影响猪冻精质量因素的研究进展

精液冷冻保存作为精液长期保存的最佳方法,具有保存时间长、生产成本低等优点,但由于猪精子较其他物种更容易受到低温的损伤,导致猪精液冷冻后精子活力低、受精率低,从而限制了冻精在养猪生产中的广泛使用。为优化猪精液冷冻-解冻方法,提高猪冻精质量,本文基于猪精液冷冻保存的损伤机理,从冷冻前处理、精液稀释液、冷冻和解冻程序等方面对影响猪精液冷冻质量的因素进行了详细阐述和总结。     

驴精液冷冻保存技术研究进展

精液冷冻技术在驴种质资源的长期保存和引进以及人工辅助繁殖技术应用等方面具有重要意义,精液冷冻保存有利于充分发挥优秀种公驴的繁殖力,降低驴养殖产业的生产成本。近年来,驴精液冷冻保护剂和冷冻方法不断优化,驴精液冷冻保存技术也取得了很大的进步。但由于驴冷冻复苏的精子活力和受胎率低,严重限制了驴冷冻精液的推广与应用。本文对驴精液冷冻保存技术的发展历程、精子冷冻损伤机制、影响驴精液冷冻保存的因素和驴冷冻精液的应用进行综述,为今后驴精液冷冻保存技术的研究提供参考。     

兔精液冷冻保存研究

兔精液冷冻保存对于家兔产业发展和种质资源保护具有重要意义。冷冻精液可以最大限度地保存优良种公兔的遗传基因,减少公兔饲养数量,同时也避免了活体引种时须进行的检疫、隔离饲养等程序,降低了兔场的饲养管理成本。此外,冻精保存作为活体保种的补充,在一定程度上缓解了种质资源“卡脖子”带来的潜在风险。但由于兔精子结构的差异,冻后精子品质下降、母兔受孕率降低,使得兔精液冷冻保存技术在实践生产中难以得到推广运用。本文概述了兔精子的结构与特点,对兔精液冷冻保存原理、影响因素、精液冷冻-解冻程序等研究进行综述,以期为兔精液冷冻保存技术的深入研究和应用提供参考。     

冻融过程对绵羊精子GR活性的影响

为了研究冷冻保存对绵羊精子谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)活性的影响,提高绵羊冷冻精液的品质,试验采用DTNB比色法对冷冻保存前后精液、精子和精清中GR活性进行研究。结果表明:与冷冻前比较,冷冻保存后精液、精子和精清中GR活性均极显著升高(P0.01)。说明超低温冷冻过程会刺激精子的应激反应,导致绵羊精子中GR活性显著提升。     

牛精液冷冻技术应用研究进展

在简要介绍牛精液冷冻技术发展历史的基础上,分析了牛冷冻精液的现状和影响牛冷冻精液受胎率的主要因素,指出了我国牛冷冻精液存在的问题,应加强精液冷冻机理、精液冷冻保护剂、精子质量评估和分离精子的冷冻保存等方面的研究,最后展望了牛冷冻精液的发展前景。     

不同甘油浓度对兔精液冷冻保存的影响

本试验以不同浓度甘油对家兔精液冷冻保存的影响为研究目的,以柠-葡-卵基础液于三种浓度(6%、8%、10%)的甘油相配伍做为冷冻保存液对精液进行稀释,平衡,冷冻,解冻等处理,从而确定兔精液冷冻保存的最佳甘油浓度,得出如下结论:冷冻保护液中添加浓度为6%的甘油时,对精液进行冷冻保存、稀释、平衡,解冻后的精子活率与浓度为8%,10%的甘油冷冻效果比较差异显著.     

