• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
• /
• v.35 no.3
• /
• pp.203-207
• /
• 2011

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of semen extenders on the motility, viability and fertility in vitro of spermatozoa during storage of fresh boar semen diluted in different commercial extenders used for pig artificial insemination (AI). In this experiment, semen were diluted in Androhep plus, Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS), Modena, Seminark and Vitasem LD. Five ejaculates were collected from three Duroc boars and sub-samples were diluted ($30{\times}10^6$ spermatozoa/ml) in different extenders. Semen was stored at $170^{\circ}C$ for 10 days. Sperm motility and viability was assessed using Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis (CASA) and flow-cytometry on 1, 3, 5 and 10 day post collection The motility of spermatozoa stored in different extenders was gradually decreased by increasing the duration of storage of semen. However, there was not significant1y different in the sperm motility and viability among other extenders. On the other hand, the in vitro-matured oocytes were fertilized and cultured in vitro to assess the fertility of boar spermatozoa stored for 3 and 10 days in different extenders. The percentage of morula and blastocyst were taken as indicators of fertility in vitro of spermatozoa. Therefore, there were no differences in the rate of embryos developed to the molular and blastocyst stage. There were no differences in the motility and fertility in vitro among 5 kinds of commercial boar semen extenders.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.50 no.2
• /
• pp.125-131
• /
• 2010

Bacterial contamination is an unavoidable finding of the semen collection process in boar and can lead in deleterious effects on semen quality and longevity if left uncontrolled. The purpose of this study is to identify the bacteria in extended boar semen and to select the effective antimicrobials to control of the contaminants. Of 116 extended boar semen samples submitted from eight AI centers in Korea, 39 (33.6%) samples were positive for bacterial contamination. Among 39 contaminated semen, most of them (84.6%) were contaminated with one or two bacterial species and there was no significant difference between two age groups $(\leq\;24\;and\;>\;24\;month\;old).$ Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (n = 18) was the most predominant bacterium followed by Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (n = 12), Sphingomonas paucimobilis (n = 12), Myroides spp. (n = 5), Ochrobactrum anthropi (n = 3), and so on. Enrofloxacin (72.9%), florfenicol (72.9%), bacitracin (49.2%) and tylosin (49.2%) showed higher sensitivity compared with penicillin (13.6%) or aminoglycosides (6.8%-18.6%). Brucella spp., Leptospira spp., Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Mycoplasma hyorhinis, Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were not detected in semen by PCR.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.131-137
• /
• 1999

This experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of osmolarity of thawing diluents, seminal plasma added in thawing diluents on the sperm viability and the effects of thawing temperature, the temparature of the thawing diluents on the sperm viability and acrosomal morphology of boar spermatozoa by the straw method. The result obtained were summarized as follows: 1. The sperm viablilty after thawing of the frozen semen was shown greater in the high osmolarity(392~492mOsm) than low osmolarity(300mOsm) in thawing diluent. The added levels of seminal plasma in thawing diluent did not affect the viability of frozen-thawed boar semen. 2. In terms of thawing temperature, the sperm viability was shown higher in the frozen semen thawed at 5$0^{\circ}C$ for one min. (p<0.01) than those thawed at 2$0^{\circ}C$ or 37$^{\circ}C$ for one min. The sperm viability was not significant at the diluent temparature of 2$0^{\circ}C$or 37$^{\circ}C$ after thawing: but the sperm viability was higher in thawing diluent at 2$0^{\circ}C$ than in that at 37$^{\circ}C$. However, the effects of thawing temperature and diluent solution on normal acrosomal rate were not significant. 3. Cleavage rates of oocytes fertilized with frozen semen were 46.4% and 43.3%, respectively, which were thawed at 5$0^{\circ}C$ for one min. and then diluted in mBTS medium at 2$0^{\circ}C$or 37$^{\circ}C$. To sum up, the sperm viability was shown greater at the high of thawing diluents of frozen boar semen. In terms of thawing conditions, the sperm viability was shown greater, when semen was thawed at a high temperature for a short time and then diluted at the same temperature as that in the straw.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.13-17
• /
• 2016

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of taurine and vitamin E on sperm characteristics damaged by bromopropane (BP) in pig. We evaluated toxicity of BP on viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity of spermatozoa. 1-BP (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, and $50{\mu}M$), 2-BP (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10, and $50{\mu}M$), taurine (0, 5.0, 10, and $25{\mu}M$) and vitamin E (0, 50, 100, and $200{\mu}M$) were treated in fresh boar semen for 6 h. 10 and $50{\mu}M$ of 1-BP and 2-BP inhibited sperm viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity in fresh boar semen (P<0.05). $25{\mu}M$ of taurine increased sperm viability and membrane integrity (P<0.05), $100{\mu}M$ of vitamin E enhanced viability and mitochondrial activity of sperm (P<0.05). Finally, $10{\mu}M$ of 1-BP and 2-BP was co-treated with taurine ($25{\mu}M$) and vitamin E ($100{\mu}M$) in the fresh boar semen. The co-treated samples did affected viability, membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity of sperm. In conclusion, taurine and vitamin E can improve and maintain sperm quality in fresh boar semen.

