• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.789-792
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• 2006

Two separate trials were conducted to determine the effects of uterine priming prior to first breeding and quantify any changes in the reproductive efficiency of gilts. In trial I twelve (12) gilts were randomly assigned to 3 treatments:T1:infusion of distilled water (control), T2: single infusion of killed semen (KS1), and T3: double infusion of killed semen (KS2). Each treatment had 4 breeding gilts which were bred by natural insemination (NI). In trial II, another set of 12 breeding gilts were randomly allotted to the same treatments and were subsequently bred by artificial insemination (AI). Infusions, through the use of AI catheters, were done during the $2^{nd}$ estrous cycle for T1 and T2, whereas infusions for T3 were made during the $1^{st}$ and $2^{nd}$ cycles. Regular breeding was subsequently made during the $3^{rd}$ estrous cycle. All gilts that returned to cycle were rebred within the 30-day period. In trial I (natural breeding), total piglets born was higher (p<0.05) in T2 (12.75 piglets) and T3 (11.75 piglets) than in the control (10.5 piglets). T3 obtained the highest (p<0.05) litter size (10.25 piglets) and heaviest litter weight (74.12 kg) at 28 days weaning, followed by T2 (9.80 piglets and 65.0 kg, respectively). The control yielded the lowest (p<0.05) litter size (7.50) and the lightest litter weight (47.00 kg) at weaning. For Trial II gilts (artificially inseminated), T3 gave higher (p<0.05) litter size born alive (10.88 piglets), total piglets born (11.72 piglets) and live litter weight at birth (15.30 kg) than those of T2 and the control. These results indicate that prebreeding intrauterine infusion of killed boar semen, either single or double, improved the reproductive performance of gilts.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.293-297
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• 2016

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility is an important parameter because the movement of sperm indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) is important enzyme in spermatogenesis, but the effect has not been confirmed in pigs yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 124 Duroc pigs with records of sperm 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 subjected. A SNP in non-coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with MOT (p < 0.05), VCL (p < 0.01), LIN (p < 0.01) and ALH (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the intron region of the porcine PLCz gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not defined yet. Whether the association is due to the candidate gene or not require further verification. Thus, it will be of interest to continue association studies in the regions surrounding those genes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2002

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of extenders such as Beltsville thawing solution(BTS), Modena and Androhep, preservation temperature and period of liquid boar semen on semen characteristics and reproductive performance. Boars were raised at Swine Artificial Insemination Center in National Livestock Research Institute, Sunghwan, Chungnam, Korea. This experiment was carried out from 1995 to 2000. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. Sperm motility in the samples with Androhep and BTS reduced from day 5 and in the samples with Modena reduced from day 3 of storage. pH or 3 extenders varied from 6.24 to 7.04 during day 1 to 5 of storage. Farrowing rate of sows inseminated with liquid boar semen offended with BTs, Modena and Androhep extenders did not show any differences until day f after semen collection. Sows inseminated with Androhep extender had better farrowing rates (P＜0.05) than those with Modena extender at day 1 or 5 after semen collection, but farrowing rates after AI using BTS did not differ compared to those Androhep and Modena. Litter size did not show any differences among the three extenders, but Androhep had the decreased litter size from day i of storage. 2. Motility and normal acrosome of the sperm preserved at 5$^{\circ}C$ did not show any differences until day 4 of storage, but those at 17$^{\circ}C$ changed from day 3 and 4, respectively. Farrowing rate of sows artificially inseminated with liquid boa. semen preserved at 17$^{\circ}C$ had higher, than at 5$^{\circ}C$ (p＜0.05), but there was no significant differences in litter size. Farrowing rates and litter size were decreased from day 2 and day 3 of storage at 17$^{\circ}C$, respectively. Farrowing rate of sows inseminated with the preserved semen at 5$^{\circ}C$ did not changed until day 4, but the litter size at 5$^{\circ}C$ was lower than that at 17$^{\circ}C$.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2003.06a
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• pp.63-63
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• 2003

