• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.27 no.5
• /
• pp.517-523
• /
• 2017

This study was to investigate the role of antioxidants on the characteristics of arsenite-damaged boar semen. Collected sperm was diluted with semen extender, and $100{\mu}M$ arsenite was used for sperm damage. Then melatonin, silymarin, curcumin, and vitamin E were applied for 3, 6, and 9 hr in arsenite-treated boar sperm. Sperm characteristics were then analyzed for motility, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and lipid peroxidation. In the results, sperm motility (control, $77.3{\pm}1.8%$) was decreased by arsenite ($33.3{\pm}1.5%$), while the antioxidant treatment groups (100 nM melatonin, $55.8{\pm}3.4%$; $2{\mu}M$ silymarin, $48.8{pm}3.4%$; $10{\mu}M$ curcumin, $53.9{\pm}2.8%$; and $500{\mu}M$ vitamin E, $54.5{\pm}3.1%$) showed increases compared to the arsenite group (p<0.05). $100{\mu}M$ arsenite decreased the sperm plasma membrane integrity ($24.5{\pm}1.6%$) and mitochondrial activity ($58.2{\pm}2.6%$), and increased lipid peroxidation ($5.3{\pm}0.2%$) at 3 hr (p<0.05). However, arsenite-treated samples with 100 nM melatonin, $2{\mu}M$ silymarin, $10{\mu}M$ curcumin, and $500{\mu}M$ vitamin E increased the plasma membrane integrity and mitochondria activity, and decreased lipid peroxidation compared to the arsenite-treated samples. In summary, arsenite may induce sperm damage and oxidation stress, while antioxidants such as melatonin, silymarin, curcumin, and vitamin E are useful for maintaining sperm characteristics. Therefore, antioxidants can protect sperm against damage by arsenite in fresh boar semen.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
• /
• v.21 no.3
• /
• pp.199-205
• /
• 2020

Cryopreservation of semen is useful for animal breeding via artificial insemination (AI). However, the use of frozen-thawed boar semen is limited due to cryodamage. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of different concentrations of MitoTEMPO (a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant) in lactose-egg yolk (LEY) extenders on kinetic characteristics of frozen-thawed boar sperms. Semen samples were collected from mature Duroc boars (2~3 years old) and cryopreserved in LEY extenders containing 0, 0.5, 5, 50, and 500 μM MitoTEMPO. The kinetic characteristics of frozen-thawed sperms were determined 0 and 30 min after thawing using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Results indicated that sperm motility immediately after thawing was significantly higher with 5 and 50 μM (50.46±2.71% and 46.96±2.66%, respectively) than with 500 μM MitoTEMPO (35.40±2.95%) (P<0.05). However, there were no significant differences in other kinetic characteristics except motility. In conclusion, the addition of MitoTEMPO to the sperm freezing extender may have a beneficial effect on motility of post-thawed boar semen.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.51-59
• /
• 2003

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of different freezing and thawing rates on the viability, motility and acrosomal changes of frozen canine spermatozoa. The ejaculated semen was extended with Tris-egg yolk buffer containing 8% glycerol and equilibrated for 60 min after cooled to 4$^{\circ}C$ for 58 min. The straws were cryopreserved gradually by slow-cooling at different distance(6, 10 and 17 cm, respectively) from the liquid nitrogen (L$N_2$) to achieve temperature rate of 3, 8.9 and 19$^{\circ}C$ /min. Thawing of the straws was performed in a water bath fur 2 min at 37$^{\circ}C$ and 55$^{\circ}C$ , respectively. The motility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa was assessed by phase-contrast microscopy. To assess their viability and acrosome content, spermatozoa were stained with a vital stain and Fluorescence conjugated lectin Pisum Savitum Agglutinin (FITC/PAS), respectively. Concentration of the ejaculated fresh semen was normal range of 3.44 $\times$ 10$^{8}$ /ml. Freezing temperature were reduced to -110, -70 and -35$^{\circ}C$, as higher distance from liquid nitrogen, 6, 10 and 17 cm, respectively. Freezing at 3$^{\circ}C$/min in distance of 17 cm from liquid nitrogen yielded better motility, viability and rate of intact acrosome than 8.9 or 19$^{\circ}C$/min and the optimal thawing was 37$^{\circ}C$ for 2 min.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Poultry Science Conference
• /
• 2002.11a
• /
• pp.116-117
• /
• 2002

