• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.10
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• pp.1276-1281
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• 2010

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) supplementation on diluted, cooled and frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa. After primary evaluation of collected ejaculates, only semen samples with motility of more than 70% and sperm concentration higher than $3{\times}10^3$ sperm/ml were used for cryopreservation. The selected semen samples were then pooled and diluted 1:4 with Tris Citrate Fructose Yolk (TCFY) extender supplemented with different concentrations of BHT (0.5, 10, 2.0 and 3.0 mM). As the control, semen was diluted and frozen in the diluent without BHT. Motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity were evaluated after dilution (part 1), cooling (part 2) and freezing and thawing (part 3). The results of the first part of the experiment showed that there were no significant difference between treatments in the motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa, but the results with 2.0 mM BHT were slightly better than obtained with other levels of BHT and control extender. Significantly better results (p<0.05) were observed in the second part of the experiment for cooled spermatozoa characteristics, when extender was supplemented with 2.0 and 3.0 mM BHT. Furthermore, the results obtained in the third part of the experiment indicated that, after freezing and thawing, all evaluated semen characteristics were improved significantly (p<0.05) by increasing BHT levels, with the best results obtained for extender containing 2 mM BHT. Comparison of these results with those of control diluent, the effects of supplementation were significantly (p<0.01) better. However, the higher concentration of BHT (3.0 mM) reduced the motility, acrosomal integrity, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling response of spermatozoa compared to extender containing 2.0 mM BHT. In conclusion, the results obtained in this study showed that the semen quality of rams was improved when BHT was added to extender used before the freezing process.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.445-449
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• 1998

Semen quality was compared between the local Katjang and the cross-bred (local Katjang ♀ ${\times}$ German Fawn ♂) bucks. There were on significant genotypic differences in semen characteristics of concentration (first ejaculate : $6.19{\pm}1.30$ -versus $6.33{\pm}1.40{\times}10^9/ml;$second ejaculate: $5.82{\pm}1.10$ - versus $5.68{\pm}1.45{\times}10^9/ml$, for Katjang and the cross-breds, respectively), percentage live (first ejaculate: $77.61{\pm}1.33%$ versus $77.81{\pm}0.53%$; second ejaculate: $81.97{\pm}1.59%$ versus $82.74{\pm}0.96%$, for Katjang and cross-breds, respectively) and percentage of normal sperms (first ejaculate: $12.54{\pm}3.88%$ versus $26.45{\pm}3.83%$; second ejaculate: $38.68{\pm}3.65%$ versus $28.54{\pm}4.38%$, for Katjang and cross-breds, respectively), with the exception of seminal volume and sperm motility. Means of all variables were within the values reported for other goat breeds, In contrast, the differences in semen characteristics between the first and second ejaculations of both genotypes were more distinct, the second ejaculations always had more volume, more normal sperms and better sperm motility but less sperm concentrations. Removing the seminal plasma and replacing it with tris-citrate buffer greatly prolonged the viability of sperms of both genotypes when stored at $5{^{\circ}C}$. Sperm motility seens to be a good indicator of sperm viability. However, the sperms of the corss-bred bucks withstood the washing process better and their swimming abilities were superior ($8.12{\pm}0.46mm/min$) when compared to those of the local Katjang breed ($5.42{\pm}0.49mm/min$). The higher content of calcium ions in their seminal plasma (first ejaculate: $10.5{\pm}0.8$ versus $10.6{\pm}0.8mg/100ml$;second ejaculate: $15.3{\pm}0.8$ versus $16.1{\pm}0.8mg/100ml$, for Katjang and cross-breds, respectively) means that in natural matings the sperms of the cross-breds would be at an advantage compared to those of the local Katjang, since calcium ions reportedly initiate acrosomal reactions.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.297-302
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• 2013

