• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.237-245
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• 2000

This study was carried out to elucidate whether sperm contain a factor inducing second polar body extrusion and to search for an effective collection method of the sperm factor Thus, sperm extract, dialyzed sperm-extract or liquid chromatographic fractions of sperm extract was microinjected into ovulated oocytes. And the microinjected oocytes were incubated for 24 hours to investigate about the extrusion of second polar body. The results obtained were as follows; 1. Sperm extract significantly increased the second polar body extrusion. 2. Sperm extract showed five major fractions at retention volumes (RVs) 1.25, 1.37, 1.84, 2.10 and 2.67ml after separation with Superose 12 column. These sperm extract fractions did not significantly increase the second polar body extrusion. 3. Dialyzed sperm-extract significantly increased the second polar body extrusion 4. Dialyzed sperm-extract showed three maior fractions at RVs 1.88, 2.14 and 2.77ml after separation with Superose 12 column. Of these fractions, the fraction RV2.14 significantly increased the second polar body extrusion. In conclusion, sperm extract contained a factor inducing the second polar body extrusion and the factor was contained largely in fraction RV2.14 after dialysis and liquid chromatographic fractionation of sperm extract.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.1369-1373
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• 2004

The percentages of sperm motility and normal acrosome on the liquid boar semen diluted and preserved at $4^{\circ}C$ with lactose hydrate, egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN) diluent were significant differences according to preservation day and incubation time, respectively. The sperm motility steadily declined from 96.9% at 0.5 h incubation to 78.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the sperm motility rapidly declined after 4 day of preservation during incubation. The normal acrosome steadily declined from 93.3% at 0.5 h incubation to 73.8% at 6 h incubation at 1 day of preservation. However, the normal acrosome rapidly declined after 3 day of preservation during incubation. 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. Mean numbers of sperm in penetrated oocyte were highest in $10{\times}10^6$ sperm/ml compared with other sperm concentrations. The rates of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes (2-4 cell stage) were 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 $1{\times}10^6$sperm/ml concentration for in vitro fertilization of pig oocytes.

• 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.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.166-176
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• 2022

Objective: Sperm is particularly susceptible to reactive oxygen species (ROS) stress. Glutathione (GSH) is an endogenous antioxidant that regulates sperm redox homeostasis. However, it is not clear whether boar sperm could utilize cysteine for synthesis GSH to protect sperm quality from ROS damage. Therefore, the present study was undertaken to elucidate the mechanism of how cysteine is involved in protecting boar sperm quality during liquid storage. Methods: Sperm motility, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, 4-hydroxyIlonenal (4-HNE) modifications, mitochondrial membrane potential, as well as the levels of ROS, GSH, and, ATP were evaluated. Moreover, the enzymes (GCLC: glutamate cysteine ligase; GSS: glutathione synthetase) that are involved in glutathione synthesis from cysteine precursor were detected by western blotting. Results: Compared to the control, addition of 1.25 mM cysteine to the liquid storage significantly increased boar sperm progressive motility, straight-line velocity, curvilinear velocity, beat-cross frequency, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP level, acrosome integrity, activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase, and GSH level, while reducing the ROS level, lipid peroxidation and 4-HNE modifications. It was also observed that the GCLC and GSS were expressed in boar sperm. Interestingly, when we used menadione to induce sperm with ROS stress, the menadione associated damages were observed to be reduced by the cysteine supplementation. Moreover, compared to the cysteine treatment, the γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS) activity, GSH level, mitochondrial membrane potential, ATP level, membrane integrity and progressive motility in boar sperm were decreased by supplementing with an inhibitor of GSH synthesis, buthionine sulfoximine. Conclusion: These data suggest that boar sperm could biosynthesize the GSH from cysteine in vitro. Therefore, during storage, addition of cysteine improves boar sperm quality via enhancing the GSH synthesis to resist ROS stress.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.1127-1133
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• 2008

This study was designed to develop a method of liquid storage of boar sperm at $4^{\circ}C$ by using the modified Beltsville F5 (BF5) diluent with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine. Boar sperm were stored in lactose-egg yolk and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (LEN), BF5 and Golden-Pig liquid 4 (GPL4) diluents at $4^{\circ}C$ for 5 days and were examined for sperm viability, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). The percentage of sperm viability in GPL4 diluent was higher than in LEN and BF5 diluent from 1 to 5 days of storage at $4^{\circ}C$. The percentage of sperm viability steadily declined from 1 to 5 days of storage in the three different diluents. Sperm ATP in GPL4 diluent was higher than in LEN and BF5 diluents from 1 to 5 days of storage. Sperm ATP rapidly declined after 5 days of storage in the three different diluents. Porcine oocytes matured in vitro were inseminated with different sperm concentrations of liquid semen stored for 3 days in GPL4 diluent. The percentage of monospermic oocytes did not show any differences from 2.5 to $20{\times}10^5$ sperm/ml. However, the percentage of polyspermic oocytes in the sperm concentration of $2.5{\times}10^5$ sperm/ml was lower than in concentrations of 5, 10 and $20{\times}10^5$5 sperm/ml. The percentage of blastocysts from the cleaved oocytes at $2.5{\times}10^5/ml$ sperm concentration was significantly lower than at 5, 10 and $20{\times}10^5sperm/ml$ concentrations. In conclusion, GPL4 diluent can be stored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 5 days and showed higher sperm viability and sperm ATP concentration compared with LEN and BF5 diluents. Also, we found that GPL4 diluent can be used for IVF of porcine oocytes.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.6-9
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• 2000

