• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.287-291
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• 2016

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility (MOT) is an important parameter because the movement of spermatozoa indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Estrogen receptors 2(ESR2) is involved in estrogen related apoptosis in cell cycle spermatogenesis, but their functions have not been confirmed in pig until now. Therefore, this study was conducted to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 105 Duroc pigs with records of semen motility and kinematic characteristics [Total motile spermatozoa (MOT), Curvilinear velocity(VCL), Straight-line velocity(VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL(LIN), Amplitude of Lateral Head displacement(ALH)] were analyzed. A SNP in coding region of ESR2 g.35547A > G in exon 5 was associated with MOT (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the porcine ESR2 gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effects were not defined yet. These results might shed new light on the roles of ESR2 in spermatogenesis as candidate gene for boar fertility, but still the lack of association across populations should be considered.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.107-114
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• 2014

Oral exposure of humans by excess amounts of arsenic may cause disturbances of the reproductive system. In the present study, such exposure was modelled in rats, with the support of sperm principal parameters and histopathological observations. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups where the group I was served as a normal control, group II was received sodium meta-arsenite as arsenic (10 mg/kg b.w/day) and a combination of sodium meta-arsenite and sodium selenite (3 mg/kg b.w/day) in group III. After 6 weeks, there was no significant change in testis weight and in total motility of all the three experimental groups, whereas, rapid moving spermatozoa, moderately moving spermatozoa and slow moving spermatozoa were significantly decreased in arsenic treated rats as compared to control rats. The other sperm principal parameters like progressiveness, average path velocity, straightness linear velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness, linearity sperm head elongation ratio, area, linearity amplitude of lateral head department (ALH) and beat cross frequency (BCF) were found to be reduced in arsenic intoxicated rats. These results are not correlated with the histological studies. On oral administration of selenium ameliorated the adverse effects of arsenic as compared to arsenic alone treated rats. Our findings clearly demonstrate that administration of selenium could prevent some of the deleterious effects of arsenic in the testis.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2013

Artificial insemination (AI) has been performed widely in swine industry using fresh liquid sperm instead of frozen type of sperm. However fresh sperm are not able to preserve more than three days with optimal motility and other sperm parameters for the successful fertilization, since in vitro stored sperm has an oxidative stress that resulted increase of abnormality and acrosome reation. To overcome these major problems, novel preservative formulation is needed to neutralize the oxidative stress and to provide suitable physiological environment for sperm in in vitro. In this study, naturally derived substances such as Poncirus trifoliate (Trifoliate orange), Garcinia mangostana (Mangosteen), pig placenta and testis extracts were tested as sperm preservative agents. Placenta extracts (PE), trifoliate orange extracts (TOE), testes extracts (TE) and mangosteen extracts (ME) were applied to analyze specific parameters for sperm motion characteristics individually and combinatorial. Each individual extract treatment can accelerate the sperm motility but noticeably TOE, TE and ME treatments exhibited the considerable and significant preservation of sperm motility. PE, TE and ME showed a significant (p<0.05) increase in ALH after one week. Further we evaluated the five different combinations of these extracts on sperm motility and its motion characteristics. Surprisingly even after one week ME, TOE and TE combination significantly preserved the sperm motility about 75%. It is noteworthy that unlike individual extract treatment, combination of ME, TOE and TE simultaneously protect the sperm motility and its motion characteristics. Taken together these data conclude that addition of ME, TOE and TE can be effective for preservation of pig sperm.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2001

연구목적: $Isolate^{(R)}$ gradient와 swim-up 방법이 정자의 형상 및 정밀정자형태 (strict morphology)에 미치는 영창을 비교분석하고, 이러한 정자처리방법이 정자의 동결-융해과정에 미치는 영향을 비교하고자 하였다. 연구재료 및 방법: 20명의 정상 정자를 대상으로 하였으며 각각의 정자는 두 가지 정자처리방법으로 나누어 정자의 형상과 정밀정자형태를 컴퓨터를 이용한 정자자동분석기를 통하여 측정하였고, 동결보호제의는 TYB 용액을 사용하였으며, 동결 및 융해는 cryo Magic사의 기계를 사용하였다. 통계는 SPSS PC+(version7.0)를 이용하였으며 통계학적인 유의성은 p<0.05로 하였다. 결과: 정자의 농도는 $Isolate^{(R)}$ gradient 처리군이 swim-up 처리군보다 유의성 있게 높았으나 ($51.2{\pm}40.1,\;156.6{\pm}64.3$), 운동성 VCL, VSL, VAP, Linearity, 및 ALH는 swim-up 처리군에서 유의성 있게 높았다. 정밀 정자형태는 swim-up 처리군과 $Isolate^{(R)}$ gradient 처리군에서 차이가 없었다 ($53.7{\pm}6.8$ vs $50.3{\pm}9.1%$). 동결-융해과정 중 두 가지 정자 처리군에서 정자의 형상들은 swim-up 처리군에서 전반적으로 높은 양상을 보였으나, 정밀정자형태는 $Isolate^{(R)}$ gradient 처리군이 swim-up 처리군 보다 감소율이 컸지만 두 군간에 유의한 차이는 없었다 ($12.8{\pm}8.5$ vs $8.6{\pm}6.6$). 결론: 정상 정자에서 swim-up 방법이 $Isolate^{(R)}$ gradient 방법보다 정자 회수율은 우수하였으나, 동결-융해과정 중 정밀정자형태에는 차이가 없어 두 방법을 상호보완적으로 사용할 수 있을 것으로 사료된다.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2000

