• 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.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.10
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• pp.1417-1425
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• 2014

The selection of morphologically normal spermatozoa is critical to obtain high breeding performances in boar breeding farms and artificial insemination (AI) centers. Parameters for the selection of semen mainly include total sperm motility, concentration, and morphology. However, these primary parameters are often not reliable for discriminating between normal and abnormal, non-fertilizable spermatozoa. The present study was designed to compare the motion characteristics, fertilization ability using in vitro fertilization (IVF), and acrosome formation of the semen from boars having low (boar number 2012) and normal (boar number 2004 and 2023) breeding performances. The ultimate goal was to identify additional simple and easy criteria for the selection of normal sperm. There was no significant difference between boar 2004 and boar 2023 sperm total motility in computer assisted sperm analysis. However, boar number 2012 semen presented a significantly reduced population of rapid moving spermatozoa and an increased population of slow moving spermatozoa compared to boar numbers 2004 and 2023. Analysis of detailed motion characteristics revealed that sperm from boar number 2012 had significantly reduced motility in progressiveness, average path velocity, straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straightness, and linearity. The assessment of the fertilizing ability by IVF also showed that sperm from boar number 2012 showed a fertility rate of 3.4%, whereas sperm from boar number 2023 had a fertility rate of 75.45%. Interestingly, most of the sperm nuclei were found on the peripheral area of the oocytes, suggesting that the sperm from boar number 2012 lacked penetration ability into the oocyte zonapellucida. The acrosome formation analysis using Pisum sativum agglutinin staining demonstrated that the sperm from boar number 2012 had a defect in acrosome formation. Consequently, primary parameters for selecting semen before AI such as motility are not sufficient to select normal and fertilizable spermatozoa. In conclusion, the present study suggests that the acrosome staining and detailed motion characteristics such as progressiveness, VCL, and VSL should be included in determining semen quality together with primary parameters for successful AI and high breeding performance in the swine industry.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.8
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• pp.943-947
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• 2016

The objective of this study was to see if fairly simple magnetic nano-particle treatment enhances boar semen qualities. Boar semen samples were prepared from the swine AI center and samples were divided by 4 different motility groups (1, >90%; 2. 80~90%; 3. 70~80%; 4. <70%) using computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA) evaluation. Boar semen was extended using BTS extender and same number of magnetic nano-particles as total number of spermatozoa in each sample was treated for 20 min and collected for 5 min at room temperature. Sperm qualities such as motility and viability were evaluated by the CASA before and after treatment. Sperm abnormality and degree of agglutination were also evaluated under the microscopic examination before and after treatment. There were significant changes (p<0.05) on sperm motility from all 4 different groups in the average of 7.11% after treatment. The enhancement of sperm motility changes was more clear in the groups of lower sperm motile groups (<70% and 70~80%; 19.12±1.08% and 5.67±0.71%, p<0.05). The sperm motility character in terms of curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP) and linearity (LIN, %) showed also similar pattern but motility enhancement wear more clear in below 70% motile group. Average sperm viability was increased to 4% by magnetic nano-particles (p<0.05). The percentage of sperm abnormality was also reduced significantly (p<0.05) to the range of 3.7~4.5% before after treatment. The degree of sperm agglutination was also reduced in lower motility groups by the magnetic nano-particle purification.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.852-861
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• 2024

Objective: The present study aimed to investigate the effect of β-nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) supplementation on ram sperm quality during storage at 4℃ in vitro. Methods: Tris-citric acid-glucose solution containing different doses of NMN (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 µM) was used to dilute semen collected from rams and it was stored at 4℃. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity as well as acrosome integrity were evaluated at 0, 24, and 48 h time points after storage at 4℃. In addition, sperm mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation (LPO), malondialdehyde (MDA) content, reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, glutathione (GSH) content, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, and apoptosis were measured at 48 h time point after storage at 4℃. Results: Results demonstrate that the values obtained for sperm motility, acrosome integrity, and plasma membrane integrity in the NMN treatments were significantly higher than control (p<0.05). The addition of 60 µM NMN significantly improved ram sperm mitochondrial activity and reduced LPO, MDA content, and ROS content compared to control (p<0.05). Interestingly, sperm GSH content and SOD activity for the 60 µM NMN treatment were much higher than those observed for control. NMN treatment also decreased the level of Cleaved-Caspase 3, Cleaved-Caspase 9, and Bax while increasing Bcl-2 level in sperm at 48 h time point after storage at 4℃. Conclusion: Ram sperm quality can be maintained during storage at 4℃ with the addition of NMN at 60 µM to the semen extender. NMN also reduces oxidative stress and apoptosis. Overall, these findings suggest that NMN is efficient in improving the viability of ram sperm during storage at 4℃ in vitro.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.159-164
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• 2007

