• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.67-75
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• 2019

Objective: Sperm cryopreservation has been widely used in assisted reproductive technology, as it offers great potential for the treatment of some types of male infertility. However, cryopreservation may result in changes in membrane lipid composition and acrosome status, as well as reductions in sperm motility and viability. This study aimed to evaluate sperm DNA fragmentation damage caused by conventional freezing using the sperm chromatin dispersion test. Methods: In total, 120 fresh human semen samples were frozen by conventional methods, using SpermFreeze Solution as a cryoprotectant. Routine semen analysis and a Halosperm test (using the Halosperm kit) were performed on each sample before freezing and after thawing. Semen parameters and sperm DNA fragmentation were compared between these groups. Results: There was a significant decrease in sperm progressive motility, viability, and normal morphology after conventional freezing (32.78%, 79.58%, and 3.87% vs. 16%, 55.99%, and 2.55%, respectively). The sperm head, midpiece, and tail defect rate increased slightly after freezing. Furthermore, the DNA fragmentation index (DFI) was significantly higher after thawing than before freezing (19.21% prior to freezing vs. 22.23% after thawing). Significant increases in the DFI after cryopreservation were observed in samples with both normal and abnormal motility and morphology, as well as in those with normal viability. Conclusion: Conventional freezing seems to damage some sperm parameters, in particular causing a reduction in sperm DNA integrity.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.1-12
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• 1995

To investigate effect of seeding on post-thaw motility and viability of canine spermatozoa, the semen from male dogs which had been proved to be fertile in the past were frozen and seeded during freezing process. Post-thaw motility and viability of canine sperm which were frozen and seeded were investigated according to different seeding temperatures of $-5^{\circ}C$, $-10^{\circ}C$, or $-l5^{\circ}C$ and also according to different concentration of glycerol of 2%, 5% and 10%. In addition, post-thaw motility of canine sperm frozen by direct freezing in a deep freezer or programmed freezing in a programmed cell freezer was investigated. Post-thaw motility of canine sperm was compared according to different seeding temperatures : The sperm seeded at $-5^{\circ}C$ showed considerably higher post-thaw motility than that of non-seeding, and that seeded at $-10^{\circ}C$, or $-l5^{\circ}C$, respectively, in 2% and 5% glycerol groups on both 2 and 7day after freezing(p<0.05). In 10% concentration of glycerol, the sperm seeded at each seeding temperature showed considerably higher post-thaw motility than that of non-seeding group on day 7 after freezing(p<0.01). Post-thaw viability of canine sperm was compared according to different seeding temperatures : The sperm seeded at $-5^{\circ}$ showed significantly higher post-thaw motility than that of non-seeding, and that seeded at $-10^{\circ}C$, or $-l5^{\circ}C$, in 5% and 10% glycerol groups on day 7 after freezing(p< 0.05). In comparison of post-thaw motility of canine sperm seeded according to different concentration of glycerol, 5% glycerol group and 10% glycerol group showed considerably higher post-thaw motility than 2% glycerol group without difference between those two groups in all seeding temperatures($-5^{\circ}C$, $-10^{\circ}C$ and $-l5^{\circ}C$) on day 2 and 7 after freezing(p<0.01). In comparison of post-thaw viability of canine sperm seeded according to different concentration of glycerol, 5% glycerol group and 10% glycerol group showed the same considerably higher post-thaw viability than 2% glycerol group on each thawing day(p<0.01). The canine sperm frozen and seeded by programmed freezing method showed considerably higher post-thaw motility than that frozen by direct freezing method in all different seeding temperatures($-5^{\circ}C$, $-10^{\circ}C$ and $-l5^{\circ}$). These results indicated that the higher post-thaw motility and viability was obtained in the spermatozoa seeded than that of non-seeding, that among different seeding temperatures of $-5^{\circ}C$, $-10^{\circ}C$ and $-l5^{\circ}C$, the sperm seeded at $-5^{\circ}C$ showed higher post-thaw motility and viability than the other temperatures, also among different concentrations fof glycerol of 2%, 5% and 10%, the sperm frozen and seeded in 5% and 10% concentration of glycerol showed higher post-thaw motility and viability than that in 2% of glycerol, and that the sperm frozen and seeded by programmed freezing method showed higher motility than that by direct freezing method.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.14 no.12
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• pp.1678-1682
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• 2001

The total proteins were estimated in both deoxycholate (DOC)-extract of sperm membrane and seminal plasma of chilled as well as frozen semen obtained from five Murrah buffalo bulls. Proteins were further characterized by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in three bulls. The protein content of sperm membrane extract (SME) and that of seminal plasma (SP) decreased gradually with increase in freezing period from 6 to 24 mo when compared with the values observed in freshly chilled semen in all bulls. The total decrease in protein content of SME and SP varied from 30-40% and 28-59% respectively during 6-24 mo of freezing. The number of glycoproteins/proteins (GP/P) in SME varied from 4-8 in freshly-chilled semen of all bulls and reduced to 2-4 after 24 mo of freezing. In SP, the number of proteins varied from 6-10 in freshly chilled semen of all bulls and reduced to 3-8 after 24 mo of freezing. Some of the proteins in SME and SP disappeared, others got altered and appeared with change in molecular weight after different freezing times. These studies reveal that alterations in the sperm membrane proteins may be responsible for damage to their membrane during freezing and thus lowering their fertilizability.

