First Production of Larvae Using Cryopreserved Sperm: Effects of Preservation Temperature and Cryopreservation on European Eel Sperm Fertilization Capacity

Sperm cryopreservation is a useful tool in captive fish reproduction management, that is to synchronize gamete production, especially in the case of species as the European eel, where the time of female spawning readiness is unpredictable. Several protocols to cryopreserve sperm of this species have been described, but until recently fertilization trials were not feasible. This study evaluated the effect of cold storage of diluted sperm prior to fertilizations and tested whether a previously defined protocol for European eel sperm cryopreservation can be successfully applied in fertilization trials to produce viable offspring. In our experiment, the sperm motility was evaluated after the extraction and the best samples were selected and pooled. Until stripping of eggs and fertilization, diluted sperm samples were maintained at either 4 or 20°C, or cryopreserved, following existing protocols. Fertilization of two egg batches was attempted. Diluted sperm caused a similar percentage of fertilized eggs and a similar number of embryos and larvae, independently of storage temperature (4 or 20°C). The cryopreserved sperm resulted in a lower percentage of fertilized eggs, but embryos developed and a few larvae (‘cryolarvae’) were obtained 55 h after fertilization in one of the two egg batches. This result evidences that the tested cryopreservation protocol is applicable for eel reproduction management, although improvements will be required to enhance fertilization success.     

芝麻酚对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响

为了探究芝麻酚对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响,用手握法采集成年杜洛克公猪精液,预处理后添加不同浓度芝麻酚(0,0.05,0.10,0.15,0.20和0.25g/L)的冷冻稀释液进行稀释,冷冻-解冻后检测猪精子活率、质膜完整性(低渗肿胀试验)、线粒体活性、顶体完整性、DNA完整性以及超氧化歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、过氧化氢酶(catalase,CAT)和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSH-Px)活性等。结果显示:当芝麻酚添加浓度为0.20g/L时,解冻后精子活率、线粒体活性、质膜完整率和顶体完整率为最高,相比较于对照组,分别提高了12.67%、19.07%、18.78%和14.09%(P0.05);MDA含量最低为2.04nmol/mL(P0.05);SOD和GSH-Px酶活最高为73.04U/mL和237.59U/I(P0.05)。当芝麻酚添加浓度为0.25g/L时,DNA完整性最高为72.46%(P0.05)。当芝麻酚添加浓度为0.15g/L时,CAT酶活最高为3.44U/mL(P0.05)。结果表明:与对照组相比较,在猪精液冷冻稀释液中添加适当浓度的芝麻酚能显著提高解冻后猪精子活率、功能完整性和抗氧化能力(P0.05),且当芝麻酚的浓度为0.2g/L时对猪精子冷冻保存效果最好。研究结果表明,芝麻酚作为一种天然抗氧化剂,对猪精子冷冻保存具有良好的效果。     

冷冻家猫附睾精液效果初探

为了筛选出适宜冷冻家猫精液的稀释液、冷冻保护剂和解冻温度,本试验采用家猫附睾精液,分别用2种不同的稀释液,3种不同的冷冻保护剂进行稀释、冷冻和解冻。结果显示,Ⅱ号稀释液冷冻效果优于Ⅰ号稀释液。用乙二醇作为冷冻保护剂,解冻后家猫精子活率达到52.7%±4.9%,畸形率为37.3%±4.2%,顶体完整率为52.4%±4.1%,各项指标均显著高于甘油组和二甲基亚砜组（P<0.05）;其中甘油组解冻后活率为35.5%±7.6%,顶体完整率为39.8%±4.4%,高于二甲基亚砜组的33.6%±7.3%和39.1%±4.1%,但两者之间差异不显著（P>0.05）。37 ℃水浴解冻后顶体完整率为36.4%±8.7%,显著高于30 ℃水浴解冻后的25.3%±6.7%（P<0.05）,但它们之间的活力,畸形率差异不显著,总体上37 ℃的解冻效果优于30 ℃。因此,乙二醇和稀释液Ⅱ配合使用冷冻家猫附睾精液效果较好,37 ℃为较优解冻温度。     