The viable cell of 60% drinking water among 25 drinking water served in restaurant of Daegu district showed above 100 CFU/mL which is sanitary standard of drinking water. The 50 CEO of restaurant considered drinking water served in their own restaurant as just safe and were very deficient in aware of sanitation about drinking water. Sensory quality of drinking water boiled with plant materials, such as barley, Cassia semen, corn, Buckwheat, Korean solomon's seal, Chamomile, Brown rice-green and peppermint was improved in color, taste, flavor and overall acceptability compare to marketed drinking water, respectively. Especially drinking water boiled with Korean solomon's seal was the best In overall acceptability. The number of total bacteria reached above $10^2 CFU/mL$ in marketed drinking water after 4 days storage at 10. But the growth of microorganism did not occur in boiled drinking water with Brown rice-green tea, Korean solomon's seal, barley, Cassia semen and com during storage for 10 days at $10^{\circ}C$, respectively. The number of total bacteria reached above $10^2 CFU/mL$ in marketed drinking water after storage for 1 days at $25^{\circ}C$. The growth of microorganism was accelerated in boiled drinking water with corn, Korean solomon's seal, barley, Cassia semen except Brown rice-green tea during storage far 10 days at $25^{\circ}C$, respectively.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2009

Objectives: Seminal concentration of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-${\alpha}$) relevant to sperm nuclear DNA integrity has not been studied. The present study aimed to evaluate seminal concentration of TNF-${\alpha}$ in correlation with sperm parameters and nuclear DNA integrity in asymptomatic healthy donors. Methods: Semen samples were obtained by masturbation from forty-five healthy donors. Results: Sperm quality was assessed by computer-assisted semen analysis and nuclear DNA integrity measured by the TUNEL assay in raw semen. TNF-${\alpha}$ concentrations were measured by ELISA in frozen-thawed seminal plasmas. Sperm DNA fragmentation rates were ranged between 1.9% and 53.0% (mean${\pm}$SD, 12.4${\pm}$9.6%). Univariate analysis revealed that DNA fragmentation rate was not associated with sperm concentration or motility but had a correlation with linearity negatively (r=-0.325, p=0.03) and age positively (r=0.484, p=0.001). The mean seminal concentration of TNF-${\alpha}$ was 4.9 pg/mL with a range from 1.1 to 22.6 pg/mL. The TNF-${\alpha}$ concentration had no correlation with clinically relevant parameters of sperm quality or nuclear DNA fragmentation rate. Conclusion: Our results indicate that sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation may be not associated with seminal TNF-${\alpha}$ level or sperm quality in asymptomatic healthy donors.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.318-325
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• 2010

Two experiments were designed to evaluate the effects of the amino acids glycine and cysteine on cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. After primary evaluation of collected ejaculates, the semen samples were pooled and diluted 1:4 before cooling (experiment 1) and freezing (experiment 2) with Tris-Citrate-Fructose-Yolk (TCFY) extender supplemented with different concentrations of glycine and cysteine (5, 10, 15 and 20 mM). As the control, semen was diluted and frozen in the extender without amino acids. Motility, viability and membrane integrity were assessed as the parameters for semen quality in the first experiment. In the second experiment, motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity were evaluated after the freezing-thawing process. The results of the first experiment indicated that the addition of 10 and 15 mM cysteine compared to the control (basic) extender significantly increased (p<0.01) the motility, viability and membrane integrity of spermatozoa after cooling. However, further increasing these amino acids up to 20 mM had a significant negative effect (p<0.05). Our results showed no significant differences (p>0.05) between 5 mM glycine compared to 5 mM cysteine and between 20 mM glycine and 20 mM cysteine. The results of experiment 2 showed that the amino acids significantly improved post-thaw motility, progressive motility, viability, membranes and acrosome integrity of ram spermatozoa. These positive effects were observed at concentrations between 5 to 15 mM of glycine and cysteine, with the best results at 15 mM. Further increasing of amino acid concentrations significantly decreased the post-thaw characteristics of spermatozoa, but the results showed that cysteine was better than glycine and control extenders. The data indicated that addition of glycine or cysteine to the freezing extender can be recommended for cryopreservation of ram spermatozoa. However, further studies are still needed to determine the effect of such addition on fertility in farm animals.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2018

