• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.82-90
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• 2021

In the present study, we examined if deep uterine artificial insemination (DUAI) can improve the pregnancy rate of artificial insemination (AI) using epididymal spermatozoa (ES) in Hanwoo cattle. The estrus cycles of 88 Hanwoo cows were synchronized, and 17 cows were artificially inseminated using the DUAI method with ES, 20 cows were artificially inseminated via the uterine body (BUAI) method with ES, and as a control, 51 cows were inseminated by using the BUAI method with ejaculated spermatozoa from 1 proven bull after frozen thawing. The pregnancy rate of the DUAI method (58.8%) was higher than that of the BUAI method (25.0%, p = 0.0498). The motility of ES was examined immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation. The rapid progressive sperm motility of the control group was significantly higher than that of the ES group immediately after thawing and after 3 and 6 h of incubation (p < 0.05). The straight line velocity and average path velocity of the ES group after 6 h of incubation were significantly lower than those in the control group (p < 0.05). The linearity and amplitude of lateral head of ES were lower than those at 6 h (p < 0.05). The flagellar beat cross frequency and hyperactivation of ES were lower than the control spermatozoa immediately after thawing and at 3 h (p < 0.05). These motility parameters suggested that ES had a low motility and fertilization ability compared to the control spermatozoa. After frozen-thawing and 3 h of incubation, the percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosomes in the ES was significantly lower than that in ejaculated spermatozoa (p < 0.05). Our findings suggested that the DUAI method can overcome the low pregnancy rate of ES, despite the low motility, viability, and fertilization ability of ES.

• Proceedings of the KSAR Conference
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• 2001.03a
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• pp.77-77
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• 2001

본 연구는 돼지 동결정액의 번식성적을 개선코자 기존의 maxi-straw와 cryogenic-vial을 이용하여 포장방법에 따른 동결방법과 융해방법별 정액성상 및 번식성적을 비교하였다. 동결방법은 두 가지 포장방법 모두 정액의 양(5$m\ell$)과 농도(5.0$\times$$10^{9}$/dose)가 동일한 조건으로 처리하였으며, LYE(Lactose egg york extender) 보존액으로 희석하여 액체질소 상단 15cm에서 20분간 동결하였다. 융해방법은 maxi-straw는 52$^{\circ}C$에서 45초간 cryogenic-vial은 52$^{\circ}C$에서 190초간 융해하여 $25^{\circ}C$로 가온 된 80$m\ell$ BTS (Beltsville thawing solution) 보존액과 혼합하였다. 정액성상검사는 정자자동분석기(SAIS : Sperm Analysis Image System, Korea)를 이용하였다. 총활력(TM : Total motility)과 정자의 빠르기(VCL : Curve linear velocity)는 maxi-straw가 54.3%와 46.6%로 cryogenic-vial의 35.6%와 36.6%보다 우수하였다(P<0.05). 정자의 직진성(STR : Straightness)과 NAR은 maxi-straw가 53.2%와 32.6%로 cryogenic-vial의 47.3%와 29.8%와 비슷한 경향을 나타내었다. 수태율과 분만율 및 총산자수는 maxi-straw가 77.3%, 68.2% 및 8.0두로 조사되어 cryogenic-vial포장방법의 66.7%, 61.9% 및 7.4두보다 다소 우수하였으나 통계적인 유의차는 인정되지 않았다. 이상의 결과로 볼 때 cryogenic-vial방법이 새로운 돼지 동결정액 포장방법의 가능성을 나타낸다고 사료된다.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.315-323
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• 2017

Preconceptual sex selection is still a highly debatable process whereby X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa are isolated prior to fertilization of the oocyte. Although various separation techniques are available, none can guarantee 100% accuracy. The aim of this study was to separate X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa using methods based on the viability difference between the X- and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa. A total of 18 experimental semen samples were used, written consent was obtained from all donors and results were analysed in a blinded fashion. Spermatozoa were exposed to different pH values (5.5, 6.5, 7.5, 8.5, and 9.5), increased temperatures ($37^{\circ}C$, $41^{\circ}C$, and $45^{\circ}C$) and ROS level ($50{\mu}M$, $750{\mu}M$, and $1,000{\mu}M$). The live and dead cell separation was done through a modified swim-up technique. Changes in the sex-chromosome ratio of samples were established by double-label fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) before and after processing. The results indicated successful enrichment of X-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa upon incubation in acidic media, increased temperatures, and elevated $H_2O_2$. This study demonstrated the potential role for exploring the physiological differences between X-and Y-chromosome-bearing spermatozoa in the development of preconceptual gender selection.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.116-123
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• 2018

The sperm quality is determined by the kinetic characteristics and acrosome integrity of the sperm. In the previous studies, analysis of semen quality had large errors because those experiments by using microscope had been conducted by people. In recent years, the molecular biological methods have been newly developed to complement the previous techniques. The ZAR1 gene is known to be a gene that affects early embryonic development in vertebrates, but there is no study of the association with semen. In this study, we analyzed the association between the kinetic characteristics and ZAR1 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype. To detect the SNPs, we performed sequencing using genomic DNA from the whole bloods of Duroc pigs. We identified an SNP in the ZAR1 gene g.2540T>C. ZAR1 SNP genotypeing in 105 pigs revealed that the major and minor alleles were T and C, respectively. After we analyzed the association between the kinetic characteristics of sperm and the ZAR1 SNP genotype, we found a significant association in MOT (p<0.01), VSL (p<0.05) of the kinetic characteristics in the Duroc boars. It was confirmed that the boars with T allele were lower in MOT and VSL than C allele. Therefore, pigs with C allele are judged to be better at the MOT and VSL of semen. Based on these results, ZAR1 SNP genotyping may be a useful molecular biomarker to improve semen quality by applying molecular breeding technology.