Objective: This study has been carried out to evaluation the effect of fertilization promoting peptide (FPP) on the kinematic parameters, capacitation and acrosome reaction of the frozen-thawed human spermatozoa. Methods: After FPP treatment, we examined kinematic parameters, capacitation and acrosome reaction, using the methods of computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA) and chlortetracycline (CTC) fluorescence analysis. Results: We have obtained the evidence that FPP can promote the capacitation and inhibit the spontaneous acrosome reaction of frozen-thawed human spermatozoa in vitro. FPP ($25{\sim}100$ nM) induced a significant increase in the proportion of B-pattem capacitated spermatozoa, and a significant decrease in the proportion of F-pattem uncapacitated ones without significant stimulation of acrosomal exocytosis. In the kinematic parameters treatment, FPP treated groups maint3ined higher LIN, BCF and STR than those of control. The VAP, VSL, VCL and ALH were not different. Therefore it is suggested that FPP in human seminal plasma may play a positive role in promoting human sperm function.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.143-147
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• 2015

Cryopreservation of boar semen is continually researched in reproductive technologies and genetic resource banking in breed conservation. For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility (MOT) is an important parameter because the movement of spermatozoa indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Various researches have been trying to improve the quality of semen Post-thawed in boar. Recently, polymorphism (g. 35756 T>C) of Estrogen Receptor 1 (ESR1) gene reported to be significant association with MOT. This study was conducted to evaluate the ESR1 gene as a positional controlling for motility and kinematic characteristics of post-thawed boar semen. To results, The g.35756 T>C SNP of ESR1 was significantly associated with frozen semen motility and kinematic characteristics. The g.35756 T>C SNP was high significantly associated with MOT, VCL, VSL and VAP (p<0.001). The SNP was also significantly associated with ALH (P<0.05). Therefore, we suggest that the g. 35756 T>C polymorphism in the intron 1 region of the porcine ESR1 gene could potentially be applied in frozen semen programs to improve MOT trait, but only after validation in other populations.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.195-204
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• 2019

In this study, we examined the effect of a liposome-based extender (Optixcell) and a tris-citric egg-yolk extender (Triladyl) on the frozen-thawed spermatozoa characteristics and the calving rate. The percentages for the total motility of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were similar in the Optixcell and Triladyl groups. However, among the motile spermatozoa with a straight line velocity (VSL) ${\geq}25{\mu}m/sec$, the curvilinear velocity (VCL, ${\mu}m/sec$), VSL (${\mu}m/sec$), average path velocity (VAP, ${\mu}m/sec$), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, ${\mu}m$), beat cross frequency (BCF, Hz), and plasma membrane integrity of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa for the Optixcell group were significantly higher than those for the Triladyl group. Furthermore, the calving rate in the Optixcell group (79.0%) was higher than that of the Triladyl group (62.8%). However, the acrosomal membrane integrity of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa in the Optixcell and Triladyl groups was not significantly different. These results indicate that semen freezing with Optixcell improved the motility and plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa and the calving rate of Hanwoo cows (native Korean cattle). In conclusion, our results suggest that semen freezing with the liposome-based extender Optixcell is more efficient than with the tris-citric egg-yolk extender Triladyl for improved offspring production.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.253-261
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the semen characteristic, motility and viability and sperm motion characteristic by CASA test for establishing the Jindo-dog's semen freezing system. The results obtained are as follow: 1. The semen was collected 63 times. Average volume of semen, concentration of sperm, total number of sperm, progressive motility and viability were 3.8 $m\ell$ 145.6$\times$10$^{6}$ cells/$m\ell$, 396.2 x10$^{8}$ cells, 79.7% and 89.5%, respectively. Also, Fawn (Yellow) Jindo-dog comparing with White Jindo-dog showed better concentration of sperm, total number of sperm, progressive motility and viability. Among all dogs, the results of No. 2 Fawn Jindo-dog were the best. 2. The average progressive motility and viability of semen from 46 times were 73.5%, 82.3% before freezing and 51.1%, 64.9% after freezing. So, the freezing of semen has affected the progressive motility and viability. The progressive motility and viability of Fawn Jindo-dog's semen, before and after freezing, were better than White Jindo-dog. And No. 2 Fawn Jindo-dog showed the best results and showed significantly different among all dogs (P<0.05). 3. The 44 times-tested .esults by CASA system were as follow; MOT (motility) 65.6%. PROG (progressive motility) 54.8%, VAP (average path velocity) 75.3 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/sec, VCL (curve linear velocity) 90.0 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/sec, VSL (straight-line velocity) 69.4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$/sec and ALH (amplitude of lateral head displacement) 4.4 ${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$. Although the motion characteristic of frozen semen were not significantly different between White and Fawn Jindo-dog, No. 2 Fawn Jindo-dog showed the best results and was significantly different among all dogs (P<0.05). 4. The success rate of frozen semen production between White and Fawn Jindo-dog were 43% (13/28), 94% (33/35), respectively, and the total success rate was 73% (46/63). The freezing-ability of Fawn Jindo-dog's semen was better than the other. Conclusively, the present results indicated that the characteristic and motility of Jindo-dog') semen were suitable for processing frozen semen, artificial insemination and mass production system. Also, the selection of suitable dog-breed was so important because the characteristic and freezing-ability of semen were significantly different between White and Fawn Jindo-dogs and among all individual dogs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.898-908
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• 1998