Objective: The aim of this study was to measure reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the seminal fluid of the male partners in couples undergoing intrauterine insemination and to evaluate correlations between these values and their semen parameters. Methods: The study was conducted at Vamsam Fertility Center, Coimbatore, India and enrolled 110 male patients from whom semen samples were collected. ROS production was measured by a thiobarbituric acid reactive species assay, and TAC was measured by a 2,2-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl free radical assay. The differences in the TAC and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels between the subfertile and fertile groups were analysed. Correlations between sperm parameters and TAC and MDA levels were statistically analysed, and cutoff values with respect to the controls were determined. All hypothesis tests used were two-tailed, with statistical significance assessed at the level of p< 0.05. Results: A total of 87 subfertile and 23 fertile men were included in the study. The mean MDA level was significantly higher in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects, and the mean antioxidant level was significantly lower in the subfertile subjects than in the fertile subjects. Seminal MDA levels were negatively associated with sperm concentration, motility, and morphology, whereas the opposite was seen with TAC levels. Conclusion: Measurements of seminal TAC and ROS are valuable for predicting semen quality, and hence predicting the outcomes of fertility treatment.

• Korean journal of food and cookery science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.557-567
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• 2000

An optional ingredient, jasoja(Perillae semen), was adopted to improve the quality of Dongchimi. The final weight percentage of jasoja in Dongchimi was adjusted to 0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, or 1.0%, per radish, and sensory and microbiological characteristics were determined during fermentation at 10 for 45 days. The effect was varied depending on the amounts of jasoja, but Dongchimi fermented with 0.5% jasoja was most favored for color, flavor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability in sensory evaluation. According to a quantitative descriptive analysis for the product, the liquid portion of Dongchimi steadily became clearer and less sour in proportion to the amount of added jasoja. However, a strong off-taste was detected from 1.0% treatment. The viable cell numbers of total and lactic acid bacteria drastically increased during the first 2 days, and then gradually increased to their maximum values during fermentation and slowly decreased at the later stage. Dongchimi with 0.5% treatment showed a distinctive high number of microorganisms at the 15th-day of fermentation and this trend was maintained until the completion of fermentation. The lactic acid bacteria isolated and identified from Dongchimi were; Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Lactococcus faecalis, and Lactococcus lactis. The combined number of Lactobacillus brevis and Lactobacillus plantarum began to increase right after preparation to as much as 10$\^$7/CFU/㎖, then decreased to 10-10$^3$CFU/㎖ afterward. This study showed that the addition of jasoja retarded the initial fermentation of Dongchimi; however, too much jasoja at above 1% weight level per Chinese radish might accelerate fermentation at the later fermentation stage and shoud be avoided. A comparable fermentation pattern was observed among the samples; however, more acceptable Dongchimi could be prepared by fermenting for 11 to 30 days at 0.5% jasoja concentration per radish.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.13-18
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• 2013

The increase in the meat quality and milk production of cows, which breed Korean Native Cow (KNC) and Holstein cow, is not improving reproductive efficiency. In this study, we examined the effect of interferon (IFN) supplementation on motility of frozen-thawed semen and pregnancy rate after artificial insemination of KNC and Holstein cow. In experiment 1, we investigated the effect of IFN-tau concentration (10,000 IU and 20,000 IU) on the percentage of total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In experiment 2, KNC were infused 20,000 IU IFN-tau at insemination or after insemination. In experiment 3, KNC or Holstein cow were inseminated with frozen-thawed semen and infused 20,000 IU IFN-gamma or -tau after insemination. In experiment 1, the average of TM (23.9% to 30.9%) and PM (18.5% to 21.9%) were similar between control and treatments. In experiment 2, the pregnancy rates of IFN infusing times were not different from 45.8% to 53.6%. In experiment 3, the pregnancy rates of Holstein cow infused different kinds of IFN were similar (control, IFN-gamma, IFN-tau; 42.9%, 40.5%, 48.0%). In the case of KNC, however, the pregnancy rate of control was 55.6%, which was significantly lower than that of IFN-gamma (68.9%; p<0.05). Thus, IFN is effective on the improvement of reproductive efficiency, but further study is needed.