抗氧化剂对家畜精液冷冻保存的应用研究进展

 在家畜精液冷冻稀释液中加入抗氧化剂以提高冷冻精液质量的研究受到广泛关注,通过添加抗氧化剂降低精子在冷冻保存过程中的氧化损伤,保护精子质膜、精子顶体和DNA的完整性,提高冷冻-解冻后精子的受精能力。论文针对目前主要的一些抗氧化剂在家畜精液上应用研究的现状,对精子氧化损伤机理和常用抗氧化剂研究进行综述,期望对家畜精液冷冻保存的相关研究提供一定的理论依据和参考。     

家禽精液冷冻保存

家禽精液冷冻保存技术可以有效地保护许多由于受到育成品种冲击而濒临灭绝的地方品种,保持家禽遗传资源的多样性。因此,家禽精液冷冻保存在家禽育种中有着非常重要的意义。关于家禽精液冷冻保存的研究,鸡是最早的研究对象。1941年Shaffner等用-6℃冷冻保存30秒的精液输精获第一只小鸡,1949年英国学者Polge等发现甘油具有对精子低温保护功能,从而开创了精液低温保存的历史。自此以后,人们对精液冷冻保存进行了许多研究,如防冻剂的选择、冷冻方法、冷冻速度、解冻方法、冷冻后精子形态和活力的变化以及冷冻后精液的输精量和输精部位等等,使得…     

超低温冷冻对绵羊精子肌酸激酶活性的影响

为了研究冷冻保存对绵羊精液肌酸激酶(CK)活性的影响,提高绵羊冷冻精液的品质,试验采用生物素双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附法(ELISA)对冷冻保存前后绵羊精液、精子和精清中CK活性进行研究。结果表明:与冷冻前比较,冷冻保存后绵羊精液、精子CK活性极显著降低(P0.01),而精清中CK活性显著升高(P0.05)。说明冷冻保存对绵羊精子CK活性影响严重。     

抗氧化剂在猪精液冷冻保存技术中的应用

近年来,在猪精液冷冻保存技术中应用抗氧化剂以提高冷冻精液质量的研究受到了广泛关注。国内外相继报道,添加甲基黄嘌呤、丁羟甲苯、谷胱甘肽、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶、维生素E及褪黑素等抗氧化剂可以有效改善冷冻保存猪精液的精子运动学参数,保护精子质膜、顶体和DNA完整性,提高冷冻-解冻后精子的受精能力。为了更好地了解抗氧化剂的抗精子冷冻损伤的作用机制、客观地评价不同抗氧化剂的应用效果及展望其在猪精液冷冻保存技术中的应用前景特综述如下。     

Functional activity of epididymal Chinchilla laniger spermatozoa cryopreserved in different extenders

Chinchilla laniger is an endangered species and improved cryopreservation of spermatozoa would constitute a significant advance in the development of assisted reproductive techniques in this species. The functional activity of epididymal spermatozoa from adult males was studied immediately after extrusion and after 24 hours incubation, and the ability of five extenders to protect these gametes during cryopreservation was determined. A decrease in sperm motility, viability, acrosome intact cells and response to hypo-osmotic swelling test was detected 24 hours later. The extenders here assayed showed well-defined differences in their cryoprotective ability; however such differences could not be attributed to any one of their individual components. The presence of TES plus Tris, the proportion of the individual constituents and/or the differences in metabolic substrate content could explain the above-mentioned finding. The results indicate that cryo-buffer 11 (TES-Tris-egg yolk-fructose-glycerol) is the most powerful protector of sperm functional activity in this species.     

The effect of two pre-cryopreservation single layer colloidal centrifugation protocols in combination with different freezing extenders on the fragmentation dynamics of thawed equine sperm DNA

Background

Variability among stallions in terms of semen cryopreservation quality renders it difficult to arrive at a standardized cryopreservation method. Different extenders and processing techniques (such us colloidal centrifugation) are used in order to optimize post-thaw sperm quality. Sperm chromatin integrity analysis is an effective tool for assessing such quality. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of two single layer colloidal centrifugation protocols (prior to cryopreservation) in combination with three commercial freezing extenders on the post-thaw chromatin integrity of equine sperm samples at different post-thaw incubation (37°C) times (i.e., their DNA fragmentation dynamics).