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ on sperm motility, normal acrosome, and in-vitro fertilization and culture of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. The sperm-rich fraction (30~60 ml) of ejaculate was collected into an insulated vacuum bottle. Semen was slowly cooled to room temperature (20~23$^{\circ}C$) by 2 h after collection. Semen was transferred into 15 ml tubes, centrifuged at room temperature for 10 min at 800$\times$g, and the supernatant solution was poured off. The concentrated sperm was resuspended with 5 ml of lactose, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent to provide 1.0$\times$10$^{9}$ sperm/ml at room temperature. The resuspended semen was cooled in a refrigerator to 4$^{\circ}C$ and preserved for 5 days to examine sperm motility and normal acrosome. The medium used for oocyte maturation was modified tissue culture medium (TCM) 199. After about 22 h of culture, oocytes were cultured without cysteamine and hormones for 22 h at 38.5$^{\circ}C$, 5% $CO_2$ in air. Oocytes were inseminated with liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ for 2 days after collection. Oocytes were coincubated for 6 h in 500 ${mu}ell$ mTBM fertilization media with 0.2, 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ /ml sperm concentration, respectively. At 6 h after IVF, oocytes were transferred into 500 ${mu}ell$ Hepes-buffered NCSU-23 culture medium for further culture of 6, 48 and 144 h. There were significant differences in sperm motility and normal acrosome among preservation days and incubation times, respectively. The rates of sperm penetration and polyspermy were higher in 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 0.2 and 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Male pronuclear formation was lower in 0.2$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml than in 1, 5 and 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in 10$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rate of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2~4 cell stage) was highest in 1$\times$10$^{6}$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. In conclusion, we found out that liquid boar sperm stored at 4$^{\circ}C$ could be used for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes matured in-vitro. Also, we recommend 1$\times$10$^{6}$ ml sperm concentration for in-vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.141-146
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• 1990

12 crossbreed boars received 4 rations containing varying levels of lysine and DL-methionine. The results obtained from this study are summarized as follows ; 1. Semen volume, total sperm number of the treatment B, C and D were increased significantly (p<0.05) as compared with the treatment A but abnormal sperm percent of treatment B and C was decreased significantly (p<0.05) as compared with A. Sperm number and sperm mortility were not different from treatments. 2. Amino acids contents of sperm plasma were not different from treatments.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.373-390
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• 1992

To assay the fertilizing capacity of domestic animal spermatozoa by hamster test, semen were collected from 13 boars(Duroc. Landrace and Yorkshire) which had been proved to be fertile in the past. then, were preserved in BWW medium or in raw state at 18$^{\circ}C$ or at room temperature. The preserved semen were given each different treatment according to the experimental design and coincubated with zona-free hamster ova for 5 hours. The ova were stained by lacmoid and examined under phase contrast microscope to investigate the rates of ova bound with sperm(sperm binding). ova penetrated by sperm(penetration) and formation of a male pronucleus(pronucleus formation) and also numbers of both bound and penetrated sperm per ovum. Between BWW and TBM medium for boar sperm. no difference in the results of hamster test was obtained. The boar spermatozoa in BWW medium, BWW with caffeine, BWW with heparin, and BWW with both caffeine and heparin showed no difference in the results of hamster test. The boar spermatozoa in BWW medium containing both calcium and RSA showed considerably higher rates of sperm binding, penetration and pronucleus formation as well as higher numbers of both bound and penetrated sperm than those not containing calcium with or without BSA( p<0.01) and also the same results higher than that containing calcium without BSA( p< 0.05). The boar spermatozoa irradiated by X-ray(70 KVP, 20mA) for 3 seconds. then, maintained at 18$^{\circ}C$ for 18 hours showed considerably lower rate of sperm binding than all the other groups including the control and X-ray groups irradiated by smaller dose or maintained for shorter period(p<0.01), and also showed lower number of bound sperm than the other groups(p<0.01, p<0.05). All the control groups of both raw and diluted sperm in BWM medium showed higher rates of sperm binding, penetration and pronucleus formation as well as higher number of penetrated sperm than all the X-ray groups irradiated for 3 seconds(70KVP, 20mA) and maintained for either 3 or 18 hours (p<0.01, p<0.05). At the same time the control groups of diluted sperm showed considerably higher rates of sperm penetration and pronucleus formation than the control group of raw sperm( p<0.01). These results indicates that fertile boar sperm showed considerably lower rates In the results of hamster test, when incubated in the medium without calcium and irradiated by X-ray than when incubated in the medium with calcium and not irradiated by X-ray, respectively, to prove consequently that hamster test would be of great value in assaying the fertilizing capacity of boar spermatozoa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.1561-1565
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• 2006

