Effect of different concentrations of trehalose and glycerol on the freezability of ram semen using soybean lecithin-based diluents

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (5) ◽  
pp. 666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zh. Bohlool ◽  
M. Mohammadi ◽  
M. Roostaei-Ali Mehr ◽  
N. Ghavi Hossein-Zadeh

This study was conducted to determine the effect of different levels of trehalose and glycerol on ram sperm cryosurvival using lecithin-based diluents. Ejaculates were collected from four rams, pooled after initial evaluation, diluted with Tris-soybean lecithin extender and split into nine equal parts. A total of 0 (T0), 50 (T50) or 100 (T100) mM of trehalose and 3% (G3), 5% (G5) or 7% (G7) of glycerol were added to each part. Sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were evaluated immediately after thawing (0 h), and subsequently after 3 h and 6 h post-thawing incubation at 37°C. Results indicated that there was interaction between trehalose and glycerol on sperm motility. In addition, interaction of trehalose and glycerol with incubation time on sperm motility, viability, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity was not significant (P > 0.05). Sperm motility was greatest in the sperm treated with 100 mM trehalose and 7% glycerol (27%; P < 0.05). The effect of trehalose was significant on viability and plasma membrane integrity of ram spermatozoa (P < 0.05). The main effect of trehalose showed that sperm viability was higher in T100 (47.06%) than T50 (53.96%; P < 0.05). The highest membrane integrity was observed in T100 (47.04%; P < 0.05). Membrane integrity was higher (P < 0.05) in G5 (49.97%) than G3 (41.56%) and there was no difference between G7 (46.86%) and G3 (41.56%; P > 0.05). The best sperm viability and plasma membrane integrity was observed at 0 h (65.75% and 51.58%, respectively). It was concluded that simultaneous use of 7% glycerol and 100 mM trehalose had a desirable effect on motility of ram frozen–thawed sperm.

2007 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 594 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Fitzsimmons ◽  
E. A. McLaughlin ◽  
M. J. Mahony ◽  
J. Clulow

In the present study, we investigated handling, activation and assessment procedures for cane toad (Bufo marinus) spermatozoa. Optimisation of these techniques will facilitate the maintenance of sperm viability during cryopreservation and during in vitro fertilisation (IVF) techniques in reproduction technologies for endangered species. Spermatozoa were taken from testicular macerates and assessed using plasma membrane integrity assays (live/dead stains) and quantitative scores of motility parameters. In the assessment of sperm viability using live/dead stains, there were small but significant differences in the percentage of sperm from cryopreserved samples staining positive with propidium iodide, Hoechst H33258 and Trypan blue; these differences were not large and all stains performed acceptably. Spermatozoa were activated by dilution of testicular macerates in water at one of two dilution ratios (1 : 6 or 1 : 20) with or without 0.1–5.0 mm theophylline. Sperm plasma membrane integrity (unstained spermatozoa) was unaffected by either dilution ratio (osmolarity) or theophylline concentration. However, sperm motility was significantly affected by osmolarity and theophylline concentration. The stimulation of sperm motility increased with higher theophylline concentrations and these strongly interacted with lower osmolarities through a higher dilution ratio of sperm macerates with water. Spermatozoa were exposed to increasing centrifugation forces to determine tolerance to physical stresses encountered during washing procedures. Forces between 50 and 800g were associated with a significant reduction in motility (mean 56 ± 3% decreasing to 27 ± 3%), but did not affect staining. In conclusion, centrifugation should be minimised in anuran sperm washing procedures; osmotic shock associated with higher dilution ratios reduces the capacity of anuran sperm to achieve high percentages of motile sperm, leading to a likely trade-off between dilution required for activation and sperm motility to optimise IVF fertilisation rates; and optimal conditions for sperm motility after activation occur at lower dilutions of suspensions with 5.0 mm theophylline. The present study has improved protocols for the handling of anuran sperm during pre- and post-cryopreservation procedures.


2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Lecewicz ◽  
W. Kordan ◽  
A. Majewska ◽  
S. Kamiński ◽  
A. Dziekońska ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of the study was to determine the effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) on selected quality parameters of cryopreserved bull semen with reduced sperm motility used for artificial insemination. The aim of experiment 1 was to identify the optimal concentration of the phospholipid able to preserve sperm viability. Cryopreserved semen was treated with different PAF concentrations: 1×10-5M, 1×10-6M, 1×10-7M, 1×10-8M and 1×10-9M. The experiment demonstrated that PAF at concentration 1×10-9M increased most the sperm viability parameters (motility parameters, plasma membrane integrity and mitochondrial function) after 120 min of incubation of thawed semen at 37°C. Cryopreserved bull semen with reduced sperm motility (below 70%) was supplemented with PAF in a concentration of 1×10-9M. A statistically significant increase in sperm motility, percentage of linear motile spermatozoa and VSL value was observed after 120 min incubation of sperm with 1×10-9M PAF. Sperm supplementation with PAF also had positive effects on plasma membrane integrity and percentage of spermatozoa with preserved mitochondrial transmembrane potential, but the differences were not statistically significant. The results indicated positive effects of PAF supplementation at a concentration of 1×10-9M on the selected sperm quality parameters in cryopreserved bull semen with reduced motility.