Results

Post-thaw DNA fragmentation levels in semen samples subjected to either of the colloidal centrifugation protocols were significantly lower (p<0.05) immediately after thawing and after 4 h of incubation at 37°C compared to samples that underwent standard (control) centrifugation. The use of InraFreeze® extender was associated with significantly less DNA fragmentation than the use of Botu-Crio® extender at 6 h of incubation, and than the use of either Botu-Crio® or Gent® extender at 24 h of incubation (p<0.05).

Conclusions

These results suggest that single layer colloidal centrifugation performed with extended or raw semen prior to cryopreservation reduces DNA fragmentation during the first four hours after thawing. Further studies are needed to determine the influence of freezing extenders on equine sperm DNA fragmentation dynamics.     

重庆板角山羊细管冷冻精液的研究

为了建立重庆板角山羊精液的细管冷冻保存方法,实验进行了不同冷冻稀释液(配方Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ)、不同冷冻保存剂(甘油、EG)及不同离心速度(1000、1200、1400r/min)对重庆板角山羊细管精液冷冻保存效果的研究,结果表明:配方Ⅱ对重庆板角山羊精液的冻后活率显著优于配方Ⅰ和Ⅲ(P<0.05)。在配方Ⅱ中添加相同剂量(5%)的EG和甘油,精液冻后活率差异不显著(P>0.05)。以1200r/min的速度对山羊鲜精作离心处理后,冻后活率相对于对照组有所提高,但差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

Effect of freezing bull semen in two non‐egg yolk extenders on post‐thaw sperm quality

Traditionally, extenders for bull semen included egg yolk or milk, but recently there has been a move to avoid material of animal origin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two commercial extenders (based on soya lecithin and liposomes) on bull sperm quality after cryopreservation. Post‐thaw sperm quality was evaluated by computer‐assisted sperm analysis and flow cytometric assessment of membrane integrity, chromatin integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, production of reactive oxygen species and tyrosine phosphorylation. Furthermore, an artificial insemination (AI) trial was conducted, and 56‐day non‐return rates were evaluated. Semen frozen in the liposome‐based extender showed similar membrane integrity and higher mitochondrial membrane potential compared to those in the soya lecithin‐based extender. Chromatin integrity and production of live H₂O₂+ reactive oxygen species were similar in both extenders. Less superoxide was produced in the samples extended with liposome‐based extender, with or without menadione stimulation. Chromatin integrity and tyrosine phosphorylation were not affected by either type of extender. No differences in 56‐day non‐return rate between extenders containing soya lecithin and liposomes were observed in the AI trial (66% ± 0.8 and 65% ± 0.8, respectively). In conclusion, the sperm quality of bull semen frozen in the two extenders that do not contain material of animal origin was similar, although the semen frozen in the liposome‐based extender had higher mitochondrial membrane potential. Either extender could be used in situations where extenders containing material of animal origin are to be avoided.     

Egg Yolk and Glycerol Requirements for Freezing Boar Spermatozoa Treated with Methyl β-Cyclodextrin or Cholesterol-loaded Cyclodextrin

Egg yolk (EY) and glycerol are common constituents of extenders used for sperm cryopreservation. It has been demonstrated that using cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins (CLC) improves sperm cryosurvival in several species. However, standard freezing extenders might not be the most appropriate for CLC-treated sperm. This study evaluated the EY and glycerol requirements for freezing CLC-treated boar spermatozoa. Semen samples from 34 ejaculates coming from 4 boars were used. Each ejaculate was split into three aliquots: one was used untreated (control), and the other two were treated with 1 mg of CLC or methyl-β-cyclodextrin/120 × 10⁶ sperm for 15 min at 22 C prior to cryopreservation. Our results indicated that reducing the concentration of EY was detrimental for sperm viability after thawing (31.57 ± 2 vs. 19.89% ± 2 for 20 and 10% EY, respectively; P <0.05), even in semen treated with CLC. On the other hand, it was observed that the traditional concentration of glycerol (3%) was not the appropriate for freezing CLC-treated sperm (61.10 ± 3 vs. 47.87% ± 3 viable sperm for control and CLC-treated sperm, respectively; P <0.05). Thus, CLC-treated sperm showed a higher tolerance to high glycerol concentrations (5%) in terms of sperm viability (59.19% ± 3) than non-treated sperm (45.58% ± 3; P<0.05). Therefore, it could be necessary to modify the freezing extenders for CLC-treated sperm. Nevertheless, additional studies will be needed to evaluate alternative cryoprotectants and to determine the effect of high glycerol concentrations on sperm functionality.     