Cryopreservation of epididymal spermatozoa offers a potential tool for rescuing genetic material from males of genetically elite populations. Castration, catastrophic injury, sudden death or any other event that makes semen collection or mating impossible may prematurely terminate a stallion reproduction. Stallion epididymal spermatozoa vary widely in the loss of progressive motility, acrosomal integrity, and viability during freezing and thawing. The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of (1) freezing package types on cryopreservation efficiency, (2) thawing temperatures (37, 56 or $70^{\circ}C$) on Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) parameters and (3) post-thawing incubation time (0, 1, 2 or 4h) on castrated stallion epididymis. Post-thawed sperm motility ranged between 59.69% and 64.28% ($56^{\circ}C$ and $37^{\circ}C$) in various thawing temperatures. When stallion epididymis sperm was frozen, straw was better than freezing tube on VCL (Velocity of Curvilinear Line) and VAP (Velocity of Average Path) parameter. Higher percentage of motility was observed at $37^{\circ}C$ thawing temperature even though no significant difference was observed among various temperatures. The motility, VCL, ALH (Amplitude of Lateral Head displacement), VAP, BCF (Beat-Cross Frequency) and STR (Straightness index) parameter of post-thawed sperm were significantly decreased by increasing the incubation time for all thawing temperatures. The present study showed that type of freezing package (Straw vs. Freezing tube) was not significantly different on cryopreservation efficiency. Furthermore, stallion epididymal spermatozoa frozen-thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 min resulted the highest proportion of motility and velocity movement. In addition, motility and viability of frozen-thawed stallion epididymal spermatozoa were also decreased by incubation.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.385-391
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• 2014

Objective of this study was to investigate the effect of nicotinic acid (NA) on the characteristics in fresh semen of miniature pig. We evaluated viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial integrity of sperm on 0, 3, 7 and 10 days during storage period with nicotinic acid. As results, the survival rate of sperm in 15 mM NA (day 3, $87.8{\pm}1.2%$; day 5, $84.0{\pm}2.7%$; day 7, $82.2{\pm}0.9%$) and 30 mM NA (day 3, $87.7{\pm}0.3%$; day 5, $84.4{\pm}2.5%$; day 7, $82.3{\pm}0.7%$) groups were higher than control and 5 mM NA groups in 3, 7 and 10 days of semen storage. The NA-treated sperm on 10 day was used day for observing acrosome integrity. The survival sperm with acrosome reaction was higher in 30 mM NA group (day 3, $2.7{\pm}0.2%$; day 5, $3.3{\pm}0.6%$; day 7, $11.4{\pm}0.3%$) than in the control, significantly (P<0.05). Moreover, the live sperm with mitochondrial integrity was higher in whole treatment groups of NA than control group, significantly (P<0.05). Specially, most mitochondrial integrity on 10 day of semen storage was significantly higher in 30 mM NA group ($90.2{\pm}1.6%$) than other treatment groups (control, $81.8{\pm}3.1%$; 5 mM NA, $83.4{\pm}3.0%$; 15 mM NA, $89.1{\pm}0.7%$, P<0.05). In conclusion, supplement of NA in liquid semen of miniature pig can improve and maintain semen quality, such as viability, acrosome reaction, and mitochondria integrity.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.577-583
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• 2007