European Eel Sperm Diluent for Short‐term Storage

The sperm of European eel shows a high density and the time of spermatozoa motility is very short after activation with sea water. These characteristics make difficult the sperm handling and its quality assessment. Several diluents were previously described for the Japanese eel obtaining over 3 weeks’ conservation times under refrigeration, but they rendered bad results in the European species. In the present study, several diluents were developed taking as basis the P1 medium, and using different dilution ratios (1 : 50, 1 : 100) and two pH (6.5, 8.5). The effect of the addition of bovine serum albumin (BSA, 2% w/v) was also evaluated. At 24 h, undiluted samples already showed significant lower motility and viability than sperm samples diluted in the different media. The results for diluents with pH 6.5 and 8.5 were different. Spermatozoa diluted in media at pH 6.5 cannot be activated at 24 h, while samples diluted in the diluents with pH 8.5 and added with BSA did not show significant differences with respect to the fresh sperm motility until 48 h. The viability (percentage of alive cells) did not show differences until 1 week, independent of the dilution ratio. After 1 week, the motility was approximately 30% in the media containing BSA, which presented no differences for head size of the spermatozoa (perimeter and area) until 72 h and 1 week, respectively. In conclusion, the combination of one medium having similar physico‐chemical characteristics to the seminal plasma, including pH 8.5, and supplemented with BSA can be used in different dilution ratios for the sperm’s short‐term storage, preserving its motility capacity.     

影响精液冷冻保存和人工授精效果的因素

本文阐述了精液冷冻保存的细胞反应原理,指出冷冻保护剂甘油对精液保存具有利弊效应,提出精子膜脂组成的差异使得不同品种的精子对冷冻损伤的易感性不同。雌性生殖道解剖结构的品种差异,精子形态,精子运行机制的细微差异,人工授精时间及精子的运行能力,采精方式等因素对人工授精的效果有决定性作用。研究精子质膜的生物学特性可解决低活力精子的问题,然而这并不能解决冷冻后精子质量的个体差异。对精细胞基因组的研究可以找出这些个体的遗传差异。因此,冷冻精子和精原细胞(用于细胞外注射)的差异已经成为完整基因组问题。     

不同冷冻保护剂对犬精子冻存的影响

本试验通过对比冷冻保护剂和冷冻程序,优化犬精液冷冻保存方法,比较了不同甘油、乙二醇浓度、不同平衡时间对犬精子冷冻复苏率及精子顶体完整率的影响。结果发现,甘油作为冷冻保护剂时,其对精液冷冻保存后的效果明显优于乙二醇,当甘油浓度为4%时,平均冷冻复苏率最高;冷冻平衡时间为1 h最佳。因此,犬精液在冷冻保存时,甘油浓度为4%,平衡60 min,可获得平均39.21%±0.013%的冷冻复苏率,且比较稳定。     

不同甘油浓度对牛鲜精低温保存的影响

对15头荷斯坦种公牛进行采精,将采集的精液分别用6%、4%、2%和0%甘油浓度的卵黄-Tris-葡萄糖-柠檬酸稀释液制成细管鲜精,放在低温(4℃)环境中保存6d并且每天检查其活力。经统计分析得出,4种不同甘油浓度对牛精子低温(4℃)保存的活力影响差异极显著。从而筛选出有利于牛精子低温(4℃)保存的最佳甘油浓度为4%。     

影响马精液冷冻保存效率的因素分析

马精液冷冻保存技术对提高马的繁殖效率有重要意义,多种因素会对冷冻保存精液的精子造成损害。本文综述了精清、抗冻剂、微生物、过氧化作用、渗透压、冷冻和解冻等影响马精子冷冻保存的因素,旨在为提高马精液冷冻保存技术的效率、促进我国马产业更快发展提供理论依据。     

LDL对绵羊精子冷冻保存效果的研究

绵羊冷冻精液的受精率低于自然交配,其原因之一可能是在冷冻过程中精子质膜损伤严重造成的.该研究以内蒙古细毛羊为试验动物.在稀释液中以低密度脂蛋白(LDL)代替卵黄.分析了冷冻过程中对精子活率、顶体完整率和质膜完整率的影响.筛选出了最优的LDL稀释液配方,以提高绵羊精液质量,减少精子的损伤,为提高绵羊精子冷冻保存后的受精率提供理论依据.     

