• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.357-360
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• 2022

Excretory-secretory products (ESP) of T. vaginalis have been shown to inhibit sperm motility, viability, and functional integrity, leading to a decreased fertilization rate in vitro. This study investigated whether T. vaginalis induce apoptosis and ultrastructural changes of sperm using flow cytometry and electron microscopy. Incubation of sperm with T. vaginalis ESP increased phosphatidylserine externalization and DNA fragmentation, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Transmission electron microscopy of sperm incubated with ESP revealed abnormal features such as distorted heads, broken necks, and acrosomes exocytosis. This is the first report that demonstrates a direct impact of T. vaginalis ESP on sperm apoptosis and architecture in vitro.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.79-84
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics of semen and egg storage period on hatchability of Korean native chicken(KNC, 44-wk old). The body weight, volume of semen, concentration of spermatozoa, total sperm of an ejaculate, motility of sperm and percentage of fertile eggs were 2,555.89g, 0.473$m\ell$, 30.81${\times}$10(sup)8/$m\ell$, 13.14${\times}$10(sup)8 cells, 3.58 and 91.69%, respectively, in KNC. The percentage of fertile eggs were 87.9∼96.0% on storage period in KNC. The viability and hatchability were 80.2%. 74.6%, respectively, in storage period for 22 days in storage temperature of 11∼14$^{\circ}C$. The results of the trial show that viability can be get more than 80% in storage period for 3 weeks in storage temperature of about 13$^{\circ}C$.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.657-665
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• 2020

The objective of this study was to investigate whether supplementation of pentoxifylline (PTX; phosphodiesterase inhibitor) to thawed boar semen improves the post-thaw motility of sperm and affects the efficiency of artificial insemination (AI) and further development. To determine the concentration of PTX for AI, frozen-thawed semen was incubated with 0, 5, 10, and 20 mM PTX in an extender freezing medium, respectively, after thawing. Kinematic properties of sperm were examined with a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) system. In addition, viability and mitochondrial activity were also tested by LIVE/DEAD and a MitoTracker kit. There were no significant differences in the kinetic parameters of thawed sperm between control and treatment groups, but overall assessment parameters such as motility and rapid progressive were higher in the 10 mM PTX group. In the viability and mitochondrial assay, there were no significant differences observed in the PTX treatment, compared to the control. For further analysis, artificial inseminations were performed using frozen semen and 10 mM PTX treated cryopreserved semen, respectively. There were no differences in pregnancy rates and fetus weights among the groups until 30 and 40 days, but litter size was reduced and relatively low-birth weight was observed in the PTX group. In summary, our findings suggest that enhancement of in vitro sperm quality or non-toxicity supplemented by PTX may have detrimental effects on fetus development.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.95-102
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• 2000

Techniques for manipulation of spermatozoa and oocytes have been widely used for in vitro production(IVP) of Hanwoo. This study was conducted to examine the effects of theophylline and heparin on frozen-thawed Hanwoo sperm for enhancing the efficiency of IVP technique. Oocytes were inseminated with forzen bull semen treated with either theophylline or heparin for examining the effect of each substance on fertilization and subsequent development. More (P<0.05) oocytes formed pronucleus and develop to the morula and blastocyst stages after inseminated with sperm treated with heparin than after inseminated with sperm treated with theophylline. The pregnancy rate after embryo transfer was higher after heparin treatment than after theophylline treatment, but did not differ significantly. There was no significant difference of offspring delivery between two groups. In conculsion, theophylline and heparin can be used for enhancing the efficiency of IVP system for Hanwoo. Considering characteristics of these substance, theophylline may be useful in the artificial insemination system, which requires vigorous sperm motility. While, heparin supporting sperm viability in vitro can be effectively used for improving in vitro-fertilization system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.123-126
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to determine the potential hazardous effects of sorting process by flowcytometry on the quality of boar spermatozoa by flowcytometer. Freshly collected boar semen was diluted and divided into two groups; control none sorted and sorted. Sperms in sorted group were processed with flowcytometer for cell sorting with $100\;{\mu}M$ nozzle under the 20 psi pressure. Measurements on each parameter were made at two time points, 0hr (right after sorting) and 24 hr post sorting. Although there was a tendency of lower viability in sorted group than none sorted control group, the percentage of live cells in control ($75.83{\pm}6.92\;&\;59.53{\pm}10.34$) was not significantly different from sorted ($59.70{\pm}7.37\;&\;43.97{\pm}3.76$) at both 0 and 24 hr post sorting. However, sorted sperm showed significantly lower mitochondrial function compared to the control at both 0 h ($79.37{\pm}3.22\;vs.\;63.50{\pm}10.05$) and 24 hr ($67.27{\pm}3.22$ vs. $46.97{\pm}5.37$) time points (p<0.007). Sperm DNA fragmentation rate was significantly lower in control ($22.0{\pm}7.04$) than that of sorted ($32.27{\pm}7.49$) at 24 hr time point (p<0.0002). Taken together, these data suggested thatsorting process by flowcytometer may have influenced sperm motility rather than viability. Also high speed sperm sorting by flowcytometer has significant effects on DNA fragmentation on elapsed time after sorting.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.39-45
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• 2018

