Effect of pasteurized egg yolk on the quality of cryopreserved boar semen

Egg yolk (EY, control) is an essential ingredient of diluents for boar semen cryopreservation. Pasteurized egg yolk (PEY) reduces hygienic risks in processing and is easier to standardize. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of PEY (treatment) on frozen-thawed boar semen. In a split-sample approach (n = 13 boars), it could be shown that there is neither an influence (p > .05) on post-thawing motility (PTM: 5, 30 and 120 min) nor on morphologically intact sperm, percentage of acrosome defects and membrane fluidity using a PEY extender compared to the control. Mitochondrial activity (p = .043), membrane integrity (p = .015) and PTM 300 min (p = .023) were slightly affected in the treatment group. Overall, sperm quality was at a high level in both experimental groups. Further studies are needed to determine the impact of PEY on the fertilizing capacity of boar ejaculates.     

Evaluation of cryopreserved boar semen after supplementation sericin form silkworm (Bombyx mori) in semen extender

Boar cryopreserved semen is scarcely used for artificial insemination due to its quality which is largely reduced by membrane lipid peroxidation. This present study was designed to improve the post‐thawed boar semen quality by determining the optimal level of sericin supplementation (antioxidants) in semen extender. Five levels of sericin supplementation between 0% and 1% (w/v) were examined. Semen was frozen by the liquid nitrogen vapor method, thawed slowly at 5°C for 5 min, and used for the evaluation of sperm quality. The results indicated 0.5%–1% sericin supplementation was more effective on maintenance of sperm viability, acrosome integrity, and mitochondrial functions during freezing–thawing. Moreover, 0.75% sericin supplementation was most protective toward total sperm motility and sperm progressive motility. Additionally, 0.25%–0.75% sericin supplementation significantly suppressed increases in the index of lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, 0.75% sericin is recommended as an alternative component of the freezing extender to improve cryopreserved boar semen. However, further research using AI will be necessary to demonstrate that this indication can be applied to the production of offspring in the farms.     

抗生素对猪精液常温保存效果的影响

采集9头公猪的精液（其中长白4头、大白4头、杜洛克1头）,对精液进行稀释后,分别加入9种抗生素,在18℃保存,测定精子保存时间和精子存活指数.结果表明：磺胺抗菌效果最好,其有效保存时间为4.38 d,精子存活指数为3.14.恩诺沙星、阿奇霉素、林肯霉素的抗菌效果次之,庆大霉素、青链霉素的抗菌效果再次之,新霉素、卡那霉素的抗菌效果最差.     

Supplemental effect of different levels of taurine in Modena on boar semen quality during liquid preservation at 17°C

Peroxidation damage induces sublethal injury to boar sperm during the storage process. Taurine has already been demonstrated to protect cells effectively from oxidant‐induced injury. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of taurine (0.5, 1, 5 and 10 mmol/L) in Modena diluent on boar sperm quality during liquid storage at 17°C. Ejaculates from sexually mature Duroc pigs were collected, pooled and preserved in the Modena containing different concentrations of taurine. Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, total antioxidative capacity (T‐AOC) activity and malondialdehyde content (MDA) were examined every 24 h. Modena diluent containing taurine suppressed the reduction in sperm qualities during the process of liquid preservation compared with those of the control group. After 5 days of liquid preservation, the addition of taurine at 5 mmol/L had the optimal effect on survival time as well as maintenance of motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, T‐AOC activity and MDA content. These results may suggest the possibility that the proper addition of taurine to the semen extender improves the swine production system using artificial insemination by the suppressing of sperm damage and subsequent dysfunction during liquid preservation.     

