• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제33권11호
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• pp.1763-1769
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the pig semen characteristics during storage. Methods: Spermatozoa samples were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 5 groups: 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM L-carnitine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and antioxidant parameters (total reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) were evaluated after 0, 3, 5, and 10 day cooled-storage at 17℃. Moreover, ATP content, mitochondria activity as well as sperm-binding and in vitro fertilizing ability of preserved boar sperm were also investigated. Results: Supplementation with 50 mM L-carnitine could effectively maintain boar sperm quality parameters such as sperm motility and membrane integrity. Besides, we found that L-carnitine had positive effects on boar sperm quality mainly through improving antioxidant capacities and enhancing ATP content and mitochondria activity. Interestingly, by assessing the effect of L-carnitine on sperm fertility and developmental potential, we discovered that the extender containing L-carnitine could improve sperm quality and increase the number of sperms bounding to zona pellucida, without improving in vitro fertility and development potential. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the proper addition of L-carnitine to the semen extender improved boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17℃.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.10-17
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• 2011

Objective: To explore potential relationships between sperm DNA integrity and both semen parameters and clinical outcomes. Methods: Semen analysis of 498 samples was performed according to the 2010 criteria of the World Health Organization. The sperm DNA fragmentation Index (DFI) of the semen samples was assessed using a neutral comet assay. Results: Sperm DFI showed a significant correlation with semen parameters, including the patient's age, sperm viability, motility, morphology, and number of leukocytes (p<0.05). The sperm DFI values for asthenozoospermic (15.2%), oligoteratozoospermic (18.3%), asthenoteratozoospermic (17.5%), and oligoasthenoteratozoospermic semen samples (21.3%) were significantly higher than that observed in normozoospermic semen samples (10.5%, p<0.05). A sperm DFI value of 14% was used as a threshold of sperm DFI in assessing whether DNA was highly damaged. In 114 IVF-ET cycles, the fertilization rate of the sperm DFI <14% group (70 cycles, 61.7%) was significantly higher than that observed for the ${\geq}14%$ group (44 cycles, 55.3%), but there was no difference in the other clinical outcomes between the two groups. In the ${\geq}14%$ group, the pregnancy rates of the ICSI cycles (40.0%) and half-ICSI (44.0%) were higher than conventional IVF cycles (30.7%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Along with the conventional semen analysis, the sperm DFI assessed using the comet assay was shown to improve the quality of the semen evaluation. To evaluate the precise effect of ICSI on pregnancy rates in the patients who demonstrate high sperm DFI values, further study is necessary.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• 제48권3호
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• pp.255-261
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• 2021

Objective: This study aimed to investigate sperm motility and its changes after preparation as predictors of pregnancy in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles. Methods: In total, 297 IUI cycles from January 2012 to December 2017 at a single tertiary hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Patient and cycle characteristics, and sperm motility characteristics before and after processing were compared according to clinical pregnancy or live birth as outcomes. Results: The overall clinical pregnancy rate per cycle was 14.5% (43/297) and the live birth rate was 10.4% (30/289). Patient and cycle characteristics were similar between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. Sperm motility after preparation and the total motile sperm count before and after processing were comparable in terms of pregnancy outcomes. Pre-preparation sperm motility was significantly higher in groups with clinical pregnancy and live birth than in cycles not resulting in pregnancy (71.4%±10.9% vs. 67.2%±11.7%, p=0.020 and 71.6% ±12.6% vs. 67.3%±11.7%, p=0.030, respectively). The change in sperm motility after processing was significantly fewer in the non-pregnant cycles, both when the comparison was conducted by subtraction (post-pre) and division (post/pre). These relationships remained significant after adjusting for the female partner's age, anti-Müllerian hormone level, and number of pre-ovulatory follicles. According to a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, an initial sperm motility of ≥72.5% was the optimal threshold value for predicting live birth after IUI. Conclusion: Initial sperm motility, rather than the motility of processed sperm or the degree of change after preparation, predicted live birth after IUI procedures.