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of lower numbers of sperm $(3{\times}10^9)$ per dose liquid semen and type of semen used in artificial insemination (AI) on sow reproductive performance in subtropical area. Semen was supplied by two commercial AI centers. A total of 671 female pigs from seven farms were inseminated with either $3{\times}10^9$ or $5{\times}10^9$ sperm per dose. Two types of semen were used: heterospermic semen from two boars of the same breed and homospermic semen from a single boar. After insemination, conception rate, farrowing rate, total litter size, and number of dead piglets were recorded. The analysis of variance indicated that there was no significant effect of interactions between pig farm, type of semen, or number of sperm on any of the traits measured. There were significant differences in conception rate, farrowing rate, and total litter size among pig farms (p<0.05). The effect of number of sperm per dose liquid semen ($3{\times}10^9$ or $5{\times}10^9$) was not significant. Sows inseminated with homospermic semen showed significantly higher conception and farrowing rates but significantly lower total litter size (p<0.05). In conclusion, the number of sperm per dose liquid semen for AI could be lowered to $3{\times}10^9 $ without affecting reproductive performance in subtropical areas like Taiwan.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.190-197
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• 2008

This study was designed to analyze boar sperm to compare motility, acrosome morphology, viability and ATP by various preservation methods between Duroc boar A with cold shock resistance sperm and Duroc boar B with cold shock sensitivity sperm. Semen volume, sperm concentration, motility and normal acrosome between Duroc boar A and B did not show any differences within 2 h after collection. There were no differences in sperm motility and normal acrosome between boar A and B at 1 day of preservation at $17^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, respectively. However, sperm motility and normal acrosome from 2 day of preservation at $17^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$, respectively, were higher for boar A than boar B. The frozen-thawed sperm motility and normal acrosome were higher for boar A than boar B. The sperm viability and ATP concentration according to storage period of liquid semen at $17^{\circ}C$ and $4^{\circ}C$ were higher for boar A than boar B. Also, the sperm viability and ATP concentration of frozen-thawed semen were higher for boar A than boar B. In conclusion, we found out that the original quality of boar semen with cold shock resistance sperm played an important role.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.33 no.11
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• pp.1763-1769
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• 2020

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of L-carnitine on the pig semen characteristics during storage. Methods: Spermatozoa samples were examined for spermatozoa quality and then randomly divided into 5 groups: 0 (control), 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 mM L-carnitine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and antioxidant parameters (total reactive oxygen species, total antioxidant capacity, and malondialdehyde) were evaluated after 0, 3, 5, and 10 day cooled-storage at 17℃. Moreover, ATP content, mitochondria activity as well as sperm-binding and in vitro fertilizing ability of preserved boar sperm were also investigated. Results: Supplementation with 50 mM L-carnitine could effectively maintain boar sperm quality parameters such as sperm motility and membrane integrity. Besides, we found that L-carnitine had positive effects on boar sperm quality mainly through improving antioxidant capacities and enhancing ATP content and mitochondria activity. Interestingly, by assessing the effect of L-carnitine on sperm fertility and developmental potential, we discovered that the extender containing L-carnitine could improve sperm quality and increase the number of sperms bounding to zona pellucida, without improving in vitro fertility and development potential. Conclusion: These findings suggested that the proper addition of L-carnitine to the semen extender improved boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17℃.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.7-11
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• 2015

Preservation of liquid semen is an important factor for breeding management in swine industry. Oxidative stress of spermatozoa during liquid preservation has a detrimental effect on sperm quality and decreases fertility. Objective of this study was to determine the effect of antioxidant, Quercetin, on capability of porcine liquid semen preservation. Freshly collected porcine semen from boars (n=3), having proven fertility was counted, diluted to $3{\times}10^7/mL$ and divided into 5 different semen extenders. Aliquots of diluted semen with different extenders were subjected to measure the pH, motility, viability and sperm DNA structure status on elapse time after preservation for 10 days. For the first 3 days, semen preserved in all 5 different extenders maintained their initial pH and either gradually decreased or increased thereafter, indicating lipid peroxidation has started. Sperm motility (r=0.52, p=0.01) and viability (r=0.55, p=0.03) had positive correlation with semen pH. Sperm motility was maintained well (p<0.05) in especially 2 extenders containing Tris and antioxidant compared to other extenders, suggesting both Tris and antioxidant worked as pH regulator and had beneficial effects on sperm characteristic during preservation. Sperm DNA structure status accessed by sperm chromatin structure assay on elapsed time after preservation, tended to be higher in semen preserved without antioxidant. Taken together, addition of antioxidant to extender prevents the sperm from oxidative stress during storage in mechanism by which antioxidant slows the lipid peroxidation, and thus reduced the reactive oxygen species in preserved porcine semen resulted in maintaining semen pH, sperm motility and viability for 7~10 days.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2016

This study investigated the effects of L-carnitine (LC) and nicotinic acid (NA) on sperm viability during liquid storage at $18^{\circ}C$ in miniature pigs. $10{\mu}M$ LC and 30 mM NA, combined LC and NA (LN) were treated in fresh semen for 3, 7, and 10 days. In results, sperm survival increased in NA- and LN-treated semen on 7 and 10 days (p<0.05), mitochondrial integrity of live sperm increased in LN-treated semen on 7 days (p<0.05), but not NA-treated semen. In addition, we examined the acrosome reaction of sperm in miniature pigs. LC and NA did not influence on acrosome reaction of boar sperm. In conclusion, LC and NA effectively maintained the viability and quality of sperm during long-term storage in miniature pigs, suggesting that the combined LN may be useful for improving the semen extender for long-term liquid storage in pigs.