It is important to obtain semen with good quality for efficient fertilization and pregnancy. To obtain these semen, various methods have been developed but most of these methods are time consuming and require costly equipment. Therefore, the objective of this research is to investigate the usability of column filtration system as quick and simple method to get sperm with better quality. Ejaculates were obtained from 5 dogs and analyzed with basic quality parameters before each filtration. Sperm concentration was adjusted to $5{\times}10^7/ml$ after dilution. The experimental groups were divided into non-filtered group(control) and filtered groups(glass wool, Sephadex 5% and Sephadex 20%). Ejaculates were filtered through each filter system and assessed by recovery rate of sperm, motility, normal morphology, CFDA/PI stain and plasma membrane integrity(hypo-osmotic swelling test, HOST). The lowest recovery rate of spermatozoa was recorded in glass wool filtration group, followed by 20% Sephadex filtration group(p<0.05). There was no significant difference between control(non-filtered) and 5% Sephadex filtration poop. Also, there was no significant difference of sperm motility assessed under light microscope among experimental groups. Morphological normality of canine spermatozoa was the highest in the glass wool filtration group and the lowest in the 5% Sephadex filtration group with no significant differences versus 20% Sephadex filtration and control group, respectively(p<0.05). Viability of canine sperm assessed by CFCA/PI staining was the highest in the glass wool filtration poop with no significant difference versus the control group, and the lowest in the 20% Sephadex filtration group with no significant difference versus 5% Sephadex filtration group, respectively(p<0.05). HOS values of canine sperm was the highest in the 20% Sephadex filtration group with no significant difference versus 5% Sephadex filtration group, and the lowest in the control poop with no significant difference versus glass wool filtration group, respectively(p<0.05). Therefore, these results indicated that filtration treatment for extended canine sperm would be useful method to get sperm with better quality by trapping the damaged sperm, consequently filter would be physical barrier against injured or immotile sperm.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.6
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• pp.1001-1006
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• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effect of Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharide (CPP) on the motility, mitochondrial integrity, acrosome integrity rate, and antioxidant ability of sheep sperm after preservation at 4℃. Methods: Semen from healthy adult rams were collected and divided into four groups with separate addition of 0, 200, 400, and 1,000 mg/L CPP. Sperm motility was analyzed using the Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis software after preservation at 4℃ for 24, 72, 120, and 168 h. Sperm acrosome integrity rate was analyzed by Giemsa staining at 24, 72, and 120 h, and mitochondrial membrane integrity was analyzed by Mito-Tracker Red CMXRos. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content of spermatozoa were measured after 120 h of preservation. Results: The sperm viability and forward-moving sperm under 200 mg/L CPP were significantly higher than that in the control group at 72 h (61.28%±3.89% vs 52.83%±0.70%, 51.53%±4.06% vs 42.84%±1.14%), and 168 h (47.21%±0.85% vs 41.43%±0.37%, 38.68%±0.87% vs 31.68%±0.89%). The percentage of fast-moving sperm (15.03%±1.10% vs 11.39%±1.03%) and slow-moving sperm (23.63%±0.76% vs 20.29%±1.11%) in the 200 mg/L group was significantly higher than control group at 168 h. The mitochondrial membrane integrity of the sperm in the group with 200 mg/L CPP was significantly higher than those in the control group after storage at 4℃ for 120 h (74.76%±2.54% vs 65.67%±4.51%, p<0.05). The acrosome integrity rate in the group with 200 mg/L (87.66%±1.26%) and 400 mg/L (84.00%±2.95%) was significantly higher than those in the control group (80.65%±0.16%) after storage for 24 h (p<0.05). CPP also increased T-AOC and decreased the MDA concentration after preservation at 4℃ (p<0.05). Conclusion: Adding CPP could improve the T-AOC of sperm, inhibit lipid peroxidation, and facilitate semen preservation.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.155-159
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• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate synthetic extender for semen cryopreservation of Jeju Native Black Bull. The semen was collected using an artificial vagina and transported to the laboratory. The semen was diluted 1:1 by Tris-Egg yolk extender and contrifuged in 1,500 rpm for 15 minutes. The supernatant was removed. The pellect was diluted to final sperm concentration of $2{\times}10^8/ml$ by doubling in every 30 minutes at $4^{\circ}C$ cold chamber. The semen was equilibrated for 4 hours at cold chamber and packed to 0.5 ml straw. The semen straws were located above 5 cm for 10 minutes. The height and duration affect the freezing speed by temperature. The frozen straw was plunged to $LN_2$. The presented straws were examined the viability and motility after thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ water bath. Frozen-thawed sperm were evaluated sperm viability, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. Post-thawed sperm viability has been significantly higher (p<0.05) in fresh sperm ($93.27{\pm}1.62%$) than frozen-thawed sperm ($73.34{\pm}3.27%$). However, there were no significant differences between fresh and frozen-thawed dead cell rate ($7.35{\pm}2.63$ vs, $13.71{\pm}2.85$). In sperm motility, between Triladyl and AndroMed Extender, there was no significant different ($72.86{\pm}2.83$ vs, $81.47{\pm}2.48$), similarly, the dead cell rates was similar ($18.41{\pm}3.42%$ and $17.26{\pm}4.25$). The results of our study suggest that AndroMed to the freezing extender showed more positive effect on the frozen-thawed spermatozoa in Jeju Native Black bull semen.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.191-203
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• 1999

