotectant than methanol or glycerol for cryopreservation of starry flounder sperm. Glycerol was incongruent cryoprotectant because of toxic to starry flounder sperm. Most cryopreserved spermatozoa without cryoprotectant showed the enlarged head with granulated chromatin and ruptured plasma membrane by freezing and thawing injuries compared with unfrozen normal spermatozoa.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2000.06a
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• pp.13-28
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• 2000

Human spermatozoa exhibit a capacity to generate ROS and initiate peroxidation of the unsaturated fatty acids in the sperm plasma membrane, which plays a key role in the etiology of male infertility. The short half-life and limited diffusion of these molecules is consistent with their physiologic role in key biological events such as acrosome reaction and hyperactivation. The intrinsic reactivity of these metabolites in peroxidative damage induced by ROS, particularly $H_2O_2$ and the superoxide anion, has been proposed as a major cause of defective sperm function in cases of male infertility. The number of antioxidants known to attack different stages of peroxidative damage is growing, and it will be of interest to compare alpha-tocopherol and ascorbic acid with these for their therapeutic potential in vitro and in vivo. Both spermatozoa and leukocytes generate ROS, although leukocytes produce much higher levels. The clinical significance of leukocyte presence in semen is controversial. Seminal plasma confers some protection against ROS damage because it contains enzymes that scavenge ROS, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase. A variety of defense mechanisms comprising a number of antioxidants can be employed to reduce or overcome oxidative stress caused by excessive ROS. Determination of male infertility etiology is important, as it will help us develop effective therapies to overcome excessive ROS generation. ROS can have both beneficial and detrimental effects on the spermatozoa and the balancing between the amounts of ROS produced and the amounts scavenged at any moment will determine whether a given sperm function will be promoted or jeopardized. Accurate assessment of ROS levels and, subsequently, OS is Vital, as this will help clinicians both elucidate the fertility status and identify the subgroups of patients that respond or do not respond to these therapeutic strategies. The overt commercial claims of antioxidant benefits and supplements for fertility purposes must be cautiously looked into, until proper multicentered clinical trials are studied. From the current data it appears that no Single adjuvant will be able to enhance the fertilizing capacity of sperm in infertile men, and a combination of the possible strategies that are not toxic at the dosage used would be a feasible approach.