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of dilution rate and stored time of semen at 5, 25 and 35$^{\circ}C$ on mobility in liquid rooster semen. At 5$^{\circ}C$ cold temperature, no significant difference were found in sperm mobilities on dilution rate and stored time among treatments stored at 5$^{\circ}C$. Sperm mobility for the conservation of 1 hours at 25$^{\circ}C$ and 3 hours at 35$^{\circ}C$ were significantly higher for 1：2 and 1：3 dilution rate(semen： diluent) groups than for 1：1 dilution rate group(P〈0.05), In Fertility results after artificial insemination with different number of sperm per dole, fertilization rate of liquid rooster semen diluted with skim milk-glucose solution were 90.67, 94.00, 96.00, and 98.67% for 0.2${\times}$10$\^$8//dose, 0.4${\times}$10$\^$8//dose, 1.0${\times}$10$\^$8//dose, and 2.0${\times}$10$\^$8//dose groups, respectively. To have more than 90% fertility, 0.2${\times}$10$\^$8/ sperm per dose for the artificial insemination (AI) could be used, And to have more 94% fertility, 0.4${\times}$10$\^$8/ sperm per dose AI could be used practically.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.9-13
• /
• 2003

A series of experiments were conducted to compare the effects of various diluents in cold storage on the sea urchin, Hemicentrotus pulcherimus sperm. Various diluents of glucose solutions, artificial sea water(ASW) and 50% ASW were used to store the sperm at 4$^{\circ}C$. The storage effect was evaluated using sperm activity index(SAI), survival rate of sperm and fertilization rate to egg. ASW and 1.2 M glucose were found to be better diluents which maintained high motility and survival rate of sperm f3r a storage period of 30 days. Optimal pH of diluent to store the sperm at 4$^{\circ}C$ is 7.0∼8.0. In order to keep high SAI and survival rate of sperm, addition of 400 ppm neomycin into the diluent revealed the best storage results.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.30 no.1
• /
• pp.77-81
• /
• 2020

The aim of this study was to overcome some of the limiting factors that the maxi cryopreservation straw of 5 ml presents in processing boar semen. Cryopreservation of semen samples was conducted in 0.5 ml and 5.0 ml straws at two freezing rates: -140℃ in 8 minutes and 30 seconds (FR-1) and -140℃ in 14 minutes (FR-2). The straws were then thawed and the semen parameters were compared by Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis, and sperm morphology and acrosome status were examined by Coomassie blue staining. The effects of different thawing temperatures and durations were also compared, namely 37℃ for 115 sec, 50℃ for 45 sec, or 70℃ for 25 sec. In general, the FR-1 group showed higher (p<0.05) sperm viability and motility than the FR-2 group in the 5.0 ml straws. Compared to other ranges, thawing at 50℃ for 45 sec showed the highest sperm viability and motility (68.4±3.6% and 69.5±2.2%, p<0.05), suggesting that thawing temperature should be adjusted concurrently with freezing rate. Sperm morphology and acrosome integrity did not significantly differ among the groups (p>0.05). The data obtained in this study suggest that improving the freezing-thawing protocol for one artificial insemination dose straws (5.0 ml) retains the sperm's parameters from 0.5 ml cryopreservation, and is more convenient to handle, which could result in enhanced reproductive performance.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.54 no.4
• /
• pp.283-290
• /
• 2012

Cryopreservation induces sublethal damage to the spermatozoa, which leads to their reduced fertile life. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose as antioxidants on the function of the freezing-thawed sperm in Korean Jeju Black Bull. The semen was cryopreserved with tris egg yolk extendercontaining 7% glycerol and treated with 20mM taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose. Frozen-thawed sperms were evaluated for sperm motility, viability, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and sperm penetration ability. The results were compared to semen cryopreserved in tris egg yolk extender containing 7% glycerol only as control. Frozen-thawed semen evaluation clearlyindicated that the addition of taurine or hypotaurine significantly improved (p<0.05) the motility and viability compared to control spermatozoa. Moreover, in membrane integrity, swollen sperm ratio was significantly increased (p<0.05) in taurine, hypotaurine or trehalose compared to control. In sperm acrosome integrity, F pattern ratio was increased (p<0.05) in hypotaurine among treatments, and AR pattern was significantly lowered (p<0.05) in taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose. In assessed sperm fertilizing ability, taurine, hypotaurine or trehalose significantly improved (p<0.05) the ratio of pronucleus formation and SFI. Finally, compared with the control, addition of taurine, hypotaurine or trehalose as an antioxidant to the freezing extender showed more positive effects on the frozen-thawed spermatozoa. It is concluded that the addition of taurine, hypotaurine, or trehalose to the freezing extender could reduce cryodamage of the Korean Jeju Black Bull spermatozoa.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.109-116
• /
• 2015