The aim of this experiments were to assess the time-interval change of motional characteristics in frozen-thawed semen of Korean native cattle (KNC) by using computer aided semen analysis (CASA) technology. Twenty-six KNC frozen semen straws were obtained from Korean KNC improvement department, livestock improvement main division, national livestock cooperatives federation in Korea. Specimens were allowed to thaw at $37^{\circ}C$ for 30 sec in water bath. Semen analysis was performed on semen image analysis system (SIAS, Medical supply, Korea) adjusted to the gate settings and used the semen droplet ($5{\mu}l$) placed on Makler counting chamber (Sefi medical instrument, Israel) prewarmed at $37^{\circ}C$. The same person used the same micropipette to fill the Makler counting chamber. A total of 150 or more of sperms were analysed in each specimen by a single trained person by scanning at least 5 to 10 fields. The measurement parameters in SIAS were as follows ; frame rate = 30 frames per sec, image capture = 1 sec, minimum motile speed = $10{\mu}m/s$, maximum countable sperm number = 400. Statistical analysis was done by Student t-test with use of the Sigma plot program on a IBM personal computer. The dancemean(DNM) and hyperactivated sperm(HYP) of frozen-thawed KNC semen kinematics were significantly decreased(p < 0.05) after 10 min of incubation at $37^{\circ}C$ water bath. But, wobble(WOB) of same sample semen was significantly increased(p < 0.05) after 10 min of incubation and significantly decrease(p < 0.05) after 60 min of same incubation. And, after 30 mim of incubation, significantly differences were found most of motion kinematics, motifity(MOT), curvilinear velocity(VCL), straight line velocity(VSL), average path velocity(VAP), amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH), beat cross frequency(BCF), mean angular displacement(MAD), dance(DNC), on same sample semen. The DNM of KNC semen sample was variable kinematics after 30 min of incubation. Also, the linearity(LIN) and straightness(STR) was significantly decreased(p < 0.05) from 60 min of incubation. In conclusion, the AI within 30 min after thawing of frozen semen can be an effective method for obtaining high fertility rate in KNC reproductive program.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 1994

The occurrence and time course of capacitation, acrosomal loss, and hyperactivated motility require quantitative definition in order to characterize fertile human sperm. Recently the method has been developed to estimate the quality of spermatozoa by using kinematic parameters such as curvilinear velocity(VCL), average path velocity(VAP), linearity(LIN), straightness(STR), amplitude of lateral head displacement(ALH), and beat cross frequence(BCF) from Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). In this study, using the Hamilton Thorn motility analyzer HTM 2030(Hamilton Thorn Research, Beverly, MA), we attempted to identify the spermatozoa with hyperactivated motility (HA) objectively and to monitor hyperactivation of human spermatozoa during incubation in capacitating media and after treatment of calcium ionophore as compared with acrosome status. And we examined whether HA are related to the result of SPA. Semen samples obtained from 16 healthy men were prepared by swim up technique and preincubated in a capacitating media(modified BWW medium) for 5 hours and treated with calcium ionophore solution. The acrosome reaction was detected with PSA-FITC labelling of the acrosome and in vitro sperm ferilizing capacity was assessed by the zona free hamster ovum penetration assay (SPA). The incidence of hyperactivated sperm was 2.6% in fresh semen, 14.3% of the swim up population, 13.7% after 5h of incubation. Significant increase of percentage of hyperactivated sperm was observed after the incubation (p<0.05) but after treatment, no significant changes of percentage of hyperactivated sperm(l1.8%) in contrast to significant rise in the percentage of acrosome reacted cells. Correlation analysis failed to show any significant relationship between the percentage of sperm with HA and SPA score. In conclusion, although no direct correlations were found between the results of SPA and HA, hyperactivation of sperm is associated with capacitation and monitoring hyperactivated sperm will be expected as a method of evaluating the functional quality of sperm such as SPA.