• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1424-1428
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• 2003

Present investigation was conducted to determine the post-thaw sperm motility and acrosomal damage of filtered and non-filtered frozen semen of Murrah buffalo bulls. Twenty semen ejaculates (from four Murrah buffalo bulls collected at weekly interval) were diluted in Tris egg yolk glycerol extender and divided into two parts. One was filtered through sephadex G-100 column and the other portion was kept as such (non-filtered). Both fractions were frozen in liquid nitrogen ($-196^{\circ}C$) by the standard method developed in the laboratory. After 24 h of freezing, non-filtered and filtered semen samples were thawed at $37^{\circ}C$ for 1 min. These samples were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ in a water both. The different seminal characteristics i.e. percent progressive sperm motility, live and abnormal spermatozoa and spermatozoa with damaged acrosome were assessed at hourly interval till they remained motile. The filtered frozen and thawed semen showed significantly (p<0.05) high sperm viability and acrosomal integrity as compared to non-filtered semen.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2024

Background: Sperm quality and the number of sperm introduced into the uterus during artificial insemination (AI) are pivotal factors influencing pregnancy outcomes. However, there have been no reports on the relationship between sperm concentration at AI and sperm quality in Hanwoo cattle. In this study, we examined sperm quality and pregnancy rates after AI using sperm inseminated at different concentrations. Methods: We evaluated the motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity of sperm at different concentrations (10, 15, 18, and 20 million sperm/straw) in 0.5-mL straws. Subsequently, we compared the pregnancy rates after AI with different sperm concentrations. Results: After freeze-thawing, sperm at the assessed concentrations showed similar viability and acrosomal membrane integrity. After AI, cattle in the 10 million group had significantly lower pregnancy rates compared to those in the 18 and 20 million groups. Conversely, there were no statistically significant variances observed between cattle in the 10 and 15 million groups. Conclusions: Sperm at concentrations of 10, 15, 18 and 20 million per straw exhibited comparable motility, viability, and acrosomal membrane integrity. However, a concentration of at least 18 million sperm per straw is required to achieve a consistent rate of pregnancy rate in Hanwoo cattle after AI.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 2006

A large number of toxicological substances and pharmacological and physical agents can cause reproductive intervention at the cellular and molecular level. The present study was designed to assess the effect of mercury ($HgCl_2$) at 50 to $550{\mu}M$ concentration ranges, in vitro, on the sperm membrane and DNA integrity, viability, and acrosomal status of normal bull spermatozoa. The samples were processed for sperm analyses using semen-diluting fluid (PBS, pH 7.2). We recorded a sharp increase in the lipid peroxidation/LPO rate; the highest was at $550{\mu}M$ mercury concentration, indicating a deleterious effect of mercury on the sperm membrane intactness. There was also a strong negative correlation between LPO rate and % viable spermatozoa (R = 0.987, p<0.001). Data obtained from a comet assay technique revealed that mercury is capable of inducing DNA breaks in the sperm nuclei. Interestingly, 92% of DNA breaks were double-stranded. The correlation between LPO rate and % DNA breaks was 0.984. Performing the gelatin test indicates that mercury is able to alter the integrity of acrosomal membranes showing an abnormal acrosome reaction. In this regard, a strong link was found between LPO rate and % halos (R = 0.990, p<0.001). Collectively, mercury proved to be a potent oxidant in the category of environmental factors affecting bull spermatozoa. Hence, considering the wide spread use of mercury and its compounds, these metals should be regarded with more concern.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.163-166
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• 2012

