Effects of Oxygen Exposure and Gentamicin on Stallion Semen Stored at 5 and 15°C

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of storage of stallion semen in a defined milk protein extender at 5 and 15°C under either anaerobic or aerobic conditions, with or without addition of the antibiotic gentamicin. Semen samples were collected from eight fertile stallions and stored for 96 h (day 0–4) and assessed daily for motility, velocity and membrane integrity (viability) using a CASA system. Samples for bacteriology assessment were taken on day 2 of storage. No significant (p > 0.05) differences in motility, velocity or viability were observed between treatments on days 0–2. On days 3 and 4, semen stored without gentamicin at 5°C had a significantly (p < 0.05) better semen quality compared with storage at 15°C without gentamicin, irrespective of oxygen exposure. On days 3 and 4, motility and velocity were greater in samples stored at 15°C with gentamicin, compared with the corresponding treatments without antibiotic (p < 0.05). This effect was also evident for viability on day 4. The decline in semen quality observed at 15°C most likely resulted from the effect of bacterial growth. Bacterial growth was the greatest in samples stored at 15°C without gentamicin, under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions (p < 0.05). Bacterial growth was inhibited by adding of gentamicin at 15°C, which accordingly reduced the decline in semen quality. Addition of antibiotic to samples stored at 5°C had no significant effect on any parameter analysed. In conclusion, storage at 15°C can be achieved by using an extender containing the antibiotic gentamicin. Storage at 5°C tended to maintain better semen quality irrespective of oxygen exposure, and did not necessitate an antibiotic treatment.     

猪精液常温保存效果观察

为研究不同保存条件对猪精液常温保存效果的影响,观察精子的活力和有效保存时间之间的关系,采用常温下对精液添加抗生素、不同精液稀释比例、光照、振荡、混入尿液等,每隔12 h 显微镜检测一次精子活力的方法,以筛选常温下猪精液保存方式。结果显示,在精液保存过程中加入抗生素时,精液有效保存时间和精子活力明显高于未加抗菌药物的稀释液,其中加入庆大霉素的保存效果最好;精液稀释比例为1∶1～1∶2时保存效果最好;光照及剧烈振荡条件下,精液活力下降很快;混入尿液很容易使精子死亡。上述研究结果表明,常温下猪精液的理想保存方式是,在保证精子密度的前提下,精液与稀释液比例为1∶1～1∶2;同时在精液稀释液中添加广谱抗生素;保存过程中应避免光照、振荡、尿液污染等的影响。     

Effects of Dilution Rate on the Motility and Acrosome Morphology of Boar Spermatozoa Stored at 15 °C

The objective of this investigation was to establish the optimal extent of dilution for storage of boar spermatozoa at 15°C in Kiev diluent. The dilution titers used for the sperm-rich fraction of ejaculates from 8 boars ranged from 1:2 to 1:50. Seminal doses were stored for 10 days. Motility and acrosome morphology were evaluated after 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 days of storage. The percentages of motile spermatozoa after 24 and 72 hours of storage were significantly higher for dilution rates between 1:7 and 1:11 than for dilution rates lower than 1:7 or higher than 1:11 (p < 0.05). The percentages of spermatozoa with normal acrosomes after 24, 72, and 120 hours of storage were significantly higher for dilution rates between 1:8 and 1:11 than for dilution rates lower than 1:8 or higher than 1:11 (p < 0.01 ).     

表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯对猪精液常温保存效果的影响

为探究不同浓度表没食子儿茶素没食子酸酯(EGCG)对猪精液常温保存效果的影响,该试验通过在猪精液常温保存基础稀释液中添加0、5、10、20、30、40、50μmol/L EGCG,检测保存过程中精子活率、质膜完整率、顶体完整率等指标.结果表明:⑴猪精液常温保存基础稀释液中添加EGCG可以显著提高精子活率、质膜完整率和顶...     

Effect of Conjugated Linoleic Acid on Boar Semen Quality After Long‐term Refrigeration at 17°C

In this study, the effect of conjugated linoleic acid (10 trans, 12 cis) (CLA) on refrigerated boar sperm quality parameters up to 14 days at 17°C was assessed. Semen was extended in Androhep and divided into four treatments supplemented with CLA (25, 50, 100 and 200 μm ) and control group, then kept for 2 h at 22°C. Afterwards an aliquot of each treatment was removed, and mitochondrial activity, viability, lipid membrane peroxidation (LPO) and stability of the sperm plasma membrane were assessed by flow cytometry. The remaining extended semen was maintained at 17°C until 336 h, repeating the same analysis every 48 h. Regarding percentage of live spermatozoa, no statistical differences were observed among treatments up to 96 h. After this time, viability decreased significantly (p < 0.05) for CLA concentrations of 100 and 200 μm . Despite these results, there was an individual response to CLA. Although in the control group, the boar A presented better results when compared with the other boars, especially at concentrations of 50 and 100 μm boar B showed significantly higher results (p < 0.05). Supplementation with CLA improved (p < 0.05) LPO, but not the mitochondrial membrane potential of sperm. The highest two CLA concentrations showed to be toxic for sperm as all results were lower than the observed for the control. In conclusion, CLA at 50 μm seems to be an efficient concentration for reducing the oxidative stress, decreasing LPO, maintaining viability, membrane stability and mitochondrial potential on refrigerated boar spermatozoa.     

The Effect of Cholesterol Addition,Buffer, and pH on Equine Sperm Stored at 5°C

Cooled stallion semen has a short viable life, which ranges with acceptable motility and viability from 24 up to 48 hours. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of storage pH, the ability of three different zwitterionic buffers, and cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins (CLC) to preserve the motility and integrity of stallion sperm cooled to 5°C for 48 hours. Fourteen ejaculates were collected and split to receive CLC or not (control group). After incubation, each sample was split into six subsamples and diluted in KMT extender containing 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-ethanesulfonic acid (HEPES), N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES), or 2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulfonic acid (MES) buffers, and the final pH was adjusted to either 7.0 or 6.6, totalizing 12 experimental groups as a function of CLC, buffer, and pH variables (2 × 3 × 2 factorial). The motility parameters and integrity of plasma and acrosome membranes (live cell index) were determined using computer-automated semen analysis and epifluorescence microscopy at 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours of cooling period. According to results, pH was not a significant source of variation for motility and live sperm over different cooling periods. However, samples diluted in BES exhibited higher progressive motility within 3 hours and higher percentages of total motile cells after 48 hours of incubation at 5°C (P < .05). After 24 hours of storage, CLC-treated sperm samples presented higher motility than control group (P < .05), and after 48 hours of incubation, CLC-treated sperm exhibited higher percentages of live, motile, and progressively motile sperms (P < .05). We inferred that equine semen diluted in KMT containing BES as buffer and CLC treatment improve the equine sperm survival during storage at 5°C for 48 hours.     

Comparison of Different Extenders with Defined Protein Composition for Storage of Stallion Spermatozoa at 5°C

To maintain the fertility of stallion spermatozoa during cooled storage, extender media are added to semen. In this study, three semen extenders were compared: EquiPro which contains defined caseinates and whey proteins instead of dried skim milk. The extender is provided in dry form and dissolved in distilled water prior to use. EquiPro TM has the same composition as EquiPro but is provided in a sterilized ready-to-use liquid form. AndroMed-E contains soybean lecithin as protein source. Semen was collected from seven stallions. Ejaculates were divided into three aliquots, diluted with the different extenders and stored at 5 degrees C for 4 days. Total motility, membrane integrity, average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear-velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), distance average path (DAP), distance curved line (DCL) and distance straight line (DSL) were determined by computer-assisted analysis. Total motility decreased in all extenders during storage. The parameters VAP, VCL, VSL, DAP, DCL and DSL in semen diluted in EquiPro TM at most times and in semen diluted in AndroMed-E at some times were lower than in semen diluted in EquiPro (p < 0.05). Viability on days 0 and 4 was lowest in semen diluted in AndroMed-E (p < 0.05). Velocity decreased faster when semen had been diluted in the sterilized liquid extender EquiPro TM or in AndroMed-E compared with the dry formula of EquiPro. Therefore the liquid sterilized EquiPro despite no difference in its chemical composition differs from the dry, non-sterilized EquiPro extender. Heat sterilization apparently changes effects of the extender on spermatozoa.     

Effect of Long-Term Storage at Different Temperatures on the Quality of Liquid Boar Semen

In this study the effect of long‐term storage of liquid boar semen at different temperatures on motility, acrosome integrity and pH was investigated. Additionally, individual variation in sperm tolerance to storage at 10°C were examined. Beltsville Thawing Solution‐diluted AI doses from 16 randomly chosen Norwegian Landrace AI boars with proven fertility were split into subsamples and stored at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. After 0, 24, 48, 72 and 96 h of storage, sperm motility, acrosome integrity and pH were determined. After 96 h, the initial percentage of motile sperm (77.8%) was significantly reduced to 52.2, 58.8, 50.9 and 42.8% by storage at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. After an identical period of time, the percentage of acrosome intact sperm (95.8%) at time 0 became significantly reduced to 91.3, 91.3, 81.5 and 68.3% by storage at 25, 20, 15 and 10°C, respectively. The initial pH (7.21) decreased significantly to 6.96 and 7.06 after 96 h storage at 25 and 20°C, and increased not significantly to 7.25 for storage at 15°C and significantly to 7.29 at 10°C. In conclusion, the results from this study show that, according to the variables studied, 20°C is the least harmful of the four temperatures tested for the long‐term liquid storage of boar semen. Furthermore, remarkable differences in the individual resistance of boar semen to long‐term storage at 10°C were observed.     

对香豆酸影响猪常温保存精液品质的研究

本试验旨在探讨于猪精液基础稀释液（BTS）中添加不同浓度的对香豆酸（P-coumaric acid,PCA）对猪精液质量及抗氧化酶活性的影响。在猪常温稀释制剂中添加浓度为0、0.03、0.06、0.09、0.12、0.15 g/L的PCA,利用CASA全自动精子分析仪与荧光探针技术分别在1~5 d内检测精子运动学参数与精子功能完整性;利用抗氧化试剂盒在1、3和5 d检测精子活性氧（reactive oxygen species,ROS）和丙二醛（malondialdehyde,MDA）水平以及超氧化物歧化酶（superoxide dismutase,SOD）活性。试验结果表明,在精液保存的第5天,0.09 g/L的PCA处理组与空白组相比,精子活力显著提高（P<0.05）,精子的顶体功能完整性、质膜功能完整性、线粒体功能完整性也显著升高（P<0.05）,不仅如此,0.03、0.06、0.09和0.12 g/L PCA处理可显著降低精子ROS与MDA水平,提高SOD活性（P<0.05）,其中0.09 g/L处理组相比其他组抗氧化活性效果最佳,而当添加浓度为0.15 g/L时,精子的抗氧化活性与0.09 g/L组相比显著降低（P<0.05）。综上,猪常温基础稀释液中添加PCA可改善精子常温保存品质,添加0.09 g/L效果最佳。     

不同处理对猪精子活率、顶体完整率、DNA含量及精清酶活性的影响

对猪全精进行稀释、保存、冷冻、冷休克处理,测定相关指标.结果表明,精液1:1稀释后,在室温(25℃)保存过程中,精子活率、顶体完整率逐渐下降,精清中GOT活性持续升高,ALP活性变化不明显,LDH活性首先于保存的第24h升高,以后下降.精液1:10稀释后,精子活率急剧降低,顶体完整率没有显著性变化;随室温保存时间的延长,两者呈下降趋势,到室温保存的第24h,除GOT活性升高外,其它两种酶活性变化不明显.精液经冷冻解冻、冷休克处理后,精子活率、顶体完整率大幅度下降,精清中GOT、LDII、ALP活性升高,并随冷休克处理时间的延长而加剧;稀释后再进行冷休克处理,各指标变化幅度减小.本试验结果还表明,猪精液DNA含量为3.14mg/10~9精子,其与精子密度呈正相关(r=0.893),试验中各种处理均未引起精子DNA含量明显变化.     

Effect of Glutathione-Supplemented INRA82 Extender on Miniature Caspian Stallion Sperm Quality during Storage at 5°C

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of glutathione-supplemented INRA82 extender on miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality during storage at 5°C. A total of 12 ejaculates from three stallions (four ejaculates from each stallion) were collected and diluted with INRA82 extender that included different concentrations of glutathione (0 [INRA-G0], 5 [INRA-G5], and 10 mM [INRA-G10]) and stored for 48 hours at 5°C. Sperm motility (computer-assisted sperm analysis), plasma membrane integrity (eosin–nigrosin staining) and functionality (hypo-osmotic swelling test), and malondialdehyde (MDA) level were determined during storage at 5°C. The results showed that the sperm total and progressive motility and plasma membrane integrity and functionality in all extenders were significantly decreased with increasing storage time. However, the MDA level in all extenders was significantly increased with increasing storage time. Also, the results showed that most of the evaluated sperm quality parameters in the present study, with the exception of MDA, were significantly greater in INRA-G5 than in INRA-G0 and INRA-G10 after 24 and 48 hours of storage at 5°C. We have concluded that supplementation of INRA82 with 5 mM glutathione can improve miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality during storage at 5°C by increasing total and progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity and functionality, and decreasing the MDA level compared with INRA-G0 and INRA-G10. More advanced in vitro evaluations and artificial insemination are required to reveal the exact effects of INRA-G5 on miniature Caspian stallion sperm quality and its fertilizing ability.     

Variations in the Proportion of Glycolytic/Non-glycolytic Energy Substrates Modulate Sperm Membrane Integrity and Function in Diluted Boar Samples Stored at 15–17°C

In this work the role of energy substrates in the maintenance of boar-sperm survival during storage at 15-17 degrees C was tested. For this purpose, boar spermatozoa were stored at 15-17 degrees C in several defined media with separate combinations of a monosaccharide, glucose and a non-monosaccharide, either citrate or lactate, energy substrates. Our results indicate that the medium containing the highest concentration of glucose together with low lactate levels was the most suitable to maintain sperm quality for 168 h at 15-17 degrees C. This was confirmed after observation of the results of the percentages of viability and altered acrosomes, the osmotic resistance test, the hyperosmotic resistance test and the rhythm of L-lactate production. The survival ability of boar sperm was greater in this experimental medium than in the standard Beltsville Thawing Solution extender, which contains only glucose as an energy substrate, although at a concentration far higher than that of all the tested experimental media. Our results indicate that the exact composition, more than the pure quantity of energy substrates, is a very important modulatory factor which affects survival ability of boar sperm in refrigeration. Thus, the exact combination of several energy substrates would have to be taken into account when optimizing the design of commercial extenders to store boar spermatozoa at 15-17 degrees C.     

Effects of the Inclusion of Equex STM into Tris-Based Extender on the Motility of Dog Spermatozoa Incubated at 5°C

The aim of this study was to estimate the effects of Equex STM on sperm motion characteristics in chilled dog semen extended in Tris-based diluent. Thirty-two ejaculates were collected from 12 proven German shepherd stud dogs. The sperm-rich fractions were diluted in Tris-based extender with 1% (v/v) Equex STM (sample A) and in Tris-based extender with no addition of detergent (sample B). The extended semen was incubated for 240 h at 5°C and the motility parameters were evaluated by CASA system at 24-h intervals. Addition of Equex STM to Tris-based extender led to an initial activation of motion activity of spermatozoa, followed by a rapid decrease, shortening the lifespan of spermatozoa incubated at 5°C. Computer-assisted sperm analysis clearly showed that Equex STM-induced changes of sperm motion characteristics resemble the hyperactivation (HA) of spermatozoa associated with the capacitation process.     

不同浓度牛磺酸对猪精液负压条件常温保存效果的影响

【目的】 探讨负压条件下向Modena稀释剂中添加不同浓度牛磺酸对长白公猪精子常温保存质量及抗氧化能力的影响,以期为猪精液保存体系的完善提供参考。【方法】 向Modena稀释剂中分别添加浓度为0（对照组）、1、5及10 mmol/L牛磺酸,各组精液在―0.04 Mpa条件下保存11 d。于第1、3、5、7、9及11天利用计算机辅助精子分析系统（CASA）检测精子活力、活率、畸形率、平均路径速度（VAP）、曲线速度（VCL）及鞭打频率（BCF）;利用试剂盒测定精液的总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）及H₂O₂含量。【结果】 在保存1~11 d期间,3个牛磺酸组猪精子的活力及活率均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）;第11天时5 mmol/L牛磺酸组猪精子畸形率显著低于其他各组（P<0.05）;自第3天开始,1、5及10 mmol/L牛磺酸组猪精子的VAP均显著高于对照组（P<0.05）,其中以5 mmol/L牛磺酸组效果最佳;第11天时,5 mmol/L牛磺酸组猪精子的VCL、BCF均显著优于其他各组（P<0.05）;牛磺酸可显著提升猪精子的T-AOC （P<0.05）,但第11天时T-AOC较弱;第1~3天时,所有试验组间猪精子H₂O₂含量无显著差异,第5~11天时,3个牛磺酸组的H₂O₂含量均显著低于对照组（P<0.05）。【结论】 在―0.04 Mpa条件下,向Modena稀释剂中添加牛磺酸可以显著改善常温保存猪精液的质量参数与抗氧化性能,其中以5 mmol/L添加量最好,保存时间在9 d以内为宜。     

Effect of Dietary Supplementation with Cod Liver Oil on Cold Shock and Freezability of Boar Semen

Contents
The effect of dietary supplementation with cod liver oil (CLO), which is rich in n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), on resistance to cold shock and on freezability of boar semen was investigated. Ejaculates from 29 fertile Norwegian Landrace boars, randomly divided into control (n = 15) and CLO-group (n = 14), were frozen before and after a 12 week period of daily oil supplementation. Before each freezing, semen samples were taken to determine the fatty acid composition of the spermatozoa. Docosahexaenoic acid (22 : 6n-3; DHA) was the major fatty acid in total lipids. The n-3 fatty acid DHA increased in the CLO-group from 25.5 to 32.1% at the expense of the n-6 docosapentaenoic acid (22 : 5n-6), which decreased from 11.3 to 4.2% (p < 0.0001). The concentration of these fatty acids were unchanged in the control group. There was also a significant decrease of other PUFAs in the CLO-group (p < 0.05). Eicosapentaenoic acid (20 : 5n-3) was not found in any sample. At four different steps of the preservation process (30, 15, 5°C and after freezing/thawing) both motility and acrosome integrity were assessed. No significant differences were found either within or between the groups at any of the steps. In conclusion, CLO-supplementation alters the lipid composition of the membranes of boar spermatozoa, however, this does not seem to have any beneficial effect on cold shock and freezability of boar semen.     

Effects of Constant, 9 and 16-h Light Cycles on Sperm Quality, Semen Storage Ability and Motile Sperm Subpopulations Structure of Boar Semen

This study was performed to test the effect that two separate, daily, constant-light regimes of both 9 and 16 h could have on the main parameters of boar-semen quality analysis, as well as on the motile sperm subpopulations structure and the ability of its conservation at 16 degrees C. Results show that both luminous regimes have slight, specific effects on the main parameters of boar-semen quality analysis, as well as on the motile sperm subpopulations structure. Furthermore, the conservation ability at 16 degrees C of boar semen was not significantly different between both photoperiods. When a temporal study was performed, results showed that semen quality and motility parameter changes were stabilized at nearly constant values from the second month of the study to the last month in both luminous regimes, indicating a rapid light-related effect on testicular function. Our results indicate that light regimes oscillating from 9 h daily to 16 h daily are of little importance in the control of boar-semen quality in a farming environment.