海藻糖和维生素C对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响

试验比较了在冷冻稀释液中添加不同浓度海藻糖(0.025,0.05,0.1 mol/L)以及添加10 mg/L维生素C对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响.结果:(1)添加0.025 mol/L海藻糖组的精子冻后活率与复苏率分别跟对照组相比无显著差异(P>0.05),但添加浓度为0.05,0.1 mol/L的海藻糖组的精子活率和复苏率显著低于对照组(P<0.05).(2)在猪精液冷冻保存稀释液中,添加维生素C组的精子冻后活率和复苏率极显著高于对照组(P<0.01).表明在猪精液冷冻液中,添加0.025,0.05,0.1 mol/L 3种不同浓度的海藻糖对猪精液没有起到保护作用,其中后两者对之有降低的作用;而添加10 mg/L维生素C可取得较好的冷冻保存效果.     

不同冷冻保护剂在鸡精液冷冻中的作用效果分析

本实验采用一定浓度的甘油、乙二醇、二甲基亚砜（ＤＭＳＯ）、二甲基乙酰胺（ＤＭＡ）作为冷冻保护剂，用含冷冻保护剂的稀释液将精液稀释后常温保存，观察精子活率，比较精子生存指数，并进行输精实验，发现在常温下对精子毒害作用最大的是甘油，其次是ＤＭＳＯ，而ＤＭＡ及乙二醇对精子的毒害作用最小。以一定浓度的４种冷冻保护剂将精液冷冻后观察解冻活率，发现以ＤＭＡ作为冷冻保护剂，解冻后精子活率最高。在输精实验中，以ＤＭＡ作为冷冻保护剂采用深阴道输精，取得了５０％的受精率。浅输精取得了４０％的受精率。     

海藻糖、二甲乙酰胺对公猪精液冷冻保存效果的研究

采用5% 二甲乙酰胺(DMA)(V/V)完全替代甘油,比较乳糖、海藻糖对精液冷冻保存效果的影响。结果表明,海藻糖显著提高了冷冻——解冻后精子成活力(49.32%±1.52%)与顶体完整性 (47.33%±1.16%)(P<0.05)。然后利用海藻糖替代乳糖,评价不同浓度的DMA对公猪精液冷冻保存的影响。结果表明,当DMA添加量为4%时,解冻后精子活率、成活力、顶体完整率分别为(45.17±0.56)%、(50.33±0.67)%、(48.30±1.44)%,均显著高于3% DMA、6% DMA添加组(P<0.05),精子活率显著高于5% DMA添加组(P<0.05),但精子成活力、顶体完整性与其差异不显著(P>0.05)。因此,当利用海藻糖作为冷冻保存基础稀释液,DMA最适添加量为4%。     

The Effect of Glycerol on the Viability, Mitochondrial Function and Acrosomal Integrity of Bovine Spermatozoa

Contents Eight bull ejaculates were split to evaluate the effects of glycerol on sperm organelle function. Although glycerol protects sperm membranes during cryopreservation, preliminary data suggested that glycerol was detrimental to sperm organelles to varying degrees. To assess the compartmental effects, three organelle-specific fluorophores were used to analyze with (G+) and without glycerol (G–) in spermatozoa stored for 24 h at 5°C in an egg-yolk-based extender. The mitochondrial probe, 5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′-tetraethyl benzimidazolylcarbocyanine iodide (JC-1) was used to examine the level of mitochondrial metabolic function by it’s discrimination between high (J-aggregate staining, red-orange) and low membrane potentials (JC-1 monomeric staining, green); while acosomal reacted spermatozoa were identified using fluorescein-labelled lectin from arachis hypogaea, PNA-FITC. The proportions of living and dead spermatozoa were determined by staining with the combination of SYBR-14 and propidium iodide (PI). Split-plot analysis of variance revealed that within bulls, glycerol altered the proportions of sperm staining with each organelle-specific fluorophore to varying degrees. The proportion of spermatozoa labelled with SYBR-14, indicating intact plasmalemmae, were not affected by the addition of glycerol (p = 0.11). Although the total proportion of JC-1-labeled spermatozoa were similar in G– and G+ samples (p = 0.90), the presence of glycerol decreased the proportion of spermatozoa that exhibited J-aggregate staining (p < 0.01) while producing an increase in monomeric staining (p = 0.02). The proportions of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, however, were greater in the G– samples than in the G+ samples as indicated by PNA-FITC (p = 0.03). These findings suggest that mitochondria, acrosomes and the plasmalemmae of unfrozen spermatozoa vary in their response to the addition of the cryoprotectant glycerol.     