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between elapsed time after semen preservation on the changes of bacteria and semen quality. Semen was diluted with BTS(Beltsville Thawing Solution) extender without antibiotic for 7 days and sperm parameter and fertility were measured. Sperm motility was measured by CASA and total bacteria number was counted after 22~24 hr incubation from counting agar plate in which sperm dilute to $10{\sim}10^6$ in 0.9% saline solution and inoculate to agar. Acrosomal integrity was measured by Chlortetracycline (CTC) staining. CTC patterns were uniform fluorescence over the whole head (pattern F), characteristic of incapacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; fluorescence-free band in the post-acrosomal region (pattern B), characteristic of capacitated acrosome-intact spermatozoa; and almost no fluorescence over the whole head except for a thin band in the equatorial segment (pattern AR), characteristic of acrosome reacted spermatozoa. Total number of bacteria was significantly increased (p<0.0001) 3 days after preservation. Sperm motility, viability, and morphological abnormality on elapsed time after preservation were lower from 5 ($77.24{\pm}6.47$, p<0.001) and 7 days ($77.24{\pm}6.47$, p<0.001) after preservation compared to 1 ($15.71{\pm}7.18$) and 3 days($18.39{\pm}7.22$) after preservation, respectively. Sperm viability was significantly lower ($53.25{\pm}35.03$, p<0.0001) at 7 days after preservation. Morphological abnormality of sperm was lower (p<0.001) at 1 ($15.71{\pm}7.18$) and 3 ($18.39{\pm}7.22$) days compared to 5 ($21.84{\pm}7.91$) and 7 ($22.59{\pm}9.93$) days after preservation. Acrosomal integrity and capacitation rate (pattern F) were significantly lower (p<0.001) from 5 days after preservation. Based on the data we obtained from this study suggested that semen preserved more than 5 days without antibiotic would not recommend use for artificial insemination.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.22 no.5
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• pp.626-635
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• 2009

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of Butylated Hydroxy Anisole (BHA), Butylated Hydroxy Toluene (BHT), Pentoxifylline (PTX), Theophylline (TPY) and Theobromine (TBR) on cold protection ability of Murrah buffalo semen at room ($22-25^{\circ}C$) and refrigerated temperature ($4-7^{\circ}C$). Each semen sample was divided into six parts of equal volume and sperm concentration; the first was kept as a control and the remaining five were treated with BHA, BHT, PTX, TPY or TBR. Sperm motility, abnormal spermatozoa, live-dead count, hypo-osmotic swelling and acrosomal integrity were studied at room and refrigerated temperature for various incubation periods viz.; 0, 4, 8, 12 and 24 h at room and 0, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h at refrigerated temperature. Significant improvement in sperm motility, live-dead count, hypo-osmotic swelling and acrosomal integrity were observed in BHT, PTX and TPY fortified extender at room and refrigerated temperature for various incubation periods. From the present study it could be concluded that cold protection ability of buffalo semen can be improved through the addition of BHT followed by PTX and TPY.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.11-19
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• 2019

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) combined with bovine serum albumin (BSA) or methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) on plasma and acrosomal membrane damages, mitochondrial activity, morphological abnormality, motility, and oxidative stress in frozen-thawed boar sperm. In previous our study, 3 ng/mL ALA had been shown protective effect during freezing process of boar sperm. Therefore, we used 3 ng/mL ALA in present study and ALA was combined with same molar ratio of BSA or MBCD (ALA+BSA and ALA+MBCD, respectively). To confirm the effect of two carrier proteins, same volume of BSA and MBCD without ALA were added during cryopreservation. Membrane damage, mitochondrial activity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels were measured using flow cytometry, and movement of sperm tail as motility parameter and morphological abnormality were observed under light microscope. In results, all of sperm parameters were enhanced by ALA combined with BSA or MBCD compared to control groups (p<0.05). Mitochondrial activity, morphological abnormality, ROS and LPO levels in ALA+BSA or MBCD groups were no significant difference compared with ALA, BSA and MBCD treatment groups. On the other hand, plasma and acrosomal membrane intact, and sperm motility in ALA+MBCD group were higher than single treatment groups (p<0.05), whereas ALA+BSA did not differ. Our findings indicate that carrier proteins such as BSA and MBCD could improve the effect of ALA during cryopreservation of boar sperm, and treatment of ALA with carrier proteins enhance membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity through reduction of ROS-induced LPO.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.27-31
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• 2016

The aim of this study was to evaluate effect of ${\alpha}$-linolenic acid (ALA) on viability, acrosome reaction and mitochondrial intact in frozen-thawed boar sperm. The boar semen was collected by gloved-hand method and cryopreserved in 20% egg yolk freezing extender containing ALA (0, 3, 5, and 10 ng/mL) with 0.05% ethanol. The frozen-boar spermatozoa were thawed at $37.5^{\circ}C$ for 45 sec in water-bath. The spermatozoa samples were evaluated the plasma membrane integrity, acrosome reaction, and mitochondrial integrity using flow cytometry. In results, population of live sperm with intact plasma membrane was significantly higher in control and 3 ng/mL ALA treatment group than ethanol group (p<0.05). In contract, dying sperms were higher in ethanol group than 3 ng/mL ALA treatment (p<0.05). Acrosomal membrane damage in all sperm population was reduced in 3 ng/mL ALA groups compared with ethanol treatment (p<0.05). However, acrosome damage in live sperm population was no significant difference among the all treatment groups. Mitochondrial integrity was not influenced by ALA treatments in both of live and all sperm population. In conclusion, this results show that supplement of ALA during the cryopreservation process could reduce the membrane damages including plasma and acrosomal membrane, whereas ALA did not influence to mitochondria in boar spermatozoa. Therefore, these results suggest that ALA can protect against the membrane damage derived cryo-stress, and cryopreservation efficiency of boar semen would be improved by use of ALA.