纳米化红景天多糖对猪精液冷冻效果的影响

在冷冻稀释液中分别添加分数为1％、5％、10％、15％、20％的纳米化红景天多糖（Nonomaterialsrhodiolasa—chalinensispolysaccaride,NRSP）溶液,以添加6mg／L红景天多糖（Rhodiolasachalinensispolysaccaride,RSP）为对照组,不添加RSP为空白组,检测其对猪冷冻精子活力、顶体完整率、质膜完整率等生理结构指标,以及精子抗氧化能力的影响。结果表明,添加体积分数为15％NRSP组的精子活力（0．69）、顶体完整率（51．42％）、质膜完整率（25．95％）均高于其他组,并显著高于空白组（P〈0．05）。此外添加15％NRSP组的解冻后直线运动精子百分比（46．33％）要显著高于其他各组（P〈0．05）;添加6mg／LRSP组丙二醛（MDA）浓度最低（10．83±0．39）／2mol／L,并且显著低于空白组（31．85土1．36）μmol／L,（P〈0．05）,但与15％的NRSP组（11．60±0．42）μmol／L无显著差异（P〉0．05）。添加20％的RNSP组超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活力最高（343．05-＋-19．64）μ／mgprot,显著高于其他添加组（P〈0．05）。精子活力、顶体完整率、质膜完整率之间存在显著的正相关关系（P〈0．05）,而精子活力和顶体完整性与MDA浓度呈显著负相关（P〈0．05）,与SOD活力呈显著正相关（P〈0．05）,质膜完整率与两者含量相关性不显著（P〉0．05）。     

High-speed centrifugation of extender of freeze-thaw boar semen

In semen cryopreservation, egg yolk is still widely used as a non-penetrating cryoprotectant. Much has been developed in the search for alternatives for this biological product. This work aimed to evaluate the processed egg yolk through ultracentrifugation and/or sonication in the cryopreservation of swine semen. Twenty-seven semen doses were purchased from a commercial boar stud and processed for cryopreservation using egg yolk lactose 11% (control) extender, processed using two different methods: high-speed centrifugation and sonication. Then, they were submitted to freeze-thawing protocol and were assessed for kinematic and cell structural parameters. Samples in which extenders underwent centrifugation had better results in velocity parameters, meanwhile those that only sonication was performed had poorest results in this parameter. The preservation of the membrane and mitochondria structure had better results when the diluent was only centrifuged in comparison with the other treatments. Therefore, centrifugation of extender containing egg yolk is important for better cryopreservation of swine semen.     

Effects of air exposure and agitation on quality of stored boar semen samples

The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of semen volume, air contact inside semen dose tubes, daily agitation of semen doses and extender type on semen quality, thermo-resistance and bacteria growth in extended boar semen doses preserved over 7 days of liquid storage. Ejaculates from 4 proven terminal cross-bred boars were collected using the gloved-hand technique for 4 weeks and used in the 3 × 2 × 2 factorial study. The effects of treatment (CON: 80 ml doses sealed at the top of the tube; 40HIGH: 40 ml doses sealed at top of tube, and 40LOW: 40 ml doses sealed at top of the liquid), agitation (agitated versus not agitated) and extender type (long-term versus short-term) were investigated on semen quality, thermo-resistance and bacteria growth in boar semen doses. The results of the study revealed that motility (p = .031) and viability (p = .041) in 40HIGH were lower than CON. pH (p < .001) was higher in 40HIGH compared with CON and 40LOW. Agitation did not impact motility (p = .581), progressive motility (p = .870), viability (p = .509) or morphology (p = .970), while long-term extender maintained higher motility (p = .002), progressive motility (p = .036), viability (p < .001) and normal acrosome (p < .001) than a short-term extender. VAP (p = .039) of 40HIGH was lower than CON in a thermo-resistance test. Neither treatment (p > .798, .766) nor agitation (p > .396, .476) impacted bacterial growth in this study. In conclusion, air contact negatively impacts boar semen pH and consequently sperm motility. Semen doses prepared with 80 or 40 ml volumes of extended boar semen with minimal air contact in the tubes yield more desirable semen quality and agitating boar semen doses daily does not have negative or positive effects on boar semen quality.     

Preservation of boar semen: An update

In the pork industry, artificial insemination and the storage of boar semen in liquid at 17°C are routinely applied to optimize the ejaculate and bring about rapid genetic changes that are reflected in the animal protein. Although the results are satisfactory, they are below what occurs with natural mating. It is currently possible to preserve boar semen with storage at 17°C and slow freezing, since to date there is only one study on vitrification, with negative results applicable only in the case of implementing an intracytoplasmic sperm injection. In both methods and due to the sensitivity of boar sperm to osmotic and temperature changes, there is a loss in the quality of the initial sample; however, slow freezing in boar semen has greater deleterious effects on the sample that are reflected in the pregnancy rates and number of live births. Therefore, only 1% of all inseminations are done with frozen semen. The aim of this review is to provide advances and results of studies conducted on the preservation of boar semen, delving more deeply into the critical points that each of the preservation techniques presents, including bacterial contamination, extender components, temperature, ice nucleation, use of additives in extenders and the main deleterious effects on sperm quality.     

The effects of different levels of superoxide dismutase in Modena on boar semen quality during liquid preservation at 17°C

This study was conducted to investigate the influence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) on the quality of boar semen during liquid preservation at 17°C. Semen samples from 10 Duroc boars were collected and pooled, divided into five equal parts and diluted with Modena containing different concentrations (0, 100, 200, 300 and 400 U/mL) of SOD. During the process of liquid preservation at 17°C, sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane integrity, total antioxidant capacity (T‐AOC) activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) content were measured and analyzed every 24 h. Meanwhile, effective survival time of boar semen during preservation was evaluated and analyzed. The results indicated that different concentrations of SOD in Modena showed different protective effects on boar sperm quality. Modena supplemented with SOD decreased the effects on reactive oxygen species on boar sperm quality during liquid preservation compared with that of the control group. The added 200 U/mL SOD group showed higher sperm motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, effective survival time and T‐AOC activity. Meanwhile, the added 200 U/mL SOD group showed lower MDA content and H₂O₂content. In conclusion, addition of SOD to Modena improved the boar sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress during liquid preservation at 17°C and the optimum concentration was 200 U/mL.     

A preliminary study on the effect of dietary supplementation with cod liver oil on the polyunsaturated fatty acid composition of boar semen

Eight mature Norwegian Landrace boars, of proven fertility and in routine semen production for AI, were fed individually with the same basic diet for 9 weeks. One group of 4 animals served as the control, the remaining 4 boars received a daily supplement of 75 ml cod liver oil (CLO-group). Fifteen consecutive semen samples were collected from each boar. The fatty acid composition of the semen was determined, and the content of the 15 most numerous fatty acids with a chain length longer than 12 carbon atoms was followed over time. In both groups, the proportion of 16:1n-7 decreased significantly, while 16:0 and 22:6n-3 (DHA) increased. By the end of the experiment, DHA had tended to increase and 22:5n-6 to decrease to a greater extent in the CLO-group. A significant difference between the groups was seen for onen-6 PUFA (22:4n-6), which remained unchanged in the control group but decreased in the CLO-group. No change was seen in docosapentaenoic acid (22:5n-3) and eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5n-3) was not found in any sample. These results indicate that CLO supplementation affects the fatty acid composition of boar semen. There were no significant differences in the non-return rates (4–25 days) between the two groups before, during or after the experiment.Abbreviations AA arachidonic acid - AI artificial insemination - area% each fatty acid percentage of the total area of the peaks from gas chromatographic analysis of methylated fatty acids - CLO cod liver oil - DHA docosahexaneoic acid - DPA docosapentaenoic acid - EPA eicosapentaenoic acid - LA linoleic acid - LNA linolenic acid - NR non-return rate - PUFA polyunsaturated fatty acid - T _c the temperature marking the beginning of the phase transition Fatty acid nomenclature: Example, 22:6n-3: 22=number of carbon atoms, 6=number of double bonds,n-3=position of the first double bond counted from the terminate (n or methyl end of the fatty acid chain     

Combined effect of apigenin and ferulic acid on frozen‐thawed boar sperm quality

The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the cryoprotective effect of apigenin (AP) and ferulic acid (FA) on boar sperm during cryopreservation. AP and FA were both demonstrated to be high‐efficiency antioxidants and had not previously been used to protect sperm from cryodamage. As boar sperm is sensitive to oxidative stress, suitable antioxidants are still needed for improving frozen‐thawed sperm quality. With this purpose, semen samples coming from five boars were used in this study. Ejaculates of five boars were mixed and split into 16 aliquots, in which different doses of AP and FA were added separately or together. The motility, the plasma membrane integrity, the mitochondrial activity, the acrosomal integrity, the antioxidase activities and the malondialdehyde concentration of the frozen‐thawed boar sperm were assessed. The results suggested that both AP and FA significantly improved the frozen‐thawed boar sperm quality in all these aspects when they were added to the freezing extender separately, while the highest improvement was recorded when the extender was supplemented with 0.1 mmol/L AP plus 0.15 mmol/L FA. These findings demonstrated that supplementation of freezing extender with both AP and FA had a combined, beneficial effect on frozen‐thawed boar sperm.     