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

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.33 no.6
• /
• pp.356-361
• /
• 2016

During storage, boar spermatozoa undergo several changes including diminished motility and viability and accumulated reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we investigated the effects of green tea extract (GTE) supplementation in the Sui Dil extender on the sperm motility, viability, ROS and lipid peroxidation (LPO) of long-term preserved boar semen at $17^{\circ}C$. A total number of eight boars were used for this experiment. Pooled ejaculates were diluted to $20{\times}10^6sperm/ml$ in the Sui Dil extender containing 0 (control), 1, 10, 100 or 500 mg/l GTE and were preserved at $17^{\circ}C$ for 24, 72, 120 and 168 h, respectively. At each storage time, sperm motility and viability were estimated by microscopic examination and the fluorescent double stain $Fertilight^{(R)}$, respectively. Sperm ROS level and LPO were assessed using the 2', 7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate ($H_2DCFDA$)/propidium iodide (PI) and C11-BODIPY581/591/PI with flow cytometry, respectively. Compared to that of the 500 mg group, there were higher sperm motility and viability in the 1, 10 and 100 mg GTE groups during the preservation from 24 to 168 h (p < 0.05). The ROS levels of the 10 and 100 mg groups during the 168 h preservation were lower than those of the 0, 1 and 500 mg groups (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in LPO regardless of the preservation period or the GTE concentration. In conclusion, the optimal concentrations (10 and 100 mg/l) of GTE that led to lower ROS levels may be useful for liquid boar sperm preservation at $17^{\circ}C$ for a period of 168 h.

• Development and Reproduction
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.11-19
• /
• 2019

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) combined with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) on plasma and acrosomal membrane damages, mitochondrial activity, morphological abnormality, motility, and oxidative stress in frozen-thawed boar sperm. In previous our study, 3 ng/mL ALA had been shown protective effect during freezing process of boar sperm. Therefore, we used 3 ng/mL ALA in present study and ALA was combined with same molar ratio of BSA or MBCD (ALA+BSA and ALA+MBCD, respectively). To confirm the effect of two carrier proteins, same volume of BSA and MBCD without ALA were added during cryopreservation. Membrane damage, mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were measured using flow cytometry, and movement of sperm tail as motility parameter and morphological abnormality were observed under light microscope. In results, all of sperm parameters were enhanced by ALA combined with BSA or MBCD compared to control groups (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity, morphological abnormality, ROS and LPO levels in ALA+BSA or MBCD groups were no significant difference compared with ALA, BSA and MBCD treatment groups. On the other hand, plasma and acrosomal membrane intact, and sperm motility in ALA+MBCD group were higher than single treatment groups (p<0.05), whereas ALA+BSA did not differ. Our findings indicate that carrier proteins such as BSA and MBCD could improve the effect of ALA during cryopreservation of boar sperm, and treatment of ALA with carrier proteins enhance membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity through reduction of ROS-induced LPO.

• Korean Journal of Agricultural Science
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.103-112
• /
• 2022

Fipronil is a popular insecticide used in both agricultural and domestic fields. Factors that affect sperm and eggs have a direct influence on reproductive outcomes. This study was undertaken to assess the effect of varying concentrations (10 - 200 μM) of fipronil and incubation times (30 min and 2 hrs) on boar spermatozoa. Spermatozoa were evaluated for motility, motion kinematics, viability, chromatin stability, and for the generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the results were compared to those from corresponding controls. The findings revealed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in sperm motility in all fipronil treatment groups at 30 min of incubation (p < 0.05). A similar dose-dependent reduction in sperm motility was observed subsequent to fipronil exposure for 2 hrs of incubation (p < 0.05). Groups treated with fipronil showed a gradual reduction in motion kinematics (p < 0.05). Moreover, a significantly higher percentage of dead sperm was observed at 200 μM fipronil, as compared to the highest live percentage obtained in controls (p < 0.05). Evaluating the sperm chromatin integrity revealed a significantly higher percentage of damaged chromatin in spermatozoa incubated with 200 μM of fipronil. Moreover, ROS production was significantly higher in fipronil-exposed sperm (p < 0.05). In conclusion, boar spermatozoa incubated with fipronil showed decreased levels of sperm motility and viability, weaker chromatin integrity, and increased levels of intracellular ROS generation, all of which indicate that exposure to fipronil potentially impairs the fertilization competence of boar spermatozoa.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.65 no.2
• /
• pp.401-411
• /
• 2023

Many studies have been conducted to improve technology for semen cryopreservation in pigs. However, computer-assisted analysis of sperm motility and morphology is insufficient to predict the molecular function of frozen-thawed semen. More accurate expression patterns of boar sperm proteins may be derived using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) technique. In this study, the iTRAQ-labeling system was coupled with liquid chromatography tandem-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis to identify differentially expressed CM10-fractionated proteins between fresh and frozen-thawed boar semen. A total of 76 protein types were identified to be differentially expressed, among which 9 and 67 proteins showed higher and lower expression in frozen-thawed than in fresh sperm samples, respectively. The classified functions of these proteins included oxidative phosphorylation, mitochondrial inner membrane and matrix, and pyruvate metabolic processes, which are involved in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis; and sperm flagellum and motile cilium, which are involved in sperm tail structure. These results suggest a possible network of biomarkers associated with survival after the cryopreservation of Duroc boar semen.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.59-66
• /
• 2023

Wild boar is closely related to domestic pigs in terms of genetic homogeneity and the possibility of a source of infection by contact. This study investigated the prevalence of viral diseases from wild boars inhabiting Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. A total of 374 blood samples were collected and subjected to antigen tests to detect African swine fever virus (ASFV), Porcine circovirus type-2 (PCV2), Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV). For seroprevalence, PCV2, PRRS, classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Aujezsky's disease (ADV), and foot and mouth disease virus (FMDV) were investigated. The antigenic analysis revealed 73 positive cases (19.5%) for PCV2, while no positive cases for ASFV and PRRSV. For the antibody test, 225 (60.2%), 2 (0.5%), and 48 (12.8%) cases were detected against PCV2, PRRSV, and CSFV, respectively. There were no antibodies detected against both ADV and FMDV. Our results suggest that the viruses infecting both wild boar and domestic pig, mainly PCV2, are circulating in the wild boar population thus, the consistent monitoring of prevalence in wild boar will be needed for transboundary spillover to the domestic pig.