• The Korean Journal of Malacology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.51-57
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• 2008

With the purpose to estimate the possibility of short-term storage and cryopreservation for sperm of Charonia sauliae, which is a potential preparation for its artificial reproduction and further research, in this study, protocols for short-term storage and cryopreservation of trumpet shell sperm was optimized. The effects of different immobilizing solutions, dilution ratios were estimated for short-term storage. And the effects of different cryoprotectant extenders and freezing rates were estimated for cryopreservation in terms of motility and survival of sperm. The results indicated that the artificial sea water of 350 mOsmol/kg is a better immobilizing solution and sperm which was diluted at a ratio of 1:1 (v/v) had higher motility and survival rate during short-term storage. The effect of 5% dimethyl sulfoxide was significantly better than those of other cryoprotectant extenders. And a freezing rate of $-20^{\circ}C\;min^{-1}$ showed better effect than other freezing rates. In conclusion, this study optimized some key factors of the short-term and cryopreservation of C. sauliae sperm, which can provide valuable data for germ-plasm conservation and artificial propagation of C. sauliae.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.243-250
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• 1995

Frozen storage of the oocytes has been used in a few mammalian species including mouse, hamster, human and cattle. However, frozen4hawed oocvtes show different sperm penetration on the levels of the zona pellucida and the plasma memhrane when compared with fresh oocytes. To elucidate biological changes occurring during freezing and thawing, we examined the kinetics of sperm penetration into frozen-thawed hamster oocytes. Oocytes obtained from superovulated female golden hamsters were frozen-thawed in an autofreezer according to an established method. Fresh and frozen4hawed oocytes were fertilized in vitro with capacitated hamster spermatozoa after removing the zona pellucida. The oocytes were examined at 1, 2, 3 and 6 h postinsemination. Sperm penetration found to be 1 h delayed in frozen-thawed oocytes. Other parameters such as degree of polyspermy and decondensing sperm heads were not affected by freezing and thawing. The results suggest that freezing and thawing may cause changes in the egg membrane surface and subsequently which leads to delay in the sperm-egg fusion.

• Journal of Aquaculture
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.46-50
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• 2004

In the present study, attempts were made to cryopreserve sea urchin, Anthocidaris crassispina sperm in liquid nitrogen, to evaluate the effects of various cryoprotectants and freezing rates on motility, survival rate and fertilization rate of the post-thawing sperm, and the ultrastructural changes of sperm after cryopreservation were observed. The highest values of sperm motility (motility index: 3.3$\pm$0.37) and survival rate (72$\pm$3.5%) were obtained with 15% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and these values were significantly higher than those of sperm preserved with glycerol. Comparisons of motilities and survival rates between treatments of difference freezing rates showed that there was no difference between procedures (a) 5$0^{\circ}C$/min to -8$0^{\circ}C$ (motility index: 3.3$\pm$0.31 ; survival late 70$\pm$2.7%) and (b) 3$0^{\circ}C$/min to -8$0^{\circ}C$ (motility index: 3.1$\pm$0.29; survival rate 69$\pm$3.7%), while the results of (c) 1$0^{\circ}C$/min to -8$0^{\circ}C$ were significantly lower than the others (motility index: 2.2$\pm$0.33 ; survival rate 42$\pm$4.6%). There was no significant difference in fertilization rate between fresh sperm and sperm preserved with 15% DMSO as cryoprotectant and freezing rate (3$0^{\circ}C$/min to -8$0^{\circ}C$). Some ultrastructural changes of sperm, such as the detachment of plasma membrane, the destruction of mitochondria, and the flagellum rolling up head, were observed after cryopreservation. Morphological normality of the sperm in 15% DMSO frozen at the ratio of 5$0^{\circ}C$/min to -8$0^{\circ}C$ was better than the others.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2017

The present study was aimed to determine the effect of green tea extract (GTE) and beta-mercaptoethanol (${\beta}$-ME) supplementation in boar sperm freezing extender on sperm motility, viability and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level. Experimental groups were allocated into Lactose-egg yolk (LEY) without antioxidant (control), GTE (1,000 mg/L GTE in LEY) and ${\beta}$-ME ($50{\mu}M$ ${\beta}$-ME in LEY). Spermatozoa extended with LEY were cooled to $5^{\circ}C$ for 3 h and then kept at $5^{\circ}C$ for 30 min following dilution with LEY containing 9% glycerol and 1.5% Equex STM (final sperm concentration: $1{\times}10^8/mL$). Spermatozoa were loaded into straws and frozen in nitrogen vapor for 20 min. Following thawing at $37^{\circ}C$ for 25 sec, sperm viability and ROS level were measured using fluorescent double stain Fertility(R) and cytometry, respectively. Motility and viability of GTE supplemented-group were higher than those of control and ${\beta}$-ME without significance. ROS level in GTE group showed significantly lower than control (P < 0.05). In conclusion, GTE supplementation in boar sperm freezing extender can reduce ROS generation during freezing.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.275-279
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• 2009

