• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.102-105
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• 2016

Objective: The goal of this study was to compare the semen parameters of two successive samples obtained within an interval of less than 60 minutes from patients planning to undergo intrauterine insemination (IUI) whose first samples exhibited low semen quality. Methods: Thirty-two consecutive patients were enrolled in the study. On the day of IUI, the semen analysis of the samples initially presented by all patients met at least two of the following criteria: sperm concentration $<5{\times}10^6/mL$, total sperm count $<10{\times}10^6$, progressive sperm motility (a+b) in the native sample <30%, and total motile sperm count (TMSC) $<4{\times}10^6$. A successive semen sample was obtained no more than 60 minutes after the first sample. Results: Compared to the first sample, the second exhibited significantly (p<0.05) improved sperm concentration, TMSC, progressive motility, and vitality. Regarding TMSC, the most critical parameter on the day of IUI, 23 patients (71.8%) improved it, while nine (28.2%) displayed poorer outcomes. Conclusion: In defined cases, requesting a second successive ejaculate on the day of insemination may result in a high percentage of cases in an improvement of the quality of the sample.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.327-335
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• 2010

We reported previously that the administration of Korean red ginseng water extract (KRG-WE) protected the guinea pig testis against damage induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (a potent endocrine disruptor). We also found that crude saponin from ginseng was the active ingredient responsible for this protection. Here, we examined the biological role of KRG-WE in an animal model of age-induced dysfunction of spermatogenesis. Twenty-four male Sprague-Dawley (six 2-month-old and eighteen 12-month-old) rats were used. The young and old control groups received only vehicle. The ginseng saponin (GS)- and KRG-WE-treated groups received GS (40 mg/kg body weight/day) and KRG-WE (200 mg/kg body weight/day), respectively, for 4 months. The number of cells, Sertoli cell index, Johnsen's score, and sex hormone levels decreased significantly with age. However, the administration of KRG-WE and GS markedly improved the number of germ cells, seminiferous tubular size, and Johnsen's score in the old rats. Ginseng produced a distinct testicular histological improvement in old rats. KRG-WE and GS elevated testosterone levels, while attenuating the aberrant increase in follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone levels. Sperm kinematics evaluated by a computer-assisted sperm analyzer demonstrated improvement in the percentage of motile sperm, progressive sperm motility, and curvilinear velocity associated with sperm quality, supporting the beneficial role of red ginseng in senile spermatogenesis. Overall, the total water extract had a more potent effect than the corresponding saponin fraction. In conclusion, Korean red ginseng rejuvenated age-induced testicular dysfunction. Additionally, the total water extract was more potent than the corresponding saponin fraction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.187-192
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• 1997

The survival rate and motility recovered after cryopreservation of testicular spermatozoa in testicular sperm extraction (TESE)-ICSI program is low. The purpose of this study was to assess the availability and efficiency of mouse empty zona pellucida in cryopreserving human TESE spermatozoa. Mouse empty zonae pellucidae were obtained by extraction of cytoplasm with or without cytochalasin B treatment. Motile sperm from proven-fertile donor and two azoospermic patients after TESE were individually inserted into empty zona pellucida and cryopreserved. Two to five days after cyropreservation, the frozen sperm were thawed and the rates of recovery and motility were observed. The ooplasmic extraction rates of control (N=80) and cytochalasin B treated oocytes (N=80) were 94.0% and 96.2%, respectively (p>0.05). The post-thaw recovery rates of spermatozoa and rates of motility recovery of ejaculate (N=70) and testicular (N=70) sperm were 97.1%, 97.1% and 95.7%, 94.3%, respectively (p>0.05). The results of this study showed that the mouse zone pellucida is useful for cryostorage of single testicular spermatozoa.

• 대한생식의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.71-72
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• 1997

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.113-119
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• 2013

The study focuses on the quality assessment of Black Bengal buck semen preserved at chilled condition. In this in vitro trial, collected semen from Black Bengal bucks was preserved at chilling temperature ($4{\sim}5^{\circ}C$) in tris-glucosecitrate yolk medium of 1:5 ratios for four days. Artificial Vagina (AV) method was utilized to collect semen from buck. General evaluation of semen includes the color, mass activity and density were measured by direct visual examination. However, computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and phase contrast microscopy were used to figure out the motility (%), hyper-activated (HYP) motility (%) and number of abnormal spermatozoa (%) initially, and at every 24 h intervals. The result revealed that spermatozoa preserved at chilling temperature showed significantly (P<0.05) lower motility and HYP motility with the progression of preservation. The number of phenotypically abnormal spermatozoa significantly (P<0.05) increased following preservation. Although significant positive correlation (r=0.945; P<0.05) was existed between % motile and % HYP motile spermatozoa however, the % of morphologically abnormal spermatozoa was negatively correlated with % motile (r=-0.997; P<0.05) and % HYP motile spermatozoa (r=-0.946; P<0.01). Therefore, we concluded that the quality of chilled semen progressively losses its viability and doesn't remain useable after certain period of preservation with respect to its motility and morphology.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1424-1428
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• 2003

