The relation between the concentration of testosterone in seminal plasma and certain indicators of reproduction in roosters

Testosterone concentrations in the semen plasma of the cocks of the laying type were analyzed. The levels in semen plasma were substantially lower than in peripheral blood and were found at the interval of 1.58 to 13.30 nmol . 1(-1), the average values amounted to 5.5 nmol . 1(-1). At the repeated samplings of the same animals, considerable variability of hormone levels was observed, which suggested a possibility of the pulsation character of the changes in the androgen also in this biological material. The correlation coefficients between the testosterone levels in semen plasma and ejaculate volume, as well as between the sperm concentration were positive, however, statistically insignificant. The relation between testosterone and the weight of testes was at the significance limit.     

种公牛精清中睾酮含量与精液品质相关性探讨

本实验采用放射免疫分析法（ＲＩＡ）检测了种公牛精清中睾酮（Ｔ）含量２９头次，并对其相对应的每份精液进行了品质评定。结果表明，精清中睾酮含量平均为１４９．４９±１４１．９６ｎｇ／ｄｌ。在每头种公牛之间存在显著的个体差异，同一头种公牛，在不同的采精日期的同一时刻采精，其Ｔ含量也有显著差异，说明种公牛Ｔ的分泌具有脉冲性的特点，种公牛精清中Ｔ的含量与精液量、精子密度、活力、活率及畸形率均未见显著的相关性。     

Autoproteolytic activity in the seminal plasma of the domestic fowl

Acid and neutral proteolytic activity was found in chicken seminal plasma. This proteolytic activity can markedly change the plasma polypeptide pattern due to partial protein degradation.     

补肾生精散对种公牛精液品质和血浆生殖激素浓度的影响

选用10头么拉水牛种公牛,探讨添加补肾生精散对种公牛血浆促黄体素LH、促卵泡素FSH、睾酮T浓度和精液品质的影响.用药后血浆LH浓度上升,FSH和T浓度下降,种公牛鲜精量、鲜精活力、冻精活力有所改善,说明补肾生精散可改善水牛种公牛精液品质.     

Fluctuation in the concentration of sex steroids and aflatoxin B1 in the seminal plasma of boars and its relation to sperm production

The concentration of testosterone, 17-beta oestradiol and aflatoxin B1 were studied in the semen plasma of 21 boars of four breeds for the period of twelve months. The following spermiological parameters were investigated: semen volume, sperm concentration, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, and survival of spermatozoa. The fertilizing capacity of ejaculates was evaluated according to the conception rate of sows and gilts after the first insemination, according to the average number of piglets per litter and average number of live-born piglets per litter. The highest aflatoxin B1 residues in sperm were recorded in March to May and were related with aflatoxin concentration in feed ration. The group of boars with fertility disorders had more aflatoxin in their sperm (up to 100 pmol . l-1), lower sperm concentration, lower survival of spermatozoa, and a larger proportion of abnormal spermatozoa. The year season had a significant influence on the concentration of the hormones. The highest average value of testosterone (10.2 +/- 1.28 nmol) was obtained in autumn and lower values were recorded in winter. The changes in 17-beta estradiol concentration were similar to the changes in testosterone content, with the maximum value in November (0.249 nmol X 1(-1]. The boars with reproduction disorders had a significantly lower concentration of 17-beta oestradiol. Significant correlations were found between the concentration of the hormones, semen volume, and sperm concentration. 17-beta oestradiol also had a significant positive correlation to abnormal spermatozoa and to the activity of aspartate aminotransferase.     

Concentrations of oestrogens in blood plasma and seminal plasma of boars during the postpuberal period

Concentrations of oestrogens in the blood plasma and seminal plasma of mature boars are high. However, little is known about their concentrations after reaching sexual maturity. The aim of this study was to determine the concentration of oestrogens in blood plasma and seminal plasma of boars during the postpuberal period. Free and conjugated oestrone and oestradiol-17beta were determined by radioimmunoassay in blood from the testicular vein and artery, and peripheral circulation as well as in seminal plasma collected from 18 Polish Landrace boars. The animals were divided into three groups (n = 6) according to age (8, 12 and 16 months, respectively). Oestrone was predominant free and conjugated oestrogen. The highest values of oestrogens were measured in the testicular vein (p < or = 0.05). The concentrations of oestrogens in seminal plasma did not differ from those found in the peripheral circulation. An age-dependent increase in levels of all four oestrogens (p < or = 0.05) was observed. This can be associated with biochemical maturation of the reproductive system during the postpuberal period.     

Purification and quantification of lactoferrin in equine seminal plasma

Lactoferrin with a molecular mass of 80 kDa was purified from equine seminal plasma by heparin-Agarose affinity chromatography and Sephacryl S-200 gel filtration. Purified lactoferrin was found to be highly homogeneous on the bases of its migration as a single band on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and of the monospecificity of rabbit antibodies to the purified protein in immunoblotting of seminal plasma proteins. A sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was developed for quantifying lactoferrin in equine seminal plasma. Seminal plasma lactoferrin concentrations in 23 normal stallions ranged from 42 to 453 microg/ml, with a mean value of 157 +/- 118 microg/ml (S.D.).     