2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (3) ◽  
pp. e0406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Diaz-Jimenez ◽  
Jesus Dorado ◽  
Cesar Consuegra ◽  
Blasa Pereira ◽  
Isabel Ortiz ◽  
...  

Aim of study: There is little information about vitrification of sperm in large volumes (up to 0.5 mL). This study aimed to develop the vitrification technique in 0.5 mL straws in donkey sperm, evaluating the effect of three warming temperatures.Area of study: Cordoba, Spain.Material and methods: Ejaculates from five donkeys were divided in four groups: one control subjected to conventional slow freezing (C) and three vitrified in 0.5 mL straws and warmed using different protocols (W1: 37ºC/30s, W2: 43ºC/20s and W3: 70ºC/8s+37ºC/52s). Sperm motility, kinematic parameters, plasma membrane and acrosome integrity were evaluated. Conventional freezing resulted in significantly higher values for total (42.7±19.6%), and progressive motility (30.3±16.7%), plasma membrane (49.1±10.4%) and acrosome integrity (39.6±14.5%) respect to vitrification method.Main results: Values after warming ranged between 0.2-2.8% for total motility; 0.2-2.1% for progressive motility; 5.5-20.0% for plasma membrane integrity and 14.5-29.8% for acrosome integrity in all warming protocols after sperm vitrification. However, no differences were found between W3 and C for kinematic parameters; and W3 resulted in significantly higher values for membrane integrity (20.0±11.0%) in comparison to W1 (5.5±3.6%) and W2 (9.3±8.4%).Research highlights: High warming rates seem to be better for donkey sperm vitrification in large volumes; but this methodology is still not an alternative to conventional sperm freezing.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 235-241
Author(s):  
Pankaj Kumar Jha ◽  
M Golam Shahi Alam ◽  
Farida Yeasmin Bari

The effect of freezing methods and diluents types on post-thaw sperm quality of Bangladeshi ram semen was studied. Two freezing methods and three diluents was tested as pooling effects (freezing methods or diluents) on post-thaw sperm parameters; sperm motility (SM), viability (SV), plasma membrane integrity (SPMI) and acrosome integrity (SAI), respectively. From selected ten rams, eight ejaculates were used for each freezing group (freezing methods × diluents). Semen samples were diluted by using two-steps for hand-made tris-based diluents (20% egg yolk): D1 (7% glycerol) and D2 (5% glycerol), and one-step dilution for commercial diluents: D3 (Triladyl®) at 35°C. After 4h of equilibration of temperature at 5°C, diluted semen samples was aspirated into 0.25 mL straws, and sealed. Straws were frozen in liquid nitrogen (LN2) vapour using two methods: F1 (manually in Styrofoam box, using three-steps method; +5°C to -80°C at -11.33°C/min, -80°C to -120°C at -26.66°C/min, and -120°C to -140°C at - 13.33°C/min) and F2 (programmable bio-freezer, using two-steps method; +5°C to -100°C at - 20°C/min and -100°C to -140°C at -10°C/min). Two semen straws from each batch were evaluated (37°C for 20 sec) for sperm parameters. In pool effects between freezing methods; SAI differed significantly (P < 0.001). The SM (56%) and SV (72%) were observed competitive. However, SPMI (67.58 ± 2.02%) and SAI (76.13 ± 1.42%) were higher in F1. Among diluents, SM (P < 0.006), SV (P < 0.008), SPMI (P < 0.012) and SAI (P < 0.019) differed significantly. The SM (61.25 ± 1.80%), SV (77.13 ± 1.47%), SPMI (68.31 ± 1.91%) and SAI (74.75 ± 1.64%) were highest in D3. In conclusion, the combination of manual freezing (three-steps) and handmade tris-based diluents (20% egg yolk, 5% glycerol) is suitable and sustainable method for cryopreservation of ram semen. Res. Agric., Livest. Fish.7(2): 235-241,  August 2020


2012 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 137
Author(s):  
Z. Namula ◽  
V. V. Luu ◽  
Y. Kaedei ◽  
R. Kodama ◽  
T. Otoi