The objective of this study was to investigate the anti-oxidative effects of taurine on sperm characteristics for in vitro storage of boar semen. Semen was randomly divided into 10 groups in conical tubes and treated with different concentrations of taurine (25-100 mM) with or without $250{\mu}M$ $H_2O_2$. The percentage of motile spermatozoa in taurine groups after 6 and 9 h were significantly higher at >94% and 87%, respectively, compared to the control group ($85.1{\pm}0.5$ and $72.4{\pm}0.3$, p<0.05). The sperm motility in taurine with $H_2O_2$ after 6 h incubation was slightly decreased compared to the taurine alone treatment, but after 9 and 12 h incubation % sperm motility dropped sharply in taurine with $H_2O_2$ ($75.3{\pm}0.3$ and $69.6{\pm}2.9$, p<0.05). For 3, 9 and 12 h incubation, sperm viability in the control was lower than in taurine groups, irrespective of taurine concentration. In eosin Y and nigrosin staining (ENS), the sperm survival rates (%) for 6 h incubation were significantly higher in 25 mM ($76.0{\pm}0.6$) and 50 mM taurine groups ($78.0{\pm}0.7$), respectively. Sperm survival rates for 9 and 12 h incubation were higher in taurine groups (${\geq}48%$ in 9 h and ${\geq}42%$ in 12 h) compared to controls ($43.0{\pm}2.1$ and $31.0{\pm}0.6$, respectively). In the hyoosmotic swelling test (HOST), sperm membrane integrity was similar to the results of sperm survival. These experiments indicate that supplementation of taurine to the semen extender can increase the sperm characteristics(motility, viability, survival and membrane integrity).

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

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.149-154
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was the analysis of sperm ability in Specific Pathogen Free (SPE) miniature pig for production of bio-organ. The collected semen was diluted with extender and stored at $17^{\circ}C$t for up to 7 days. The semen samples were evaluated at 0, 1, 3, 5, and 7 days of storage for analysis of sperm ability. Sperm ability was evaluated by examining viability, progressive motility, sperm abnormality and intensity of the sperm membrane. Also, the semen was processed according to the convenient freezing method, and frozen-thawed sperm was evaluated by examining viability, capacitation and acrosome reaction using chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. Motility of spermatozoa of SPF miniature pig was significantly (P<0.05) lower on 3 days or later compared to the Duroc, Yorkshire and Landrace in domestic boar. The percentage of abnormal spermatozoa of Landrace were significantly (P<0.05) higher than in SPF miniature pig, Duroc and Yorkshire that had a similar percentage on 5 or 7 days of sperm storage. The percentage of spermatozoa with coiled tail decreased during the storage period but there were no significant difference. On the other hand, viability of frozen-thawed spermatozoa had a significantly (P<0.05) lower in SPF miniature pig than in other domestic boars. CTC patterns had no significant difference, but SPF miniature pig had higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa and lower percentage of acrosome-reacted it than domestic boars. Therefore, this study suggest that it is necessary to develop the suitable extender and freezing methods methods for the high viable rate and fertilizing ability in vitro.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.202-208
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• 2022

This study investigated the influence of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃) and progesterone on acrosome reaction and proportion of polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) composition boar sperm. The sperm were diluted with semen extender and incubated with NaHCO₃ and progesterone at 38℃, 5% CO₂ for 6 h. Plasma membrane integrity and acrosome reaction were analyzed using SYBR14/propidium iodide (PI) and FITC-PNA/PI doubling staining method, and proportion of PUFA was analyzed using gas chromatography. In results, Plasma membrane integrity was significantly decreased in 50 mM NaHCO₃ group and acrosome reaction was significantly increased by over the 100 mM NaHCO₃ group compared to control group (p < 0.05). In addition, progesterone significantly increased decreased plasma membrane integrity at 100 mM progesterone and acrosome reaction at over the 5.0 µM progesterone (p < 0.05), but there was no difference among the 5.0 to 100 µM groups. PUFAs were significantly decreased in 100 mM NaHCO₃ and 50 µM progesterone treatments compared to control group. In summary NaHCO₃ and progesterone induce acrosome reaction and reduce PUFA composition in boar sperm, therefore, the results maybe help to understand basically knowledge for the acrosome reaction and PUFA composition in boar sperm.