We evaluated the effects of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation at different dilution steps on boar sperm freezing and in vitro fertilization. Sperm intracellular hydrogen peroxide ($H_2O_2$), motility, viability, acrosome integrity and morphology were determined. In addition, sperm IVF parameters (penetration and monospermy) and glutathione (GSH) levels of presumptive zygotes (PZs) were evaluated. Semen was diluted in lactose egg yolk (LEY) and cooled at $5^{\circ}C$ for 3 h (first dilution step) and then diluted in LEY with 9% glycerol and maintained at $5^{\circ}C$ for 30 min (second dilution step). Four experimental groups were compared: first and second dilution steps without GTE (control), first dilution step with GTE (Step 1), second dilution step with GTE (Step 2) and first and second dilution step with GTE (Step 1+2). The spermatozoa were frozen in nitrogen vapor. Higher sperm motility, viability and acrosome integrity after thawing were observed in Step 1, Step 2 and Step 1+2 groups compared with the control (P < 0.05). Lower $H_2O_2$ level was observed in Step 1+2 compared with control and Step 1 (P < 0.05). For IVF, matured oocytes were co-cultured with spermatozoa frozen according to the experimental groups. GSH levels of PZs were significantly higher in Step 2 and Step 1+2 than in control and Step 1 (P < 0.05) without a significant difference in IVF parameters. In conclusion, supplementation with GTE in both first and second dilution steps during the freezing process resulted in better boar sperm cryopreservation and might be beneficial for further embryo development.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.259-265
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• 2019

This study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha-glucosyl rutin (G-rutin) and its comparative effects with other antioxidants (glutathione: GSH, catalase: CATA and beta-mercaptoethanol : ${\beta}ME$) on dog sperm freezing. In the first experiment (E1), the spermatozoa were diluted in freezing extender supplemented with 0 (control), 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1% G-rutin and frozen using liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$). The progressive motility, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and apoptosis of spermatozoa were assessed after sperm thawing at $37^{\circ}C$ for 25 sec. In the second experiment (E2), 0.1% G-rutin group was compared with 10 mM ${\beta}-ME$, $5{\mu}M$ GSH and $50{\mu}M$ CATA groups by assaying progressive motility, viability and gene expression of Bcl-2 and SMCP after sperm freezing and thawing. In E1, 0.1% G-rutin group showed higher (P < 0.05) post-thaw progressive motility and lower (P < 0.05) ROS levels. In E2, the expressions of SMCP in G-rutin group were higher (P < 0.05) than in CATA group while Bcl-2 expression of G-rutin group was higher (P < 0.05) than ${\beta}-ME$ and CATA groups. However, there were no significant differences in progressive motility and viability. Therefore, we suggest that G-rutin can be used as a potentially antioxidative supplement in dog sperm freezing extender on the basis of gene expression related to motility and apoptosis as well as ROS level.

