• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.185-190
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• 2011

To evaluate the effect of spermatozoa culture on glycosidase activity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in human, the spermatozoa were treated experimentally and assayed for activities of ${\alpha}$-L-fucosidase, ${\alpha}$-D-mannosidase, ${\beta}$-D-galactosidase and N-acetyl-${\beta}$-D-glucosaminidase (${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase). The ${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase activity was at least two-folds higher than other glycosidases regardless of spermatozoa incubation (p<0.05). The spermatozoa motility was decreased with incubation periods, but no effects by different glycosidases on the changes of spermatozoa motility during the various periods of incubation. In all glycosidases, the spermatozoa-zona binding rates in spermatozoa without incubation were higher than in spermatozoa incubated for 2 h (p<0.05). ${\beta}$-GlcNAc'ase is present mainly in the plasma membrane of spermatozoa frozen-thawed in human. It was also shown that the glycosidase activity was increased in all glycosidases in spite of lower sperm-zona binding by spermatozoa incubation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.91-96
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• 1990

This experiment was designed to determine whether ${\alpha}$-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) can be used to predict membrane function of spermatozoa by measuring the uptake of AIB by fresh, stored and frozen-thawed rooster spermatozoa. When spermatozoa were stored at low temperature ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) for 24 h. no difference was found in AIB uptake compared with fresh spermatozoa, whereas storage for 48 h resulted in a slight increase in AIB uptake by spermatozoa. On the one hand, the uptake of AIB by frozen-thawed spermatozoa was less than that by fresh spermatozoa. This suggests possibility of a different membrane transport system between spermatozoa preserved at low temperature ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) and those frozen-thawed. Glycerol used as cryoprotectant may modify rooster sperm membrane in a different manner from cold preservation. Ouabaine ($10^{-4}M$) caused a slight decrease in AIB uptake, but caffeine ($10^{-2}M$) did not influence spermatozoal AIB uptake. These results indicate a successful application of AIB to rooster spermatozoa as a mean for measuring sperm membrane function and suggest a possible alteration of membrane transport system in rooster spermatozoa between cold ($0{\sim}3^{\circ}C$) and cryopreservation ($-196^{\circ}C$).

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.235-240
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• 2004

In vitro maturation of denuded porcine immature oocytes can be enhanced by co-incubation with spermatozoa even before fertilization. This study was to determine whether the addition of spermatozoa into the culture medium could influence the nuclear maturation of porcine cumulus-enclosed germinal vesicle (GV) oocytes. Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were collected from follicles of 3- to 5-mm diameter. Porcine COCs were cultured in tissue culture medium containing spermatozoa. After 48 h culture, oocytes were examined for evidence of GV breakdown, metaphase I, anaphase-telophase I, and metaphase II. The proportion of oocytes reaching at metaphase II was significantly (P < 0.05) increased in the oocytes cultured in media containing spermatozoa compared to those in media without spermatozoa (52.3% vs 12.5%). No difference in the percentage of metaphase II was observed among the different periods of spermatozoa exposure and among the spermatozoa from different species. The proportion of oocytes reaching metaphase II was significantly different between high and low concentrations of spermatozoa. The present study suggests that manunalian spermatozoa contain a substance(s) that improves nuclear in vitro maturation of porcine cumulus-enclosed GV oocytes. Enhancing effect of spermatozoa for in vitro maturation of oocytes is a highly dose-dependent.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.26 no.6
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• pp.558-565
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• 2008

Although the fertilizing ability of spermatozoa is greatly reduced after freezing, complete understanding of alterations induced by cryopreservation has not been elucidated. The present study evaluates the effects of cryopreservation on the $Ca^{2+}$ handling of boar spermatozoa using several sperm activators. Intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ signals from single spermatozoa were measured using confocal $Ca^{2+}$ imaging of unfrozen samples and of other spermatozoa after having been frozen. Elevation of the external $K^{2+}$ concentration elicited a three times larger $Ca^{2+}$ increase in fresh spermatozoa than in cryopreserved spermatozoa. Caffeine elicited $Ca^{2+}$ transients with some oscillations in the fresh spermatozoa, but not in the thawed spermatozoa. Depletion of the $Ca^{2+}$ store with thapsigargin induced a rapid rise in $Ca^{2+}$ in the control but generated a smaller increase of $Ca^{2+}$ after thawing. Exposure to progesterone induced a biphasic rise of the $Ca^{2+}$ level in the fresh spermatozoa only. Sperm viability was reduced by cryopreservation. Resting $Ca^{2+}$ levels in fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa were similar. Longer incubation (2.5 h) of thawed spermatozoa partly recovered the $Ca^{2+}$ response to the interventions. These results suggest that cryopreservation reduces the responsiveness of spermatozoa to depolarization, modulators of the internal $Ca^{2+}$ store and progesterone in terms of the $Ca^{2+}$ signal, thus providing a possible mechanism for reduced fertility observed in cryopreserved boar spermatozoa.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• v.56 no.7
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• pp.26.1-26.10
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• 2014