兔子精液冷冻保存综述

精子在冷冻保存过程中会受到不可逆的冷冻损伤或者部分功能改变,因此精子的冷冻保存是一个大挑战。虽然从广义上讲,物种之间的精子冷冻保存是非常相似的,但是每个物种的精子有着各自的特殊性,迫使研究人员不断优化冷冻保护剂和操作程序以更好地适应其特殊性。对家兔精液冷冻保存的概况进行了阐述,讨论了家兔精液冷冻保存的研究概况以及影响冷冻精液和人工授精的因素。     

冷冻保存对公猪精子功能的影响

试验旨在探究公猪精液冷冻保存对其精子功能的影响。取长白猪的鲜精和优质冻精,用精子分析仪检测精子的运动能力,台盼蓝染色检测精子活率,体外受精（IVF）试验检测卵裂率与囊胚率,采用不同功能检测试剂盒检测冻精和鲜精的顶体完整率、线粒体膜通道孔（MPTP）活性、线粒体膜电位（MMP）、线粒体活性、线粒体氧化应激活性氧（ROS）以及精子DNA完整性,实时荧光定量PCR检测弱精子症相关蛋白基因SMCP、TEKT3、DNAH1、TCTE3的表达。结果表明,与猪鲜精相比,猪冻精的活率及活力均显著降低（P<0.05）,冻精的顶体完整率也明显下降（P<0.05）;冻精的卵裂率和囊胚率显著低于鲜精（P<0.05）;精子线粒体功能分析结果显示,冻精的MPTP相对荧光单位值（RFU）、线粒体膜电位荧光比率以及线粒体活性光密度（OD）值均显著低于鲜精（P<0.05）;精子线粒体ROS检测发现,冻精的RFU值显著高于鲜精（P<0.05）;精子DNA完整性检测结果显示,冻精拖尾率显著高于鲜精（P<0.05）;而弱精子症相关蛋白基因的表达与鲜精相比,差异不显著（P>0.05）。综上所述,冷冻导致猪精子活率、活力、线粒体功能、DNA完整性下降,最终使得冷冻精液精子的受精能力降低。     

Effect of Sperm Cryopreservation and Supplementing Semen Doses with Seminal Plasma on the Establishment of a Sperm Reservoir in Gilts

Frozen-thawed (FT) boar sperm have a reduced fertile life, due in part to a capacitation-like status induced by cooling. Reversal of this cryocapacitation in vitro by exposure to boar seminal plasma (SP) has been demonstrated. The objective of these studies was to determine the effect of SP on the ability of FT sperm to create an oviductal sperm reservoir following artificial insemination (AI). In Experiment one, 35 pre-pubertal gilts were injected (IM) with 400 IU eCG plus 200 IU hCG to induce oestrus. At detection of oestrus, gilts were inseminated with 3 x 10(9) live sperm, either fresh (FS; n = 13), FT (n = 10), or FT supplemented with 10% v/v SP (n = 12). Gilts were killed 8 h later, their reproductive tracts recovered and the uterotubal junctions (UTJs) flushed to recover sperm. Fewer (p < 0.01) sperm were recovered following FT, compared to FS, inseminations, and there was no evident effect of SP. In Experiment two, 30 pre-pubertal gilts received IM injections of 1000 IU eCG followed by 5 mg pLH 80 h later to control time of ovulation. Gilts were inseminated with 3 x 10(9) live FS sperm (n = 6), FT sperm (n = 15) or FT sperm plus 10% SP (n = 9) at 12 h before ovulation and then sacrificed 8 h later. The UTJs were dissected and flushed for sperm recovery. Fewest (p < 0.001) sperm were recovered following FT insemination and there was no evident effect of SP. These data demonstrate that the size of the sperm reservoir is markedly reduced in gilts inseminated with FT sperm. However, the lack of effect of SP suggested that either it did not reverse cryocapacitation or that such a reversal does not impact the in vivo ability to create a sperm reservoir.     