• 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.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.53-60
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• 2001

This study was conducted to evaluate whether \"Royal jelly\" (RJ) added to Tris-buffer dilute contributed to supporting post-thaw viability and longevity of frozen canine spermatozoa. Two Japanese spitzs (2 to 4 years of age) were used as a semen donor. Semen was collected by manual masturbation and separated into 3 fractions. Only the sperm-rich fraction having sperm motility of more than 70%, containing sperm concentration of 2~4$\times$10$^{8}$ cells/ml and having dead or abnormal spermatozoa of less than 15% was used for the experiment. Each ejaculated semen was centrifuged at 400 $\times$ g for 5 min and then diluted in a Tris-buffer supplemented with 20 ml egg yolk (Ext I), 4% glycero1 and 1% Equex STM Paste (Ext II) or g1ycero1, Equex STM paste and RJ of various concentrations (Ext II-RJ). After freezing and thawing, viability of spermatozoa in Ext II -RJ containing 1% RJ immediately after thawing (67.5$\pm$9.6) was significantly lower than that of Ext II , Ext II -RJ containing 0.01 or 0.1% RJ (77.5$\pm$12.5, 78.7$\pm$8.2 and 80.0$\pm$6.3). However, Ext II-RJ containing 0.1% RJ yielded higher viability than Ext II, Ext II-RJ containing 0.01% at or 1% 1 h after thawing (69.5$\pm$8.1 vs. 55.0$\pm$12.9, 57.5$\pm$9.6 and 41.5$\pm$12.6; P<0.05). At 1 h after thawing, the viability of spermatozoa thawed in 7$0^{\circ}C$ (68.8$\pm$12.5) was significantly higher than that of spermatozoa thawed in 38$^{\circ}C$ (48.8$\pm$16.3), although there was no difference in the viability between both groups immediately after thawing (77.5$\pm$9.6 and 81.3$\pm$8.1). Post-thaw viability and longevity of post-thaw spermatozoa in Ext II-RJ containing 0.1% RJ was higher in those in Ext II at 1 h (65.0$\pm$12.9 vs. 42.5$\pm$12.6), 2 h (52.5$\pm$12.6 vs. 27.5$\pm$17.1) and 3 h (40.0$\pm$14.1 vs. 20.0$\pm$12.1) after thawing. These results indicated that addition of 0.1% af to Tris-buffer enhanced post-thaw viability and longevity of canine spermatozoa and this additive can be used for increasing the possibility of collision between spermatozoa and ova during insemination.emination.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.167-172
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• 2004

This study was performed to examine the correlations among dog sperm viabilities evaluated by flow cytometry, by microscopic evaluation (ME), by carbo-xifluorescein diacetate and propidium iodide (CFDA/PI) and by hypoosmotic swelling (HOS) test. Semen were collected from 5 dogs ranging in age from 2 to 4 years. Each ejaculate was divided into 3 aliquots and different proportions of freeze-killed cells were added to each aliquot (1:0, 1:1 and 1:3). In the other experiment, semen was extended with Sweden extender containing 5% glycerol and equex STM paste, and frozen using liquid nitrogen vapor. Fresh and frozen-thawed dog sperm viability were assessed by flow cytometry using PI staining method. The accuracy of flow cytometry was evaluated by comparing with other classic assessments, microscopic evaluation, epifluorescence microscopic analysis using CFDA/PI, and HOS test. High correlations of sperm viabilities were found among flow cytometry, epifluorescence evaluation, HOS test (p<0.01) in fresh semen. Especially, sperm viability assessed by HOS test was highly correlated with viability by flow cytometry in all the ratios of live and dead spermatozoa, 1:0, 1:1 and 1:3 (p<0.01). The viability evaluated by ME were significantly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratios of 1:0 and 1:3 (p<0.05) however, there was no significance in ratio of 1:1. The viability evaluated by C/p were highly correlated with that by flow cytometry in ratio of 1:0 and 1:1 (p<0.01) and significantly correlated in ratio of 1:3 (p<0.05). In frozen-thawed spermatozoa, the viability determined by HOS test was considerably correlated with that by flow cytometry (p<0.01). There was significant correlation between the viabilities by ME and by flow cytometry (p<0.05). But the viability evaluated by CFDA/PI was not correlated with viability by flow cytometry. The result from this study validate the use of flow cytometry as a precise method for assessing the viability of fresh and frozen-thawed dog spermatozoa.