Liquid preservation can be used as an alternative to freeze-thawing for preserving semen for AI. The efficiency of some boar semen extenders has been studied over storage periods of 5 to 7 days. The objective of this study was to evaluate the viability and penetrability of boar spermatozoa preserved at 5°C in a modified Modena-based extender supplemented with either 100 μM vitamin C (Vc), 100 μM vitamin E (Ve), or 100 μM Vc + 100 μM Ve (Vc + e). The final sperm concentration was adjusted to cells mL–1 and the semen was then stored at 5°C for 4 weeks. In Experiment 1, the semen samples were assessed every week during the 4-week storage in each extender for the following factors: motility, by using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA); viability, by using the Live/Dead fluorescence viability assay; plasma membrane integrity, by using the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOST); and acrosome integrity, by using fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labelled peanut agglutinin staining. In Experiment 2, we examined the penetrability of spermatozoa that had been stored in each extender for 4 weeks and the development of fertilized oocytes. Data were analysed using ANOVA. In Experiment 1, when the semen was stored for 2 weeks, the mean percentage values of total sperm motility and viability for semen stored with Ve were significantly higher than those for semen stored without Vc and Ve (control group) (84.3 vs 67.9% and 59.8 vs 51.2%, respectively; P < 0.05). Moreover, the percentage sperm motility for semen stored for 4 weeks tended to be higher in the Ve group than in the control group (44.2 vs 32.7%; P < 0.1). Storage with Vc or Vc + e did not improve sperm motility and viability of semen. The plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity of semen did not significantly differ among the groups during the 4-week storage. In Experiment 2, the rates of sperm penetration and of development to blastocysts of fertilized oocytes did not differ between the Ve and control groups (33.0 vs 28.5% and 14.9 vs 10.1%, respectively; P > 0.05). However, storage with Vc reduced the rate of oocyte development compared with the Ve and control groups (1.1%; P < 0.05). In conclusion, adding Ve to the semen extender may improve the motility and fertility of boar semen stored at 5°C. However, adding Vc has a harmful effect on the quality and fertility of stored boar semen.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. M. Penfold

Okapi would benefit from artificial insemination with frozen-thawed sperm in cases where aggression prevents mating or where individuals are geographically disparate. Effective sperm cryopreservation is a prerequisite to this goal. Ejaculates (n = 20) were collected from 7 anesthetized adult male okapi housed individually, or with a female for breeding, throughout the year by electroejaculation, and semen and sperm parameters were assessed. Semen aliquots were centrifuged; resuspended in 500 µL of PBS with the osmolarity adjusted to 35, 75, 150, 600, 1200, and 2400 mOsm; and incubated for 30 min before returning to isosmotic conditions. Semen was extended in TEST containing 1%, 2%, or 4% glycerol with or without 0.5% Equex (Minitube, Verona, WI, USA); 5-µL aliquots were cooled in a Latin square design on a Linkam BCS 196 cryomicrostage (Linkam Scientific, Tadworth, Surrey, UK) at 20�C min–1 to –6� –12�C at which point ice crystal formation was induced (seeded), and cooled further to –70�C before warming at 50�C min–1 to 35�C (okapi body temperature). To investigate cooling effects only, raw ejaculate was cooled to –6�C without seeding and warmed to 35�C. Percent sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) were recorded before and after treatments. Differences were examined using one-way repeated measures analysis of variance. No differences in motility, total sperm numbers, or percent normal morphology were observed throughout the year (P > 0.05), although the power of the test was low so that negative findings should be interpreted cautiously. Mean semen volume was 1.3 � 0.19 mL, sperm motility was 29 � 3.2%, with a PMI of 39 � 6.8%; 48 � 2.8% were morphologically normal. High proportions of non-motile, plasma membrane-damaged cells were noted in every ejaculate, and whiplash motility, possibly indicating spontaneous capacitation, was observed in several ejaculates 1 h after collection. Motility was dramatically reduced on either side of isosmotic conditions and was more sensitive to osmotic pressure than was plasma membrane integrity. Cooling of raw ejaculate to sub-zero temperatures without freezing did not result in any loss of motility or PMI, indicating cold tolerence. Superior results were obtained when sperm were frozen-thawed in TEST containing 4% glycerol with 0.5% Equex. Findings indicate that okapi semen collected by electroejaculation routinely contain high numbers of non-motile and plasma membrane-damaged spermatozoa, apparently unrelated to season or the length of time since the male was housed with a breeding female. Okapi spermatozoa are remarkably intolerant of departures from isosmotic conditions, indicating a lack of ability to regulate or withstand volume excursions during osmotic stress events; however, cooling to sub-zero temperatures in the absence of cryoprotectant did not reduce percent sperm motility or PMI, indicating resistance to cold shock. Increasing and maintaining proportions of motile, membrane-intact spermatozoa prior to and during cryopreservation will be critical for development of freezing protocols for this species.