Ogye rooster sperm chromatin status can be detected using well established sperm assays. In this paper, a simple and fast method to monitor rooster sperm chromatin status could be employed in field for assessment of chicken sperm quality. Using standard bright field microscope, Diff-Quik stains can be reproducibly, easily and routinely monitored with simple staining. The presence of abnormal chromatin staining of rooster sperm was determined by darker stain in head. In the fresh semen, the viabilities of three tested Ogye spermatozoa were 93.53%, 82.42% and 90.63% and normal chromatin rates were 87.96%, 74.25% and 85.10% respectively. However, after freezing, the rates of viability of thawed semen were reduced to 69.58%, 61.98% and 72.20% and normal chromatin rate also reduced to 58.91%, 48.49% and 63.34%. A significant correlation between live sperm and normal sperm nuclei was 0.875 in fresh semen and 0.513 in frozen semen. After incubation of sperm at $37^{\circ}C$ for 5min, the rates of viability, chromatin normality and sperm head activity were shown as $90.63{\pm}1.28%$, $82.44{\pm}8.09%$ and $66.68{\pm}10.29%$ in fresh semen. However, the rates of thawed semen were reduced to $67.92{\pm}7.55%$, $56.92{\pm}12.15%$ and 47.32{\pm}5.02%, respectively. The relationship between chromatin normality and sperm head movements in fresh and thawed semen were 0.564 and 0.540, respectively. With these results, the chicken sperm normality could be assessed by the Diff-Quik staining that could be used for chromatin status of sperm head and activated morphology of live spermatozoa, as a simple and rapid staining method.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.199-206
• /
• 2012

Cryopreservation induces sublethal damage to the spermatozoa, which leads to their reduced fertile life. This study was designed to determine effect of glycerol and ethylene glycol as cryoprotectant in extender on improve the freezability of Jeju horse semen. The semen was cryopreserved with glucose-EDTA extender containing each 5% glycerol, 5% ethylene glycol, 8% glycerol or 8% ethylene glycol, respectively. Post-thawed sperm were evaluated motility, viability, Membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. Post-thawed sperm motility were not significantly differences among treatments. However, sperm viability were significantly higher (p<0.05) in 8% glycerol ($39.85%{\pm}11.41$) than in 5% glycerol treatment ($18.08%{\pm}1.61$). In membrane integrity, swelling sperm ratio was significantly higher (p<0.05) in 8% glycerol ($34.12%{\pm}11.02$) than other treatments. In the percentage of capacitated sperm assessed by CTC staining, F pattern was significantly higher in 8% ethylene glycol than 5% glycerol and 5% ethylene glycol (p<0.05). B pattern ratio was significantly increased in 5% ethylene glycol compared with 8% glcerol and 8% ethylene glycol (p<0.05). Moreover, 8% ethylene glycol treatment was significantly decreased AR pattern ratio compared with other treatments (p<0.05). It is concluded that treatment of 8% glycerol was improved the sperm viability and 8% ethylene glycol was improved the sperm ascrosome integrity after thawing. However, they were not significantly difference between 8% glycerol and 8% ethylene glycol on post-thawed sperm viability. Therefore, 8% ethylene glycol was more effective sperm cryoprotectant than 8% glycerol in Jeju Horse.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.1-9
• /
• 1997

Acrosome reaction usually occures just before fertilization in most mammals, and it has been known that $Ca^{2+}$ plays an important role in the acrosome reaction and albumin also known as a critical factor for spermatozoan activities. The present study has been designed in order to observe maturing processes of the spermatozoa occurred in the ductus epididymidis and to clarify the relationships of $Ca^{2+}$ concentrations with those processes, and to compare the enzymatic activities of ATPase and the lactate dehydrogenase of the spermatozoa in accordance with time before and after the spermatozoan maturation. From the results, we can confirm that most of the bat spermatozoa come to maturity within the epididymal cauda and may pass through capacitation outside the cauda. However it is expected to be studied that the fluctuation of spermatogenic activity depending on temperature changes and their relationships with the ductus epididymidis and their mutual influences.