The objectives of this study were to investigate 1) the effects of Selenium(Se), Vitamin E (Vit. E) or recombinant Bovine Somatotropin(rBST) administration on fresh and frozen/thawed semen characteristics and 2) the effect of taurine on frozen/thawed semen characteristics in Hanwoo sires Hanwoo sires were randomly assigned to five groups (1. control, 2. rBST, 0.09mg/kg body weight (BW), 3. Vito E 1,500IU/kg BW, 4. Se 0.l mg/kg BW, 5. Vit. E 1,500IU plus Se 0.1 mg/kg BW). The administration of Se, Vit. E and rBST for each experimental group were given 6 times at 15 days interval by intramuscular injection. The administration of Se, Vit. E or rBST in Hanwoo sires didn't affect semen volume and pH values, but sperm viability was significantly increased comparing to the control group. Also, frozen/thawed semen analysis showed that the sperm viability increased, but any other effects were not found in total sperm :lumber, motility and abnormality among treatments. The addition of taurine in semen freezing extender had a beneficial effects on frozen/thawecl semen characteristics in all groups. The administrations of rBST, Vit. E and Se did not affect the sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction, either the ratio of F pattern(uncapacitated and acrosome intact sperm) or AR pattern(capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm), but the ratio of B patten(capacitated and acrosome intact sperm) of treatment groups was significantly higher than that of control group, These results indicated that the viability, motility and quality of semen in Hanwoo sires were slightly increased by the injection of rBST, Vit. E and Se, and the addition of taurine in semen freezing extender were also increased the semen characteristics after thawing.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.257-263
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• 2011

BPA, a diphenyl compound containing groups, that make it structurally similar to synthetic estrogen and is considered as one of the major endocrine disruptors. Silymarin has extensively been used to prevent and/or alleviate some human disease, especially for the treatment of adverse liver conditions. It has an antioxidative efficacy and cancer preventive efficacy. Therefore, we examined the hypothesis that silymarin can inhibit BPA-induced toxicity in boar sperm duing in vitro storage. Sperm characteristics (motility, viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrion activity) in semen exposed to BPA (10~200 uM) were sharply lowered, while it increase in a dose and time dependent manner due to silymarin addition (50~200 uM) into semen extender in the presence of BPA (100 uM). All of the evaluated characteristics were gradually improved in the groups that were treated with silymarin (50~200 uM) in the presence of BPA (100 uM) in comparison to BPA 100 uM alone group, irrespective of incubation periods (3 and 6 h). These results demonstrate that silymarin can ameliorate the toxicity of BPA on boar sperm characteristics during in vitro storage, suggesting that silymarin indirectly act as an antioxidant.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.334-342
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• 2013

Proteases and protease inhibitors play key roles in most physiological processes, including cell migration, cell signaling, and cell surface and tissue remodeling. Among these, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) pathway is one of the most efficient biosynthetic pathways for controlling the activation of enzymes responsible for protein degradation. This also indicates the association of MMPs with the maturation of spermatozoa. In an attempt to investigate the effect of MMP activation and inhibitors in cultures with various hormones during sperm capacitation, we examined and monitored the localization and expression of MMPs (MMP-2 and MMP-9), tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP-2 and TIMP-3), as well as their expression profiles. Matured spermatozoa were collected from cultures with follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and Lutalyse at 1 h, 6 h, 18 h, and 24 h. ELISA detected the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-2, and TIMP-3 in all culture media, regardless of medium type (FSH-supplemented fertilization Brackett-Oliphant medium (FFBO), LH-supplemented FBO (LFBO), or Lutalyse-supplemented FBO (LuFBO)). TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 expression patterns decreased in LFBO and LuFBO. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity in FBO and FFBO progressively increased from 1 h to 24 h but was not detected in LFBO and LuFBO. The localization and expression of TIMP-2 and TIMP-3 in sperm heads was also measured by immunofluorescence analysis. However, MMPs were not detected in the sperm heads. MMP and TIMP expression patterns differed according to the effect of various hormones. These findings suggest that MMPs have a role in sperm viability during capacitation. In conjunction with hormones, MMPs play a role in maintaining capacitation and fertilization by controlling extracellular matrix inhibitors of sperm.