• Advances in nano research
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• 제11권6호
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• pp.649-655
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• 2021

Nanotechnology is widely considered a major technology of the twenty-first century. Nanoparticles (NPs) has been shown to pass through reproductively significant biological barriers such as the blood-testicle and placental barriers. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of silver Nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) on sperm-egg interaction and spermatozoa quality parameters in quail spermatozoa. Semen was suspended in Ringer solution containing Ag-NPs levels at 5.5 × 106 sperm/ml (0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 ppm). The results indicated that when sperm were counted at 0.1 ppm, the number of holes formed on the inner perivitelline layer was significantly increased compared to the control. The 10 ppm group had a significant reduction in sperm viability. At 0.1 and 1 ppm, the membrane integrity was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). All treatments (except 0.01 ppm Ag-NPs) had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on the percentage of spermatozoa with an intact acrosome when compared to the control group. At 0.1, 1, and 10 ppm Ag-NPs, morphological defects in the acrosome were observed. As a result, Ag-NPs is likely capable of destroying the acrosome membrane. This research indicates that Ag-NPs may be cytotoxic to spermatozoa by impairing sperm functionality and increasing sperm mortality.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제26권8호
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• pp.943-947
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• 2016

본 연구는 간단히 활용할 수 있는 나노 크기의 마그네틱 비드를 이용하여 정자의 품질을 향상시킬 수 있는지 여부를 규명하기 위하여 실시하였다. 돼지 정자 시료는 인공수정 센터에서 공급받아 실험실로 2시간 이내로 이송한 후 CASA 측정을 통하여 4개의 활력을 나타내는 그룹으로(1, > 90%; 2. 80~90%; 3. 70~80%; 4. < 70%) 분류하였다. 정액은 BTS 희석제를 사용하여 보존하였고, 총 정자수와 동일한 농도의 마그네틱 비드를 정액에 20분간 처리한 후, 5분간 실온에서 마그네틱 비드에 반응한 정자를 자석을 이용하여 분리하였다. 마그네틱 비드 처리 전 과 후 정자의 생존율 및 활력은 CASA를 이용하여 측정하였고, 기형율과 정자응집의 정도는 현미경으로 검사하였다. 처리 후의 정자 활력은 4개 그룹 모두에서 유의하게(p<0.0.5) 높은 차이를 보였으며 처리 전에 비하여 평균 7.11% 향상되었다. 정자 활력의 변화는 처리 전 낮은 활력을 보인 그룹에서 보다 현저한 차이를 보였다(< 70% and 70~80%; 19.12±1.08% and 5.67±0.71%, p<0.0.5). 정자 활력을 VCL, VSL, VAP 및 LIN (%)로 구분한 성적에서도 유사한 패턴을 나타냈고, 이러한 현상은 활력 70% 이하를 나타낸 그룹에서 개선 효과가 더욱 뚜렷하였다. 마그네틱 비드 처리 후 정자 생존율은 처리 전에 비하여 평균 4%가 향상 되었고(p<0.0.5), 정자 기형율 또한 3.7~4.5%(p<0.0.5) 정도 감소하였다. 정자 응집의 정도 또한 마그네틱 비드 처리를 통하여 처리 전 낮은 활력을 나타낸 그룹에서 감소됨을 알 수 있었다.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제37권4호
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• pp.925-934
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• 1997