Background: Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substance, interfere with the endocrine system, and disrupt hormonal functions. However, the effect of endocrine disruptors in different species has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of $17{\beta}$-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), genistein (GEN) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), on capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. In this in vitro trial, spermatozoa were incubated with $0.001-100{\mu}M$ of each chemical either 15 or 30 min and then assessed capacitation status using chlortetracycline staining. Results: E2 significantly increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction after 30 min, while the acrosome reaction after 15 min incubation in mouse spermatozoa. Simultaneously, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were induced after 15 and 30 min incubation in porcine spermatozoa, respectively. Capacitation was increased in porcine spermatozoa after 15 min incubation at the lowest concentration, while the acrosome reaction was increased in mouse spermatozoa after 30 min (P < 0.05). E2 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa, but only at the highest concentration examined (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased the acrosome reaction in bovine and mouse spermatozoa treated for 15 min (P < 0.05). The same treatment significantly increased capacitation in porcine spermatozoa (P < 0.05). P4 significantly increased capacitation in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). GEN significantly increased the acrosome reaction in porcine spermatozoa treated for 15 and 30 min and in mouse spermatozoa treated for 30 min (P < 0.05). OP significantly increased the acrosome reaction in mouse spermatozoa after 15 min (P < 0.05). Besides, when spermatozoa were incubated for 30 min, capacitation and the acrosome reaction were higher than 15 min incubation in E2 or GEN. Furthermore, the responsiveness of bovine, mouse and porcine spermatozoa to each chemical differed. Conclusions: In conclusion, all chemicals studied effectively increased capacitation and the acrosome reaction in bovine, mouse, and porcine spermatozoa. Also we found that both E2 and P4 were more potent than environmental estrogens in altering sperm function. Porcine and mouse spermatozoa were more responsive than bovine spermatozoa.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.8 no.5
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• pp.415-418
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• 1995

Semen characteristics were examined to find the deterioration of the percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosome during hot season using 5 Holstein bulls located in Shirnizu-cho Hokkaido Japan. Spermatozoal viability and acrosomal status were observed simultaneously with triple-stain technique for each spermatozoon. Spermatozoa were divided in four categories (live spermatozoa with intact acrosome, live spermatozoa without intact acrosome, dead spermatozoa with intact acrosome and dead spermatozoa without intact acrosome). Bull and collection month had significant effects on semen characteristics (p < 0.01). The percentage of live spermatozoa with intact acrosome and the percentage of live spermatozoa had the lowest least squares mean by collection month in August (72.7% and 76.7%). These two characteristics indicated the obvious deterioration during hot season. But the fluctuation of these two characteristics were not parallel and the differences between the two characteristics were largest during July to September. The present results indicate the necessity for the simultaneous determination of viability and acrosomal status of each Holstein bull's spermatozoa in order to keep fertility above an acceptable minimum level during hot season.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.33 no.2
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• pp.75-84
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• 2018

The cryopreservation has been extensively applied in many cells including spermatozoa (semen) during past several decades. Especially, the canine spermatozoa cryopreservation has contributed on generation of progeny of rare/genetically valuable dog breeds, genome resource banking and transportation of male germplasm at a distant place. However, severe and irreversible damages to the spermatozoa during cryopreservation procedures such as the thermal shock (cold shock), formation of intracellular ice crystals, osmotic shock, stress of cryoprotectants and generator of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been addressed. According as a number of researches have been conducted to overcome these problems and to advance cryopreservation technique, several analytical methods have been employed to evaluate the quality of the fresh or cryopreserved canine spermatozoa in regards to the motility, morphology, integrity of membrane and DNA, mitochondrial activity, ROS generation, binding affinity to oocytes, in vitro fertilization potential and fertility potential by artificial insemination. Because the study designs with certain application of analytical methods are selective and varied depending on each experimental objective and laboratory condition, it is necessary to establish the normal reference data of the fresh or cryopreserved canine spermatozoa for each analytical method to monitor experimental procedure, to translate raw data and to discuss results. Here, we reviewed the recent articles to introduce various analytical methods for the canine spermatozoa as well as to establish the normal reference data for each analytical method in the fresh or cryopreserved canine spermatozoa, based on the results of the previous articles. We hope that this review contributes to the advancement of cryobiology in canine spermatozoa.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.156-160
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• 2017