Effects of Egg Yolk Source on the Cryopreservation of Stallion Spermatozoa

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether replacement of chicken egg yolk, as a component of freezing extenders, with egg yolk from other avian species would improve the post-thaw motility and percentage of intact acrosomes of stallion spermatozoa. In the first experiment, substitution of chicken egg yolk with chukar egg yolk, as a component of the lactose-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid extender, improved (P ≤ .05) the post-thaw motility of stallion spermatozoa. These results were not replicated in (IMV Technologies, Maple Grove, MN, USA) a more expansive study comparing 2%, 4%, 6%, or 8% egg yolk combined with INRA 96 when a “slow freeze” method was used, or the same substitution at levels ranging from 13% to 22% when egg yolk was combined with lactose-ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid for diluents used for a “fast freeze” method of cryopreservation. In the third study, egg yolks from regular and high omega-3 chicken eggs as well as from turkey, chukar, and mallard duck eggs were analyzed for lipid content and fatty acid profile. The yolk from the turkey eggs was higher (1,300 mg/100 g) and that from mallard ducks was lower (560 mg/100 g) in cholesterol as compared with the two types of chicken eggs and chukar egg yolk (range, 1,046-1,094 mg/100 g). In addition, the high omega-3 eggs did test higher for fatty acids (4.51 g/100 g) than other types of eggs (range, 0.28-0.73 g/100 g). Substitution of chicken egg yolk with turkey, but not duck, egg yolk resulted in higher post-thaw total motility (P ≤ .05) for spermatozoa obtained from two of the three stallions used in the third experiment.     

影响精液冷冻和人工授精效果的因素

通过对精液冷冻保存的细胞反应原理的阐述 ,指出冷冻保护剂甘油对精液保存具有利弊效应 ,提出精子膜脂组成的差异使得不同品种的精子对冷冻损伤的易感性不同。雌性生殖道解剖结构的品种差异 ,精子形态 ,精子运行机制的细微差异 ,人工授精时间及精子的运行能力 ,采精方式等因素对精液冷冻保存和人工授精的成功有决定性作用。研究精子质膜的生物学特性可解决低活力精子的问题 ,然而这并不能解决冷冻后精子质量的个体差异。对精细胞基因组的研究可以找出这些个体的遗传差异。因此 ,冷冻精子和精原细胞 (用于细胞外注射 )的差异已经成为完整基因组问题。     

Cryopreservation of Stallion Spermatozoa with INRA96 and Glycerol

The aim of the present study was to improve success of cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa. Semen from eleven stallions was collected and frozen in INRA 96 with two different concentrations of glycerol (3.5% and 6.0%) and compared with a control freezing process. The mean post-thaw motility for the eleven stallions of 57.93% (3.5% glycerol) and 66.50% (6.0% glycerol), which was statistically higher (P < 0.05) when compared with the mean post-thaw motility (39.7%) for semen in a control egg-yolk extender (Equipro^® CryoGuard™ Complete, Minitube). The Equipro^® CryoGuard™ Complete is a commercial semen freezing protocol that has been one of the standard processes used in our laboratory for freezing equine spermatozoa. INRA 96 with 6% added glycerol was used in the fertility trial as it provided the highest spermatozoa survival. To evaluate fertility of the frozen semen, eight mares were bred over two cycles with both fresh and frozen semen. The pregnancy rate of mares bred with frozen semen (55.6%) was not statistically different (P > 0.05) from the pregnancy rate of mares bred with fresh semen (55.6%). INRA 96 with 6.0% glycerol improved the survivability of stallion spermatozoa through the cryopreservation process, and subsequent fertility was not different (P > 0.05) from fresh, extended semen.