EGTA对猪精液液态保存的影响

猪精液液态保存体系中,钙离子浓度升高将降低精子活力,缩短精子体外保存时间。常用的金属螯合剂EDTA的溶解度较低,且容易发生沉淀,因此改进螯合剂对于改进猪精液保存液配方,提高猪精液液态保存质量十分重要。本研究中我们在精液液态保存液中分别添加不同浓度(1.5,3,6,12 mmol/L)的钙离子螯合剂EGTA,检测其对猪精子的活力、质膜完整性、顶体完整率、获能情况以及受精能力的影响。结果表明,精液保存液中添加EGTA能显著提高猪精子保存质量,其中添加3 mmol/L EGTA效果最好(P<0.05)。与对照组相比,添加3 mmol/L EGTA时,体外受精率和囊胚率显著提高(P<0.05)。因此,精液保存液中添加EGTA有助于提高猪精液液态保存的质量。     

云南省种公猪精液中乙型脑炎病毒的监测

应用RT-PCR技术开展云南省种公猪精液中乙型脑炎病毒(JEV)感染监测,进而对阳性样品病毒基因扩增产物进行克隆、测序、比对及系统发育分析。从云南省16个地州797份猪精液中检出JEV阳性样品7份,阳性率0.88%。阳性精液样品中的JEV与基因Ⅰ型毒株PrM基因核苷酸序列同源性为97.5%～98.8%,与其他基因型毒株的同源性介于76.9%～89.8%之间,与疫苗毒株(基因Ⅲ型毒株,S19980008)的同源性为89.1%～89.8%。云南省种公猪精液中JEV属于基因Ⅰ型毒株,与人、猪、蚊虫基因Ⅰ型分离毒株遗传关系密切。     

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。     

冬夏季长白猪精液中细菌多样性与精子质量特性关联分析

为探究冬夏季长白猪精液中细菌多样性变化和精子质量特性之间的相关性,利用16S rRNA基因高通量测序技术得到冬夏季长白猪精液中微生物的特征序列(ASV),计算机辅助精子分析系统(CASA)分析冬夏季精子活力参数指标的变化.结果 显示:长白猪精液中细菌多样性在冬夏季之间差异显著(P＜0.05),门水平冬季优势菌群为厚壁菌...     

Effect of selenium and vitamin E addition to the extender on liquid stored capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) semen quality

Captive breeding has become an important tool in species conservations programmes, maintaining genetic diversity and restoring wild, endangered populations. In order to improve the reproductive efficiency of captive kept capercaillie, the purpose of the study was to determine the effect of selenium and vitamin E addition to semen extender on sperm characteristic during short‐term storage. Ejaculates collected individually from four capercaillie were divided into two parts, diluted threefold with basic EK extender and EK enriched with 1 mg/ml of organic selenium and 8 mg/ml of vitamin E (EK+Se+E) and stored 24 hr at temp. +4°C. Spermatozoa morphology, motility and motility parameter were evaluated in net, diluted and stored semen samples. Significant (p < .05) differences between individual males were stated in relation to the majority of traits evaluated in the freshly collected semen. Comparing to the fresh semen, a significant (p < .05) decrease in percentage of live sperm in total (by 3.8% points on average) has been observed in samples diluted by EK extender, while in semen diluted with EK+Se+E extender this decrease was lower (1.5%pts on average) and not significant. Also per cent of motile sperm in EK+Se+E extender was higher (p < .05) then in EK (71.6% vs. 58.9%), but taking into account the values of individual males, both extender and male effect on liquid semen storage become apparent. Obtained data allow concluding that selenium and vitamin E addition to EK extender had positive effect on morphology and motility of capercaillie semen stored 24 hr at 4°C and can be recommended for similar studies carried out on other Galliformes species.     