This study was directed at inducing the production of antibodies by immunizing heifers with bovine sperm antigen and on measuring the serum antibodies using indirect immunofluorescence assay(IFA) and agglutination test. The effect of antisperm antibodies on fertilizing capacity of bovine spermatozoa was evaluated. 1. Three heifers between 12- and 15- month old were immunized with bovine spermatozoa or phosphate-buffered saline. In heifers immunized with bovine spermatozoa serum IgG level was highest between 3 weeks and 5 weeks postimmunization detected by IFA. The antibody levels persisted through week 7 and slowly declined until week 20 and then antisperm antibodies were localized on spermatozoa. The fluorescent antisperm antibodies were detected at 2~20 weeks and at 6~9 weeks postinoculation on acrosome and tail, respectively. Among 21 sera from repeat breeder cows, only one cow has shown positive antisperm antibody response detected by IFA. 2. In spite of vital rate of bovine sperm after swim-up was not significantly affected by different concentration of antisperm antibodies in sera, the numbers of bovine sperm after swim-up were significantly reduced in proportion to the increased concentration of antibodies. Above 1/512 dilution of antibody neither influence on vital rate and numbers of bovine sperm nor sperm agglutination after swim-up. The study has also shown that the vital rate and number of sperm after swim-up and capacitation were also significantly reduced by the addition of antisperm antibodies. Although antisperm antibodies did not influence on the acrosome reaction rate of sperm during swim-up, did significantly reduce the sperm acrosome reaction rate after capacitation. The studies have resulted that the bovine antisperm antibodies can prevent the sperm motility by agglutination and block the capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine sperm.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제27권4호
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• pp.377-386
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• 2011

The ultrastructures of germ cells during spermatogenesis and sperm morphology in male Mya arenaria oonogai, which was collected on the coastal waters of Samcheonpo, south coast of Korea, were investigated by transmission electron microscopic observations. In the early stage of the spermatid during spermiogenesis, a few granules and a proacrosomal granule, which is formed by the Golgi complex, appear on the spermatid nucleus, and then it becomes a proacrosomal vesicle. Consequently, it becomes an acrosome by way of the process of acrosome formation. The morphologies of the sperm nucleus type and the acrosome of this species have a curved cylindrical type and cone shape, respectively. The spermatozoon is approximately $48-50{\mu}m$ in length including a curved cylinderical sperm nucleus (about $2.65{\mu}m$ long), an acrosome (about $0.64{\mu}m$ in length) and tail flagellum ($40-45{\mu}m$ long). As some ultrastructural characteristics of the acrosomal vesicle, the peripheral parts of two basal rings show electron opaque part (region), while the apex part of the acrosome shows electron lucent part (region). These charateristics of the sperm belong to the family Myidae or some species of Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta, unlike a characteristic of the subclass Pteriomorphia showing all part of the acrosome being composed of electron opaque part (region). Therefore, it is easy to distinguish the families or the subclasses by the acrosome structures. Exceptionally, In particular, a cylinder-like nucleus of the sperm is curved (the angle of the nucleus is about $20^{\circ}$), as seen in some species of Veneridae (range from $0^{\circ}-80^{\circ}$). The number of mitochondria in the midpiece of the sperm of this species are four, as one of common characteristics appeared in most species except for a few species in Veneridae in the subclass Heterodonta. Cross-sectioned axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum shows a 9+2 structure: the axoneme of the sperm tail flagellum consists of nine pairs of peripheral microtubules at the periphery and a pair of central doublets at the center.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.155-162
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• 2001

Effect of the north (N) or south pole (S) of a magnet and dithiothreitol (DTT) or heparin sodium (H) on the orientation of bull sperm were studied. Sperm were collected from four Japanese Black bulls of Okinawa Prefectural Livestock Experimental Station were treated with various concentrations of DTT or H during the first and sixth days and were then exposed them to N or S with a magnetic field of 3,000 Gauss for 24 hours. Experimental results showed that both N and S significantly increased the perpendicular oriented percentage of bull sperm in most treatments not treated or treated with DTT or H. Anisotropy of magnetic field of bull sperm was the main cause which induced them to orient perpendicular to the magnetic direction. The results of the experiment also showed that, in most cases, the two polarities had the same effect on the orientation of bull sperm. However, in some cases, N exerted a stronger effect on the perpendicular percentage of bull sperm than S, such as with the 20 mM DTT treatment at the first and sixth days and the 100 units H treatment at the sixth day. These cases showed that the perpendicular oriented percentage of bull sperm at N was significantly higher than that of S. It was only the 100 units heparin treatment at S both at the first and sixth days that upward perpendicular orientation was higher than that at N. This might be due to the fact that protamin-DNA structure of a small number of bull sperm nuclei slightly changed because of heparin action.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.19-25
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• 2002