2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (9) ◽  
pp. 1434
Author(s):  
Andressa Dalmazzo ◽  
João D. A. Losano ◽  
Daniel S. R. Angrimani ◽  
Isabel V. A. Pereira ◽  
Marcelo D. Goissis ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to confirm gene and protein expression of oxytocin receptor (OTR) and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) in the testis and epididymis of dogs, correlating these data with sperm quality and production and testosterone concentrations. Positive correlations were found between OTR and SHBG expression in both the testis and epididymis. Testicular OTR expression was positively associated with plasma membrane and acrosome integrity in canine spermatozoa, whereas SHBG expression in the testis was positively correlated with various sperm characteristics, such as sperm concentration, total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity. Testicular expression of both OTR and SHBG was negatively correlated with low sperm mitochondrial activity. In the epididymis, SHBG expression was only positively correlated with plasma membrane integrity. Analysis of protein expression revealed that testicular OTR was positively correlated with testosterone concentrations and negatively correlated with the absence of sperm mitochondrial activity. In addition, SHBG expression in the testes was associated with epididymis SHBG expression and morphologically normal cells. Immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis revealed the presence of both OTR and SHBG in testicular smooth muscles and Leydig cells. However, in the epididymis, OTR was only located in smooth muscle cells, whereas neither IHC nor western blotting detected SHBG. Together, the results of this study suggest that OTR and SHBG play key roles in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, being essential for male reproductive success.


2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-168 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arash Kheradmand ◽  
Majid Taati ◽  
Homayoon Babaei

AbstractAlthough ghrelin acts as a modulator of feeding behavior and energy metabolism in the central nervous system, recent studies have implicated the peripheral actions of ghrelin in reproductive tissues. Here, we investigated the effects of chronic administration of ghrelin on the motility, plasma membrane integrity and concentration of rat spermatozoa. 45-d male Wistar rats were scheduled for the study and were divided into control and treatment groups. In the treatment group, 1 nmol of ghrelin was administered as sc injection for 10 consecutive days or vehicle (physiological saline) to the control rats. Sperm collection was achieved by killing of the rats on days 15, 25 and 50 after first injection. Total sperm motility and forward progressive movement did not exhibit significant difference during the experiment, although, there was a tendency for greater motion rate on d 15 and 25 in the treated rats compared to the control group. Plasma membrane integrity (HOS-reacted spermatozoa) was significantly higher in the treated animals, especially on day 15 as well as day 25, because of possible antioxidant properties of ghrelin. This value was statistically higher on day 15 than that of day 25 (P <0.05). Likewise, there was a significant correlation between the FPM (P <0.0001, r = 0.79) and TSM (P <0.01, r = 0.52) with the HOS test percentage in the treatment group. It was not observed statistically difference in the sperm concentration between groups during all of the experimental days. In conclusion, chronic administration of ghrelin (similar to induced by energy deficiency such as fasting) increased the integrity of sperm membrane, however, the sperm motility and concentration did not display any alterations.


2010 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 571-579 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. Kordan ◽  
M. Lecewicz ◽  
R. Strzeżek ◽  
A. Dziekońska ◽  
L. Fraser

Effect of platelet activating factor (PAF) supplementation in semen extender on viability and ATP content of cryopreserved canine spermatozoa The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of platelet activating factor (PAF) on the quality characteristics of cryopreserved canine spermatozoa. Cryopreserved semen of 5 mixed-breed dogs was treated with different concentrations of exogenous PAF (1 × 10-3M, 1 × 10-4M, 1 × 10-5M and 1 × 10-6M) and examined at different time intervals (0, 30, 60 and 120 min). Cryopreserved semen treated without PAF was used as the control. Sperm quality was evaluated for motility (computer-assisted semen analysis, CASA), mitochondrial function (JC-1/PI assay) and plasma membrane integrity (SYBR-14/PI assay and Hoechst 33258). Also, ATP content of spermatozoa was determined using a bioluminescence assay. Treatment of cryopreserved semen with 1 × 10-3 M PAF at 120 min of incubation resulted in significantly higher total sperm motility compared with the control. It was observed that PAF-improved total sperm motility was concurrent with enhanced sperm motility patterns after treatment of cryopreserved semen. Treatment of cryopreserved semen with PAF did not improve either sperm mitochondrial function or plasma membrane integrity, as monitored by different fluorescent membrane markers. Furthermore, ATP content of cryopreserved spermatozoa was significantly higher when PAF was used at a concentration of 1 × 10-3 M compared with the control and other PAF treatments, regardless of the incubation time. The findings of this study indicated that treatment with 1 × 10-3 M PAF at 120 min of incubation rendered better quality of cryopreserved canine semen, which was associated with improved sperm motility parameters and ATP content. It can be suggested that exogenous PAF addition is beneficial as a supplement for canine semen extender used for.


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