• Journal of Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2020

In the present study, we examined the effect of straw size on spermatozoa motility, viability, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity after freezing-thawing. Hanwoo semen was collected from three bulls and diluted with an animal protein-free extender, divided into two groups, namely, 10 million spermatozoa in 0.25 mL and 20 million spermatozoa in 0.5 mL straw, and cryopreserved. In Experiment 1, the motility and motility parameters of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were evaluated. After freezing-thawing, the spermatozoa motility parameters fast progressive, straight line velocity, and average path velocity were compared between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 35.2 ± 1.0 and 32.3 ± 0.7%, 34.6 ± 0.7 and 31.8 ± 0.5 μm/s, 51.4 ± 1.3 and 47.1 ± 1.1 μm/s, 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups, respectively. In Experiment 2, the viability, acrosome membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of the frozen-thawed spermatozoa were assessed. After freezing-thawing, the percentages of spermatozoa with live, intact acrosomes and high mitochondrial membrane potential were compared between the in 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. They were 48.0 ± 2.6% and 35.6 ± 2.8% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In Experiment 3, the plasma membrane integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa was compared. After freezing-thawing, the plasma membrane integrity was higher for the in 0.25 mL straw group than the 0.5 mL straw group. They were 62.0 ± 2.2 and 54.1 ± 1.3% between the 0.25 mL straw and 0.5 mL straw groups. In conclusion, our results suggest that freezing semen in 0.25 mL straw improves the relative motility, viability, and acrosomal, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasma membrane integrity of Hanwoo bull spermatozoa.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.15-22
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• 1995

Since the turn of the century, scientists have earnestly sought to develop a single laboratory assay or combination of laboratory assays which accurately predict the fertility of a semen sample. Most of these assays have focused on evaluating physical characteristics of sperm such as motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and morphology. In recent years new approches have been used to assess the functional aspects of a sperm that are needed to reach the oocyte, fertilize it and contribute to successful embryo development. Among these techniques are the ability of sperm to undergo a heparin induced acrosome reaction and in vitro fertilization, and the affinity of sperm to bind heparin binding protein. Intensification of research efforts in the area of control of sperm fertilizing ability should be a high priority, in view of undoubted benifits both to our basic understanding of sperm fertilizing ability and to our ability to modify it for Al industry.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.265-271
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• 2011

This study was undertaken to find out the effect of methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (MBCD) on cold shock and membrane cholesterol quantity of sperm during the freezing process in miniature pigs. For this study, semen ejaculated from PWG M-type miniature pig was diluted that freezing solution (with egg yolk group) and m-Modena B (without egg yolk group) treated with 0, 1, 5, 10 and 20 mM MBCD before freezing process. The diluted semen was monitored sperm ability at room temperature, after cooled until $5^{\circ}C$ and after forzen-thawed for cold shock test of spermatozoa. Also, membrane cholesterol of sperm was extracted by folch solution at the same time sperm ability was assessed for viability and acrosomal status. The membrane cholesterol quantity was measured by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) method. The result, viability and acrosome integrity in semen diluted without egg yolk groups were decreased at all temperature range by increasing of MBCD concentration. In particular, sperm of egg yolk group was showed that significantly higher viability and lower acrosome damage when treated with 5 mM MBCD (p<0.05). The results of TLC experiment, cholesterol amounts were increased with MBCD cocentration in egg yolk, and decreased with MBCD concentration in m-Modena B. In cryopreservation efficiency, there was no significant difference at viability, and acrosomal state of sperm in 5 mM MBCD concentration was significantly lower in acrosome damage than other groups (p<0.05). Therefore, the addition MBCD in egg yolk was protected spermatozoa from cold shock injury. This protective effect of MBCD may be due to addition of sperm membrane cholesterol.