The objectives of this study were to understand the possible mechanism of duck sperm toxicity induced by arsenic exposure in vivo, and to investigate the roles of the antioxidant L-ascorbic acid in ameliorating the arsenic-induced sperm impairment. To test the acute toxicity, the percentages of mortality of mature drakes treated with different concentrations of trivalent sodium arsenite, As (III), and pentavalent sodium arsenate, As (V) were measured. The LD50 value of As (III) for mature drakes was $4.89{\pm}1.49$ ppm. Although As (V) didn't cause any deaths even at a concentration of 40 ppm, the chronic toxicity of As (V) on sperm quality was shown by a decreased fertilization rate. When the concentrations of As (V) were above 0.4 ppm, fertilization rates were lower than those of 0.04 ppm and control. Drakes treated with 40 ppm of As (V) had the highest malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the testis tissue, $3.100{\pm}0.218{\mu}mole/g$ testis. This showed that 40 ppm of As (V) significantly induced lipid peroxidation in testis tissue. For the 1.2 ppm As (III) treatment, several significant effects were observed: (1) sperm motility was decreased most dramatically by $52.0{\pm}9.1$% after three days of incubation; (2) fertilization rate of artificially inseminated semen was the lowest, $26.4{\pm}15.4$; (3) the MDA concentration in testis tissue, $7.846{\pm}0.246{\mu}mole/g$ testis, was significantly higher than the others (p<0.05); (4) the sperm number, $1.17{\pm}0.40({\times}10^9)$, was significantly lower than with the 60 ppb and control treatments (p<0.05); (5) a black appearance and soft texture was observed in the testis tissue. The antioxidant L-ascorbic acid administered along with 1.2 ppm As (III) decreased the toxicity of arsenic. The ameliorating effects included: improved sperm motility, increased sperm number and fertilization rate, and decreased MDA concentration in the testis tissue. This study suggests that the toxicity of the trivalent arsenic on sperm quality is partly from free radicals generated by its metabolic pathway, and the antioxidant ascorbic acid ameliorates arsenic-caused sperm impairment.

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.31-35
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• 2011

본 연구는 물윗수염박쥐(Myotis daubentonii ussuriensisi)의 정자 미세구조적 특징을 알아보기 위하여 투과전자현미경(TEM)으로 관찰한 결과는 다음과 같다. 물윗수염박쥐 정자두부의 길이는 $4.5{\mu}m$, 폭은 $2.0{\mu}m$이었으며, 핵은 그 중 $4.3{\mu}m$로 정자두부의 대부분을 차지하고 있었으며, 핵의 후방부에서 전방부쪽으로 갈수록 폭이 가늘어지며 두부의 전체적인 모양은 탄환형(bull-shaped)을 취하고 있었다. 또한, 핵과 첨체는 Apical body에 의해 분리되어져 있었다. 정자경부는 basal plate, capitulum, segmented columns으로 구성되어져 있었다. 12~14개의 가는띠로 구성된 Segmented columns들의 밑부분은 중편부의 외측섬유와 연결되어져 있었다. 중편부의 미토콘드리아 초들은 나선상으로 배열되어져 있었으며, 그 수는 57개이었다. Satellite fibers는 외측섬유들 사이에 불규칙하게 관찰되어 졌으며, 중편부를 제외하고 다른 부분에서는 관찰되지 않았다. 중편부의 외측섬유는 1, 5, 6, 9번이 다른 것보다 크며, 꼬리의 축사구조는 전형적인 9+2구조이었으며, 미부의 미세소관들은 불규칙하게 배열되어져 있었다.