Effect of Different Extenders on In Vitro Characteristics of Feline Epididymal Sperm During Cryopreservation

To evaluate and compare the efficacy of various extenders for the cryopreservation of epididymal cat spermatozoa, two experiments were planned. Bovine and equine commercial extenders in the experiment 1 and TRIS–egg yolk–based extenders in experiment 2 were separately studied since the number of sperm collected per cat is reduced. Epididymal sperm samples were packaged into 0.25‐ml straws and frozen. Vigour, motility, morphology, acrosome status, sperm viability and functional membrane integrity were assessed at collection, after cooling and after thawing, while DNA integrity was evaluated at 0‐ and 6‐h post‐thaw. Experiment 1 compared the effect of three non‐feline commercial extenders – based on TRIS–egg yolk (Triladyl), egg‐yolk‐free medium (AndroMed) and skimmed milk‐egg yolk (Gent) – on the quality of frozen‐thawed epididymal cat sperm. Values for sperm motility and functional membrane integrity in cooled sperm diluted in Triladyl were higher (p < 0.001) than those recorded for Andromed and Gent. Except sperm morphology, the other assessed characteristics showed significant higher values in frozen‐thawed sperm diluted in Triladyl than in Andromed and Gent extenders. Experiment 2 analysed the effects of three TRIS–egg yolk–based extenders, one non‐feline commercial (Triladyl) and the other two prepared using different monosaccharides (glucose and fructose), on freezing‐thawed sperm. Results showed that specifically prepared extenders for cryopreservation of feline spermatozoa performed better than the commercial extender Triladyl, although sperm quality during the freezing‐thawing process did not significantly differ associated with the type of monosaccharide (glucose vs fructose) added to the mentioned extenders. Although TRIS–egg yolk–based extenders prepared in experiment 2 improved sperm cryoprotection, Triladyl remains a good option for practitioners who, for ease of use and availability, prefer to work with commercial extenders.     

Motility of Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Stallion Sperm from Three Segments of the Epididymal Cauda and the Effect of Post-Thaw Seminal Plasma Addition on Motility

Preservation of epididymal spermatozoa is an advantageous method to preserve genetic material of endangered species or valuable breeding animals after sudden death and injuries. Despite lower pregnancy rates, fertilization with epididymal sperm has been proven successful. Variable sperm quality after cryopreservation among individual stallions and the usually terminal chance to preserve epididymal sperm are opportunities for the development of a freezing procedure suitable for the majority of stallions. To evaluate the effect of the preservation procedure, we analyzed the sperm motion characteristics after every step of processing. In addition, we investigated the influence of seminal plasma on motility of frozen-thawed semen. We compared three segments of the cauda epididymidis and harvested spermatozoa by retrograde flushing (most caudal part) and mincing (more cranial segments) to augment the number of spermatozoa. During processing, there were differences in sperm motion characteristics depending on the segment of the cauda epididymidis. Distinct increases in motility due to different extenders and the effect of seminal plasma suggest that motion characteristics of raw and frozen-thawed spermatozoa are strongly influenced by microenvironment and must be interpreted with caution.     

Antioxidant supplementation,effect on post‐thaw spermatozoan function in three sturgeon species

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may be associated with reduced sperm quality, can be detected during cryopreservation of sperm of some species. Our objective was to investigate whether the addition of antioxidants to cryopreservation extenders influenced post‐thaw sperm characteristics and fertility in Acipenser dabryanus, Acipenser sinensis and Acipenser baerii. Prior to freezing, sperm samples were diluted with a base extender as control or in extender supplemented with catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), cysteine (NAC), ascorbic acid (VC) or their paired combinations. Protective concentrations of CAT, GSH and VC in the three species were 25 U/ml, 0.25‐0.5 mg/ml and 0.5 mg/ml, respectively. Cysteine showed no protective effect against ROS. The addition of CAT, GSH and VC positively affected either acrosome or membrane integrity of post‐thawed sperm in the three species, as well as spermatozoan motility in A. sinensis. The combination of antioxidants did not show a positive synergistic effect. This study suggested that the use of antioxidants in the cryopreservation of sturgeon sperm has potential to decrease intracellular ROS, and consequently preserve acrosome and membrane integrity, as well as spermatozoan motility.     

Influence of Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione Antioxidants on Frozen-Thawed Canine Semen

Poor sperm viability post-thaw has resulted in constant research into methods of cryopreservation of canine semen. One factor that may be involved in poor viability is sperm oxidative stress caused by excessive formation of reactive oxygen species. The present study was performed in order to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA) and glutathione (Glu) added to an extender for the freeze-thawing of dog sperm. Semen from five mature dogs was collected and frozen in two studies. Prior to and after freezing, sperm motility, morphology and membrane status were examined. In addition, sperm motility was examined up to 120 min after thawing to evaluate thermo-resistance. In study I, semen was collected twice from each dog. On both occasions, semen was divided into three aliquots: control, Glu 1 m m and Glu 5 m m . In study II, semen was collected twice and divided into three aliquots; control, AA 50 μ m and AA 250 μ m . Initial sperm motility was significantly higher in sperm diluted with AA 50 μ m ; sperm longevity, however, measured by a thermal-resistance test (TRT), was higher for Glu treatments. Higher concentration of Glu produced significant improvement in TRT and membrane status, whereas higher concentration of AA had a negative impact in sperm longevity. Antioxidant supplementation to semen freezing extenders improved semen quality post-thaw. Moreover, Glu had the most beneficial effect when supplemented at 5 m m .     

Post-thaw Survival and Longevity of Bull Spermatozoa Frozen with an Egg Yolk-based or Two Egg Yolk-free Extenders after an Equilibration Period of 18 h

The aim of the present study was to determine the suitability of using two egg yolk-free commercial extenders, Andromed and Biociphos Plus as compared with the Tris-egg yolk based diluent Biladyl, for the cryopreservation of bull spermatozoa when the freezing protocol involved holding the extended semen at 4 degrees C for 18 h before the freezing. Six ejaculates from each of 10 Holstein bulls were collected by using artificial vagina. The ejaculates were evaluated for volume, sperm concentration and motility, divided in to three equal volumes, and diluted, respectively, with the three extenders as specified above. Extended semen was equilibrated for 18 h at 4 degrees C and frozen in 0.25-ml straws. After thawing, 100-mul aliquots of semen were labelled with SYBR-14, PI and PE-PNA (Phycoerythrin-conjugated Peanut agglutinin) and analysed by flow cytometry at 0, 3, 6 and 9 h after incubation at 37 degrees C. A General Lineal Model procedure for repeated measures was used to determine the effects of extender, bull, replicate and the interaction between them, on sperm viability and acrosomal integrity. Semen samples frozen with Biladyl showed higher (p < 0.001) sperm survival after 0 h (47.9%) and 9 h (30.3%) of incubation than those frozen with Andromed (38.5% and 17.3%, after 0 and 9 h respectively) or Biociphos Plus (34.9% and 21.6%, after 0 and 9 h respectively). The bull and replicate had significant effects (p < 0.001) on both sperm viability and acrosomal integrity, but the interactions between bull and extender and between replicate and extender were not significant. It was concluded that, when holding the semen overnight before freezing, the use of Biladyl results in higher sperm survival and longevity than the use of Andromed or Biociphos Plus.