The beneficial effect of glycerol as a cryoprotectant, especially for sperm cryopreservation, has been shown in many studies. However, glycerol is toxic to living cells, and boar sperm in particular show greater sensitivity to glycerol than sperm from other domestic animals. Amides have been studied as alternative cryoprotectants for freezing stallion sperm. Sperm frozen in methylformamide or dimethylformamide as cryoprotectants show similar motility when thawed compared with sperm frozen in glycerol. We evaluated the cryoprotective effects of dimethylformamide on boar sperm freezing. To test the effect of amides, the concentration of boar semen was adjusted to $10^9sperm/mL$, and seminal plasma was removed using Hulsen solution. After centrifugation, the pellet was diluted in modified-Modena B extender. Lactose-egg yolk (LEY) extender was used as the cooling extender. The freezing extender was madeed aaddition of the optimal amount of glycerol and amides to LEY-Glycerol-Orvus ES Paste extender, and this extender was used for the second dilution. Diluted sperm were frozen in liquid nitrogen using the 0.5 mL straw method. Sperm frozen in extender with glycerol as a cderol were compared with those frozen in extender including the different amides. Sperm were tested for motility, viability, the sperm chromatin structure assay, and normal apical ridge after thawing. The percent of motile sperm diluted in glycerol was as high as that in the stallion study (61%). Dimethylformamide showed positive effects on sperm quality and was better than glycerol. Methylformamide provided similar sperm quality as glycerol. Therefore, dimethylformamide is useful for reducing cryoinjury in boar sperm and is expected to be useful as an alternative cryoprotectant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Developmental Biology Conference
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• 2003.10a
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• pp.73-73
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• 2003

The present study examined the possibility of long term storage, by cryopreservation in liquid nitrogen, of the sperm of Filefish (Thamnaconus septentrionalis), and the changes in motility, survival rate and ultrastructure of the sperm after freezing and thawing. The sperm was collected by stripping and stored on ice until experiments. For selection of the immobilizing solution, diluted artificial seawater (ASW) of 20, 30 and 40% were tested. The sperm motility was significantly inhibited in 30% ASW, and restored entirely after 100% ASW was added again. Two cryoprotectants, dimethyl sulfoxide ($Me_2$SO) and glycerol, were added to 30% ASW to formulate the extenders at the concentrations between 5 to 20% by volume for freezing. The sperm was diluted at the ratio of 1 :6 with the extenders, inserted into 0.5ml plastic straws and frozen at a freezing rate of $50^{\circ}C$/min to $-100^{\circ}C$ after equilibration for 10 min at room temperature, followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen. The straws were thawed in a $30^{\circ}C$ water bath for 15 sec. The highest post-thawed sperm motility and survival rate were obtained with 5% glycerol Afterward, the effect of different freezing rates was examined using 5% glycerol as a cryoprotectant, and the rate of $20^{circ}C/min to $-80^{\circ}C$ showed the best result Some ultrastructural changes of sperm, such as the detachment of plasmatic and nuclear membranes, destruction of mitochondria, were observed after cryopreservation. Morphological normality of the sperm in 5% glycerol frozen at the ratio of 1$0^{\circ}C$/min to $-80^{\circ}C$ was better than that of others.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.259-265
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• 2019

This study was designed to investigate the effects of alpha-glucosyl rutin (G-rutin) and its comparative effects with other antioxidants (glutathione: GSH, catalase: CATA and beta-mercaptoethanol : ${\beta}ME$) on dog sperm freezing. In the first experiment (E1), the spermatozoa were diluted in freezing extender supplemented with 0 (control), 0.001, 0.01, or 0.1% G-rutin and frozen using liquid nitrogen ($LN_2$). The progressive motility, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level and apoptosis of spermatozoa were assessed after sperm thawing at $37^{\circ}C$ for 25 sec. In the second experiment (E2), 0.1% G-rutin group was compared with 10 mM ${\beta}-ME$, $5{\mu}M$ GSH and $50{\mu}M$ CATA groups by assaying progressive motility, viability and gene expression of Bcl-2 and SMCP after sperm freezing and thawing. In E1, 0.1% G-rutin group showed higher (P < 0.05) post-thaw progressive motility and lower (P < 0.05) ROS levels. In E2, the expressions of SMCP in G-rutin group were higher (P < 0.05) than in CATA group while Bcl-2 expression of G-rutin group was higher (P < 0.05) than ${\beta}-ME$ and CATA groups. However, there were no significant differences in progressive motility and viability. Therefore, we suggest that G-rutin can be used as a potentially antioxidative supplement in dog sperm freezing extender on the basis of gene expression related to motility and apoptosis as well as ROS level.