Present investigation was conducted to determine the post-thaw sperm motility and acrosomal damage of filtered and non-filtered frozen semen of Murrah buffalo bulls. Twenty semen ejaculates (from four Murrah buffalo bulls collected at weekly interval) were diluted in Tris egg yolk glycerol extender and divided into two parts. One was filtered through sephadex G-100 column and the other portion was kept as such (non-filtered). Both fractions were frozen in liquid nitrogen ($-196^{\circ}C$) by the standard method developed in the laboratory. After 24 h of freezing, non-filtered and filtered semen samples were thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. These samples were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in a water both. The different seminal characteristics i.e. percent progressive sperm motility, live and abnormal spermatozoa and spermatozoa with damaged acrosome were assessed at hourly interval till they remained motile. The filtered frozen and thawed semen showed significantly (p<0.05) high sperm viability and acrosomal integrity as compared to non-filtered semen.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.52-55
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to report a successful pregnancy using completely immotile frozen-thawed spermatozoa selected by laser. A single laser shot was used to detect the presence of viable immotile spermatozoa in fresh and frozen-thawed testicular spermatozoa. The viability rate was 55.8% after the laser detection, and cryopreservation was carried out immediately. The thawing test was performed on the day of oocyte pick-up, and no motile sperm were observed after extending the culture for another 4 hours, while a survival rate of 39.8% was detected using the laser. In all, five mature oocytes were injected, resulting in four cases of normal fertilization (80%) on day 1. Further, two high-quality day 3 embryos were transferred, which resulted in a singleton pregnancy. Our study demonstrates that completely immotile spermatozoa are worth cryopreserving for further intracytoplasmic sperm injection, which provides a new insight into male fertility preservation in cases of completely immotile spermatozoa.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.251-259
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• 2016

Background: Estrogen signaling pathways are modulated by exogenous factors. Panax ginseng exerts multiple activities in biological systems and is classified as an adaptogen. Zearalenol is a potent mycoestrogen that may be present in herbs and crops arising from contamination or endophytic association. The goal of this study was to investigate the impact of P. ginseng, zearalenol and estradiol in tests on spermatozoal function. Methods: The affinity of these compounds for estrogen receptor (ER)-alpha and beta ($ER{\alpha}$ and $ER{\beta}$)-was assessed in receptor binding assays. Functional tests on boar spermatozoa motility, movement and kinematic parameters were conducted using a computer-assisted sperm analyzer. Tests for capacitation, acrosome reaction (AR), and chromatin decondensation in spermatozoa were performed using microscopic analysis. Results: Zearalenol-but not estradiol ($E_2$)- or ginseng-treated spermatozoa-decreased the percentage of overall, progressive, and rapid motile cells. Zearalenol also decreased spontaneous AR and increased chromatin decondensation. Ginseng decreased chromatin decondensation in response to calcium ionophore and decreased AR in response to progesterone ($P_4$) and ionophore. Conclusion: Zearalenol has adverse effects on sperm motility and function by targeting multiple signaling cascades, including $P_4$, $E_2$, and calcium pathways. Ginseng protects against chromatin damage and thus may be beneficial to reproductive fitness.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2002

Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) has been widely used fur both human infertility and basic research. However, the high incidence of chromosomal abnormality is severe problem in cattle. Various oocyte activation stimuli, therefore, were compared by assessment of developmental capacity and chromosome analysis. Motile sperm selected by Percoll-density gradient were treated with 5 mM dithiothreitol (DTT) and injected into an oocyte matured fur 24 h. Eggs were then allocated into 5 treatment groups. Group 1 (control), sperm injection was performed without any further activation stimuli to the oocytes. Group 2 (handled control), sham injection was performed without sperm. In Group 3, oocytes exposed to 5 (M ionomycin for 5 min at 39(C. Group 4. ionomycine + 1.9 mM demethylaminopurine (DMAP, 3 h) and Group 5, ionomycine + 3 h culture in Ml99 + DMAP. Cleavage and the later development rate in Groups 1, 2 and 3 were significantly (P<0.05) lower than those in Groups 4 and 5. The incidence of chromosomal abnormality in the embryos treated directly with DMAP after ionomycine was relatively higher than in the embryo of Group 3 h, delayed DMAP treatment. From this results DMAP caused to be arrested the release of the 2nd polar body, resulting in changes of chromosomal pattern. Therefore, the time interval between ionomycin and DMAP is a crucial role in bovine ICSI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.340-345
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• 2008

Oxidative stress is one of the major causes of failure of in vitro storage of boar semen. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are one of the important mediators of oxidative stress during in vitro storage of boar semen. Our study examined the effects of taurine on sperm characteristic and on in vitro developmental embryos during in vitro storage of boar semen for 7 days. Semen was randomly aliquoted into 3 centrifuge tubes and treated with different concentrations of taurine (25-100 mM). The characteristics of boar sperm were analyzed for motility by light microscopy, viability by using a Makler counting chamber and membrane integrity by a hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST). The percentages of motile spermatozoa in taurine groups after 5 days were significantly higher compared to the control. Sperm viability in the control was lower than in taurine groups after 7 days irrespective of different taurine concentration. In the hyoosmotic swelling test (HOST), significantly higher results were obtained in taurine groups after 3 days. Also, the developmental rates of IVM/IVF porcine embryos from semen treated with pyruvate and taurine were significantly increased when compared with the control (p<0.05). These results indicate that supplementation of taurine as an antioxidant in boar semen extender can improve the semen quality.