We investigated the effect of ethylene glycol and antioxidants such as taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose with extenders during cryopreservation of Korean Jeju Black Bull spermatozoa. The cryopreservation of freshly collected spermatozoa was conducted with four different conditions. As a control, spermatozoa were cryopreserved with Tris egg-yolk extenders added 5% ethylene glycol (EG). Taurine (20 mM), hypotaurine (20 mM) and trehalose (20 mM) were individually added into tris egg-yolk extenders with 5% EG. After thawing of frozen spermatozoa with four different conditions, sperm viability, motility, acrosomal integrity, and membrane integrity were investigated. The significant (p < 0.05) improvement of sperm viability showed in all antioxidant treated thawed spermatozoa (taurine; $68.1%{\pm}4.4$, hypotaurine; $69.2%{\pm}6.7$ and trehalose; $68.0%{\pm}4.4$) when compared to control ($63.4%{\pm}5.6$). Neither positive nor detrimental effects of three antioxidants were shown sperm motility after thawing. The results of hypo-osmotic swelling test showed that the membrane integrity of taurine, hypotaurine or trehalose treated thawed spermatozoa ($64.1%{\pm}5.4$, $61.5%{\pm}3.7$ and $59.0%{\pm}4.0$, respectively) had significantly (p < 0.05) higher rate of the swollen sperm compared to control ($53.7%{\pm}9.7$). Hypotaurine treated frozen-thawed spermatozoa had siginificantly higher (p < 0.05) F pattern ratio than taurine, trehalose and control treated frozen-thawed spermatozoa. Trehalose added frozen-thawed spermatozoa had significantly higher (p < 0.05) acrosome reaction pattern ratio than taurine and hypotaurine added frozen-thawd spermatozoa. In this study, we found that antioxidants such taurine, hypotaurine and trehalose treatments during cryopreservation process could reduce damage of spermatozoa of Korean Jeju Black Bull and improved sperm capability of fertilization.

• Korean Journal of Animal Reproduction
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.141-147
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• 1988

These experiments were carried out to develop new techniques for in vitro separation of x-and Y-bearing spermatozoa. The results obtained in these experiments were summarized as follows: 1. Following centrifugation of discontinuous percoll density gradient, populatin of spermatozoa increased progressively from low to high density. The highest concentration of spermatozoa was observed at the 4th fraction which included 36.6% of spermatozoa. 2. As increasing percoll concentration, the higher motility index was obtained and the highest motility index(74.2) was obtained at the 5th fraction. 3. The percentage of B-body bearing spermatozoa following percoll density gradient centrifugation was decreased from 39.7% to 25.6%. 4. The sperm population following chromatography by sephadex gel and percoll density gradient centrifugation was decreased in 1st, 5th and 6th fractions but the reverse was turn for 2nd, 3rd and 7th fractions, and the highest sperm concentration was observed at the 7th fraction which included 37.4% of spermatozoa. 5. Motility index of spermatozoa was increased from 77.6 to 79.4 after the sephadex gel filtration, however it was decreased at all fractions after percoll density gradient centrifugation. The lowest motility index(33.2) was obtained from the 7th fraction. 6. The rate of B-body bearing spermatozoa was shown the trend to decrease by the sephadex gel filtration and the trend was accelerated by the percoll density gradient centrifugation. The lowest percentage of B-body bearing spermatozoa, 12.0% was obtained from the 5th fraction.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.147-151
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate DNA fragmentation status in human spermatozoa according to specific tail swelling patterns determined via hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST). Methods: Frozen semen samples from 21 healthy donors were thawed and prepared by the swim-up technique for use in intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The semen samples were treated for 5 minutes as part of the HOST procedure and then underwent the sperm chromatin dispersion test using a Halosperm kit. DNA fragmentation status (large halo, medium halo, small halo, no halo, or degraded) and the specific tail swelling pattern ("a"-"g") were assessed at the level of a single spermatozoon. A total of 42,000 spermatozoa were analyzed, and the percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation (as evidenced by a large or medium halo) was assessed according to the specific tail swelling patterns observed. Results: The HOST examinations showed that > 93% of spermatozoa across all types displayed no DNA fragmentation. The percentage of spermatozoa without DNA fragmentation was 100% in type "d", 98.67% in type "g", and 98.17% in type "f" spermatozoa. Conclusion: We found that the type "d" spermatozoa displayed no DNA fragmentation, but the other types of spermatozoa also displayed very low rates of DNA fragmentation. This result may be associated with the processing of the spermatozoa by density gradient centrifugation and the swim-up technique.