Immunoelectrophoretic and immunodiffusion studies on the seminal plasma proteins in boars

The proteins of boar seminal plasma have been studied with immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion tests. Four different proteins could be identified with immunoelectrophoresis of which all seemed to be specific for seminal plasma. One of these proteins with an electrophoretic mobility corresponding to gammaglobulin had no identity with either IgG or fibrinogen.With immunodiffusion tests spur of serum proteins could be detected (albumin, transferrin and IgG).The spontaneous precipitation of boar seminal plasma in agar gels could not wholly be avoided with alterations of pH and ionic strength in the agar gel or with absorption of seminal plasma with swine red blood cells.One factor in seminal plasma which probably is of importance for the ability to agglutinate red blood cells was isolated and identified as a protein with an electrophoretic mobility corresponding to alphaglobulin. This protein could not be detected in blood serum.Keyword: seminal plasma, swine     

Effect of seminal plasma concentration and various extenders on postthaw motility and glass wool-Sephadex filtration of cryopreserved stallion semen

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effect of semen extender and seminal plasma on postthaw motility and filtration through a glass wool-Sephadex (GWS) filter for frozen stallion semen. SAMPLE POPULATION: 7 stallions from which we collected > or = 3 ejaculates/stallion. PROCEDURES: 4 experiments were conducted to evaluate postthaw quality of frozen stallion semen. Kenney extender was compared with glucose-EDTA extender by use of various dilution rates that resulted in differing concentrations of seminal plasma. Stallions known to produce semen with poor postthaw quality were used to investigate whether a particular extender or dilution rate could improve ability of such semen to survive freeze-thaw procedures. RESULTS: Use of Kenney extender as the centrifugation extender significantly improved postthaw motility and GWS filtration, compared with glucose-EDTA. Extending semen at a dilution of 1:3 was significantly better than 1:1 for both motility and GWS filtration. In addition, including seminal plasma at a concentration of 5% in the cryopreserved semen resulted in significantly higher yield of spermatozoa after GWS filtration, compared with complete removal of SP or use of seminal plasma at 25%. Lastly, semen with poor postthaw quality had significantly improved postthaw quality in regard to motility and GWS filtration when semen was frozen with seminal plasma at a concentration of 5%, compared with semen frozen with seminal plasma at a concentration of 25%. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Use of Kenney extender at a high dilution (> or = 1:3) immediately after collection of semen can improve postthaw quality of frozen stallion semen.     

Perioperative plasma cortisol concentration in the horse

The cortisol response to anaesthesia and surgery was studied in 2 groups of horses undergoing either abdominal or non-abdominal surgery. The preoperative mean plasma cortisol concentration (pcc) of 381.7 nmol/l (s.d. 254.7) was markedly higher in the abdominal group than the early-morning mean pcc of 115.6 nmol/l (s.d. 78.4) in the non-abdominal group. During halothane anaesthesia and surgery the mean pcc increased significantly (p < 0.05) from the preoperative mean of 119.2 to 215.9 nmol/l (s.d. 79.8) after 30 min of surgery in the non-abdominal group. In the abdominal group a decrease occurred after induction of anaesthesia and surgical preparation, but increased during surgery to a mean pcc of 418.1 nmol/l (s.d. 236.5). In the postoperative period a large decrease in the mean pcc occurred after 24 h in the abdominal group. It was only after 60 h that the pcc (153.2 nmol/l) equalled the pcc of the non-abdominal group (171.4 nmol/l) at 24 h. The slow decline over 60 h could be an indication of the prolonged recovery associated with abdominal surgery in the horse.     

Relationship between seminal plasma lactoferrin and gonadal function in horses

Total 78 semen samples were obtained from 27 Thoroughbred stallions (aged 6 to 27 years), and were subjected to quantification of lactoferrin (Lf) in seminal plasma and examination of the seminal properties. The seminal plasma Lf concentration varied from 21 to 689 microg/ml, with a mean value of 244 +/- 151 microg/ml (S.D.). The seminal plasma Lf concentration and total seminal plasma Lf positively correlated with the sperm concentration (r=0.5938, P<0.001) and with the total sperm number (r=0.6959, P<0.001), respectively. There was no correlation between seminal plasma Lf and sperm motility. These results suggest that seminal plasma Lf reflects gonadal function.     

Metabolomic fingerprinting of pig seminal plasma identifies in vivo fertility biomarkersOA

Background: Metabolomic approaches, which include the study of low molecular weight molecules, are an emerging-omics technology useful for identification of biomarkers. In this field, nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy has already been used to uncover(in) fertility biomarkers in the seminal plasma(SP) of several mammalian species. However, NMR studies profiling the porcine SP metabolome to uncover in vivo fertility biomarkers are yet to be carried out. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate...