• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 1987

This stduy was carried out to investigate the effects of Isoimmunization by sperm and seminal plasma on density of immunoglobulins in reproductive tract fluids and serum of immunized rabbits. The results obtained were summarized as follows: 1. Antibody titers against sperm and seminal plasma antigen ranged from 8 to 64 to 512, respectively. 2. All immunoglobulins; IgG, IgA and IgM were detected with Indirect ELISA method in the uterine and oviductal fluids as well as the sera of immune rabbits. 3. Concentrations of IgGs in the uterine and oviductal fluids of rabbits immunized with sperm and seminal plasma were higher than those of the control rabbits, but not showed any differences in sera. 4. Amount of IgA in the sera and oviductal fluids of control animals was more than that of the immune animals, while that of IgA in the uterine fluids of control and seminal plasma-immunized animals was higher as compared to sperm immune animals. 5. Average concentration of IgM in the uterine fluids of control and seminal plasma-immunized rabbits was higher than that of sperm-immunized ones. In the oviductal fluids, average concentrations of IgM of immune rabbits was higher than that of immune rabbits.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.25-30
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• 2005

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of semen characteristics, frozen-thawed sperm viability and serum FSH, LH, estradiol-17β and testosterone concentrations between breeds and among seasons in boars. In all seasons, Yorkshire boars produced higher semen volume compared with Duroc boars, whereas sperm concentration did not differ significantly between Duroc and Yorkshire boars. Semen volume in spring was higher compared with summer, autumn and winter in both Duroc and Yorkshire boars, but sperm concentration did not differ significantly among seasons. Sperm motility and normal acrosome rate of frozen-thawed sperm produced in spring were higher than those in summer, autumn and winter in both Duroc and Yorkshire boars. Sperm motility of frozen-thawed sperm in Yorkshire boars was higher than that in Duroc boars regardless of seasons. However, normal acrosome rate did not differ significantly between Duroc and Yorkshire boars. Serum FSH concentration in Yorkshire boars was lower than that in Duroc boars in all seasons. However, there were no significant differences on serum FSH concentration of Duroc and Yorkshire boars among seasons. Serum LH and estradiol-17β concentrations did not differ significantly between Duroc and Yorkshire boars. Also, there were no significant differences in serum LH and estradiol-17β concentrations of Duroc and Yorkshire boars among seasons. Serum testosterone concentration in Yorkshire boars was higher than that in Duroc boars in all seasons. In both breeds, serum testosterone concentrations were higher in spring than in summer, autumn and winter. In conclusion, when serum FSH concentrations were low, semen volumes were high, and when serum testosterone concentrations were high, sperm motility and normal acrosome rate of frozen-thawed sperm were high.

• The Journal of Korean Obstetrics and Gynecology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.16-27
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate effects of Allii tuberosi Semen, Ginseng Radix Alba and Morindae officinalis Radix extract on reproductive capacities in mice. Methods: The 8-week-old ICR rats are used in the study, and we administered the extract solution of Allii tuberosi Semen, Ginseng Radix Alba and Morindae officinalis Radix concentration of 1, 10, 100mg/0.3ml to each rats and water to another rats(control group) once a day for each 30, 60, 90 and 120 days. we evaluated the total sperm count and morphology. Results: For 30 days, the total sperm count and normal sperm most increased in the group administered by 100mg/0.3ml Allii tuberosi Semen. For 60 days, the total sperm count and normal sperm most increased in the group administered by 100mg/0.3ml Morindae officinalis Radix solutions. For 90 days, the total sperm count most increased in the group asministered by 10mg/0.3ml Morindae officinalis Radix and 100mg/0.3ml Allii tuberosi Semen solutions. For 120 days, the total sperm count and normal sperm most increased in the group administered by l0mg/0.3ml Ginseng Radix Alba. Conclusion: This study shows that there were dose and duration effects of Allii tuberosi Semen, Ginseng Radix Alba and Morindae officinalis Radix extract solution on the total sperm count and morphology.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.63-77
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• 2021