抗氧化剂在公猪精液冷冻保存中的应用

近几年来,在公猪精液冷冻稀释液中添加抗氧化剂以提高冷冻精液质量的研究受到广泛的关注。添加谷胱甘肽、超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化物酶、维生素E、L-半胱氨酸和L-谷氨酰胺、中草药成分等抗氧化剂可以有效地防止氧化损伤,提高解冻后精子活率、精子成活力、质膜与顶体完整性等,进而提高冷冻保存精液的受精能力。作者综述了抗氧化剂的抗精子冷冻损伤的作用机制及不同抗氧化剂的应用效果,并对其在公猪精液冷冻保存中的应用前景进行了展望。     

Freezing equine semen: the effect of combinations of semen extenders and glycerol on post-thaw motility

Objective   We evaluated combinations of two commercial semen extenders and three concentrations of glycerol to determine the combination that yielded the highest post-thaw sperm motility.
Design   A randomised 2 × 3 block design was used.
Procedure   Semen was collected from four stallions (6 collections per stallion). The sample was diluted with either a dried skim-milk glucose extender (EZ Mixin Original Formula) or a chemically defined, milk-free diluent (INRA 96), and each was used in combination with 2%, 3% or 4% glycerol in standard commercial freezing medium. Sperm motility was assessed by microscopy in fresh and post-thaw semen.
Results   There was a significant difference between the two extenders in the motility of spermatozoa after cryopreservation (48.9% for INRA 96; 38.6% for EZ Mixin OF; P < 0.0001). Glycerol at 4% in freezing medium yielded the highest post-thaw motility, significantly better than 2% ( P < 0.05). Three of four stallions had significantly higher post-thaw motility using INRA 96 relative to EZ Mixin OF ( P < 0.01), and two of four stallions had significantly higher post-thaw motility using 4% glycerol ( P < 0.05). The combination of INRA 96 and 4% glycerol in freezing medium gave the highest average post-thaw motility of 51.5%.
Conclusion   In this study, INRA 96 combined with 4% glycerol yielded an average recovery of progressively motile sperm consistently above the 35% target.     

聚维酮碘对常温保存猪精子质量的影响

通过在猪鲜精和17℃保存精液中添加聚维酮碘(PVP-Ⅰ),探讨其杀灭精液有害细菌的效果和对精子质量的影响,从而达到阻断病原菌垂直传播的目的。保存后不同时间时取样精液接种和培养,用细菌菌落计数的方法检测精液中细菌菌落总数,并用MicroScanA/S4细菌鉴定仪鉴定细菌种类。采用计算机辅助精液分析仪(CASA)检测精子活率、活力,低渗肿胀法(HOST)检测质膜完整性线粒体膜电位检测试剂盒(JC-1)测线粒体活性和考马斯亮蓝染色检测精子顶体完整性。结果显示,用PVP-Ⅰ消毒猪精液时,在0～0.27g/L随着PVP-Ⅰ质量浓度的增加杀菌效果越好。精液中添加0.20g/L和0.27g/L PVP-Ⅰ能杀死棒状杆菌、大肠杆菌、不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白色念珠菌、链球菌(作用1h),但不能杀死变形杆菌。在猪精液稀释液中添加质量浓度0～0.20g/L的PVP-Ⅰ对17℃保存猪精子质量无影响。结果表明,聚维酮碘在质量浓度0.20g/L能杀死猪精液中的棒状杆菌、大肠杆菌、不动杆菌、铜绿假单胞菌、白色念珠菌、链球菌,并且对17℃保存猪精子质量常规指标(活率、活力、线粒体活性、质膜完整性和顶体完整性)无影响。     

Analysis of testicular variables,semen motility and kinematics-derived indexes in boar using a CASA-Mot system

The present study aimed to evaluate differences in area, volume and testicular weight among groups related to breed and age of boar and establish associations between testicular parameters and seminal characteristics. Seminal quality has been studied using computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) systems that reduce the subjectivity of kinematic parameters. Based on the data obtained through this system, sperm quality indexes and their derived parameters have been assessed to identify a better estimator for determining movement and velocity parameters. We also established indexes of velocity and sperm movement for boar semen. To this end, we evaluated 191 ejaculate samples from 63 boars. Differences related to the effects of season and age on quality boar semen were found (p ≤ .05) in the animal groups. Indexes were established for velocity and sperm movement based on CASA-Mot, and we proposed a sperm movement index (SMI) and sperm velocity index (SVI) with the CASA-Mot variables. Correlations were found (p < .05) among sperm indexes and CASA-Mot variables. Boar characteristics were found to be associated with some CASA-Mot variables, and the estimated SMI and SVI indexes predicted a greater variation in kinematic characteristics compared to the parameters evaluated separately using the CASA-Mot system.