The aim of this research was to investigate different factors, including cryoprotective agents (CPAs), diluents, dilution ratios, equilibrium times, freezing rates, and thawing methods to optimize cryopreservation protocols for large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea). The parameters evaluated were sperm motility, sperm activity index (SAI), survival rate, and DNA damage. Different types of CPAs, such as dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), propylene glycol (PG), ethylene glycol (EG), methanol, and glycerol, were tested for sperm preservation. The highest motility, SAI, and survival rate were observed when EG was used. Different diluents such as Stein's solution, Hank's balanced salt solution, marine fish Ringer's solution, artificial seminal plasma (ASP) of small yellow croaker, and Cortland solution were investigated. The highest post-thaw motility was observed upon using ASP as the diluent. Different concentrations of EG were then mixed with ASP to identify the optimal EG concentration. Experimental results showed that the motility (70.33 ± 1.20%), SAI (5), and survival rate (78.30 ± 0.42%) of post-thaw sperm were optimum when 10% EG and ASP were used as the CPA and diluent of cryopreservation, respectively. Post-thaw sperm motility was high at equilibration times below 150 s and at an optimum dilution ratio of 1:1 (sperm: CPA + diluent) and was not significantly different compared with fresh sperm motility. The freezing rate was found to be slow below -10℃/min. The thawing temperature of 45℃ was identified as ideal. The percentage of tail DNA in post-thaw sperm at 10% EG and ASP was also investigated and was found to have more significant DNA damage than that in fresh sperm but significantly lower damage than that in post-thaw sperm at EG concentrations of 5%, 15%, and 20% (p < 0.05). The cryopreservation protocols obtained in this study will be useful in large yellow croaker hatcheries.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.237-243
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• 2008

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of caffeine and sodium bicarbonate in a fertilization medium on the fertilizability of boar spermatozoa that were frozen in straws. Boar spermatozoa were extended with Beltsville F5 extender and frozen in 0.25-ml straws. In vitro matured porcine oocytes were fertilized in vitro (IVF) with frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa for 6h in a modified tris-buffered medium (mTBM) or in its modified medium by substituting the tris with 25mM sodium bicarbonate (modified bicarbonate-buffered medium; mBBM). Some of inseminated oocytes were fixed and stained for examination of sperm penetration. IVF embryos were cultured in a North Carolina State University-23 medium for embryo development. The percentage of live sperm was $47{\pm}4%$ and morphological abnormality of acrosome was found in $14{\pm}3%$ of spermatozoa. Optimal sperm concentration for IVF was $0.75{\sim}1.0{\times}1.0{\times}10^6$ sperms/ml when mTBM containing 5mM caffeine was used as the fertilization medium. Sperm penetration was significantly (p<0.05) stimulated by increasing caffeine concentration in the IVF medium. In addition, mBBM significantly (p<0.05) increased sperm penetration (92%) compared to mTBM (65%). More (p<0.05) blastocysts (22% vs. 32%) developed from the oocytes that were fertilized in mBBM containing 1mM caffeine than from those fertilized in mTBM with 5mM caffeine. Our results indicate that boar spermatozoa can be frozen successfully in straws with holding their normal fertilizability and that caffeine and sodium bicarbonate stimulates sperm penetration in vitro.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.295-300
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• 2011

The objective of this study was to evaluate efficiency of methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) in the sperm preservation of bull. For this study, the freezing of diluted semen were added with Triladyl containing 20% egg-yolk and/or 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 mM MBCD before freezing process. Analysis of viability in frozen-thawed sperm was estimated by SYBR14/PI double stain, hypoosmotic swelling test(HOST) and acrosome damage with FITC-PNA, and mitochondria activation with Rhodamin123 by flow-cytometry. The sperm viability was significantly in 0 mM and 5 mM concentrations of MBCD than other groups (p<0.05). However, the HOST was significantly lower at 20 mM concentration of MBCD than other concentrations (p<0.05). In addition, acrosome damage and mitochondria activation rates were significantly lower at 20 mM concentration of MBCD than other groups (p<0.05). In conclusion, the viability of sperm was not significantly different among concentrations of MBCD 0, 5 and 10 mM, but MBCD 20 mM was significantly lower than other groups. In addition, as concentrations of MBCD was high, HOST, acrosome damage and mitochondria activation rates had a negative effect in bull sperm.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.482-488
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• 2011

Cadmium (Cd) is well known as a spermatotoxic and gonadotoxic heavy metal ion. This study was performed to assess the possible protective effect of Enerbalance on Cd-induced spermiotoxicity and testicular damage. The control group received isotonic saline; Cd group received Cd (2 mg/kg BW per day) orally; extract-treated groups were orally administrated with Enerbalance (50 mg and 100 mg/kg BW per day) and Cd for 10 days. Morphological changes of testicular tissue, sperm characteristics, oxidative/antioxidative parameters from testis, and serum sexual hormone level were determined. Enerbalance was significantely increased sperm amount in cauda epididymis without changes of ratio of epididymis/body weight and testis/body weight. Cd caused a marked decrease in epididymal sperm concentration and chemotactic sperm motility, testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Enerbalance was significantly ameliorated loss of epididymal sperm concentration, sperm chemotactic motility, antioxidative parameters, and male hormone whereas decreased abnormal architecture by testis damage. Enerbalance was successfully attenuated these adverse effects of Cd and offers a dose-dependent protection. Our study demonstrated that Enerbalance could proffer a measure of protection against Cd-induced testicular damage and spermiotoxicity by possibly reducing oxidative stress and increasing the antioxidant defense mechanism in mice.

• 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.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.43 no.2
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• pp.97-101
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• 2016

Objective: Growth hormone and its mediator, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), have been suggested to exert gonadotropic actions in both humans and animals. The present study was conducted to assess the relationship between serum IGF-1 concentration, seminal plasma concentration, and sperm parameter abnormalities. Methods: A total of 79 men were enrolled in this study from December 2011 to July 2012 and were prospectively analyzed. Patient parameters analyzed included age, body mass index, smoking status, urological history, and fertility history. Patients were divided into four groups based on their semen parameters: normal (A, n=31), abnormal sperm motility (B, n=12), abnormal sperm morphology (C, n=20), and two or more abnormal parameters (D, n=16). Patient seminal plasma and serum IGF-1 concentrations were determined. Results: Patient baseline characteristics were not significantly different between any of the groups. The serum IGF-1 levels in groups B, C, and D were significantly lower than the levels in group A; however, the seminal plasma IGF-1 levels were not significantly different between any of the groups. Conclusion: Men with abnormal sperm parameters had significantly lower levels of serum IGF-1 compared with men with normal sperm parameters. Seminal plasma IGF-1 levels, however, did not differ significantly between the groups investigated here. Further investigations will be required to determine the exact mechanisms by which growth hormone and IGF-1 affect sperm quality.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1991

This study was carried out to investigate the effects of pH of sperm-washing solution, sperm-washing frequency and individual bull on concentration of hydrogen ion in sperm-washed solution and sperm acrosome reaction. The results obtained were as follow. 1. When bovine sperm was washed at 4 times with SHP solution and incubated, the difference of light absorbance between sperm-washing and sperm-washed solution(${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At) was higher in 2nd sperm-washed solution than that in the other washed solutions. 2. When sperm was thrice washed with SHP solutions of pH 5.99, 6.38, 6.78, 7.10, 7.40, 7.69, 8.15, 8.45, and 8.83, ${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At was significantly increased at pH7.69 to 8.83, and ${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At in 1st sperm washed solution was significantly higher than that in 2nd and 3rd sperm washed solution. 3. When sperm of Holstein, KNC and Hereford was thrice washed with SHP solutions of pH 5.99, 6.38, 6.78, 7.10, 7.40, 7.69, 8.15, 8.45, and 8.83, Holstein showed higher ${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At of sperm Washed solution than KNC and Hereford, and ${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At in sperm washed solution was significantly increased at 7.69 for Holstein and at 8.15 for KNC and Hereford, respectively. 4. When sperm was thrice with SHP solution of pH 6.8, 7.1 and 7.4, and then incubated in mTALP of pH 7.4 for 15 minutes, in 1st and 2nd sperm washing ${\Delta}$Ao-${\Delta}$At of sperm washed solution was significantly higher at pH 7.1 and 7.4 than at pH 6.8, and the sperm acrosome reaction of pH 6.8, 7.1 and 7.4 was 49.1, 68.8 and 72.9%, respectively. The sperm acrosome reaction of pH 7.1 and 7.4 was higher than that of pH 6.8.