Deep-freezing of boar semen in plastic film 'cochettes'

The motility and membrane integrity of spermatozoa from nine boars frozen with a programmable freezing machine in plastic bags, 'cochettes', and in 'maxi-straws', in total doses of 5 x 10(9) spermatozoa/5 ml with glycerol (3%) used as cryoprotectant, were assessed after thawing. A computer-based cell motion analyser was used to evaluate sperm motility, while the integrity of the plasmalemma was assessed with fluorescent supravital dyes (C-FDA/PI). The fertilizing capacity of the semen frozen in the two containers was investigated by inseminating (AI) gilts. Pregnancy was monitored by Doppler-ultrasound, and the numbers of corpora lutea and viable embryos counted at slaughter, between days 30 and 38 after AI. The cochettes sustained the overall procedure of freezing/thawing (FT), with 30 min post-thaw (PT) sperm motility being significantly higher than for straws, 46.9 vs. 39.5%. The only significant difference in motility patterns detected when comparing the packages was a higher sperm velocity (VCL) in cochettes at 30 min PT. However, percentages of FT-spermatozoa with intact membranes, detected with the supravital probes, were higher in maxi-straws than in cochettes, 46.8 vs. 43.0% (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences found in fertilizing capacity between spermatozoa frozen in maxi-straws and those frozen in cochettes. The results indicate that although the deep-freezing of AI-doses of boar semen in large plastic bags is feasible, problems such as their inconvenient size for storage and inconsistent thawing must be solved before this type of container can be used for the commercial cryopreservation of boar semen.     

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。     

OC1Effects of Cryopreservation on the Expression of Glut‐3, Glut‐5 and As‐A Proteins in Iberian Boar Sperm Membranes

In order to determine the injure produced in boar spermatozoa through cryopreservation process, we analyzed the expression of the hexose transporters Glut‐3 and Glut‐5 and the zona pellucida binding protein As‐A (P68) in three different steps of the freezing‐thawed protocol: at 17°C (fresh BTS‐diluted semen, 1 : 2 v/v, step 1), at 5°C (after glycerol addition; step 2), and post‐thawing (step 3). All sperm analyses were carried out with immunogold techniques under electronic microscopy. For this study eight healthy post‐pubertal Iberian boars were submitted to a collection of twice per week through 3 months, evaluating two ejaculates from each boar. Glut‐3 maintains the expression in the acrosome region post‐thawing but not along the tail where is reduced. The expression of Glut‐5 and As‐A is majority located at the post‐acrosome region of the spermatozoa at step 1, but in step 2 and step 3 this expression is relocated to sperm tail area. In conclusion, while cryopreservation affects the localization and the expression of Glut‐3 and Glut‐5, its fertilizing capacity is not significantly reduced. The stabilization of boar semen at 5°C was found to be the most crucial step for sperm survival.     

New strategies of boar sperm cryopreservation: Development of novel freezing and thawing methods with a focus on the roles of seminal plasma

Cryopreservation of boar spermatozoa offers an effective means of long‐term storage of important genetic material. Many researchers have investigated how to improve reproductive performance by artificial insemination (AI) using cryopreserved boar spermatozoa. Recently, we and other groups reported that high conception rates (70–80%) can be achieved by AI with frozen‐thawed boar spermatozoa using a modified temperature program during freezing, or a novel cryopreservation extender to improve sperm quality (including sperm survivability, motility, membrane status and fertilization ability) after thawing, or a novel sperm infusion method, deep intra uterine insemination. However, these techniques have not yet been used for commercial pig production. The variation in sperm freezability among boars or among ejaculations in an identical boar is one of the main reasons for this problem. In our previous study, it was revealed that some components of seminal plasma have a negative effect on the freezability of boar sperm. One of these factors is bacteria‐released endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide: LPS). LPS binds to Toll‐like receptor‐4 (TLR‐4) expressed on the sperm surface, resulting in induction of apoptosis. On the other hand, seminal plasma suppresses cryo‐capacitation induced by thawing stress. On the basis of these findings, we designed a novel protocol of AI using frozen‐thawed boar sperm.     

海藻糖对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响

在传统的Tris-柠檬酸-葡萄糖稀释液基础上，分别添加25％、50％、75％、100％的海藻糖，研究不同浓度海藻糖对猪精液冷冻后精子质量的影响。结果表明，海藻糖相对于对照TCG稀释液能够显著改善和提高猪精液的冷冻效果，其最佳添加浓度为25％，冷冻-解冻后猪精子活力、活率、线粒体活性、质膜完整性以及顶体完整率均显著提高（P〈0．05），分别达到41．38％、46．34％、44．56％、43．51％和64．09％。海藻糖可以明显抑制精子获能，获能处理前精子获能率仅为3．68％，而获能处理后达到41．82％，有利于促进精子获能。精液稀释液中甘油的适宜添加浓度为2％，海藻糖只有与甘油共同作用，才能在冷冻-解冻过程更加有效地保护精子。猪精子活力、活率、线粒体活性、质膜完整率、顶体完整率等之间存在极显著的正相关关系（P〈0．01），而与获能处理前精子的获能率存在显著的负相关关系（P〈0．05）。     

二甲基甲酰胺对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响

用二甲基甲酰胺(DMF)完全替代甘油,比较不同平衡时间和不同DMF添加量对猪精液冷冻保护效果的影响。结果表明,DMF能完全替代甘油,获得较好的冷冻保护效果。最佳平衡时间为90 min,解冻后精子活力为(44.57±0.72)%,显著高于对照组和其他组(P0.05)。当DMF添加量为5%时,冻后精子活力、活率、线粒体活性、顶体完整率和质膜完整率分别为(49.91±0.39)%(、46.51±0.26)%、(47.51±0.52)%(、49.84±0.56)%、(46.30±1.61)%,均显著高于2%、3%、6%DMF添加组(P0.05),但与4%DMF添加组相比,冻后精子活力、活率和质膜完整率差异不显著(P0.05)。本试验结果表明,DMF最适添加量为5%。     

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。     

The benefits of cooling boar semen in long‐term extenders prior to cryopreservation on sperm quality characteristics

This study investigated the effects of long‐term extenders on post‐thaw sperm quality characteristics following different holding times (HT) of boar semen at 17 and 10°C. Sperm‐rich fractions, collected from five boars, were diluted in Androhep^® Plus (AHP), Androstar^® Plus (ASP), Safecell^® Plus and TRIXcell^® Plus (TCP) extenders. The extended semen samples were held for 2 hr at 17°C (HT 1) and additionally for 24 hr at 10°C (HT 2), after they were evaluated and frozen. CASA sperm motility and motion patterns, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), plasma membrane integrity (PMI) and normal apical ridge (NAR) acrosome integrity were assessed in the pre‐freeze and frozen‐thawed semen. The Vybrant Apoptosis Assay Kit was used to analyse the proportions of viable and plasma membrane apoptotic‐like changes in spermatozoa. Results indicated that boar variability, extender and HT significantly affected the sperm quality characteristics, particularly after freezing‐thawing. Differences in the pre‐freeze semen were more marked in the sperm motion patterns between the HTs. Pre‐freeze semen in HT 2 showed significantly higher VCL and VAP, whereas no marked effects were observed in the sperm membrane integrity and viability (YO‐PRO‐1^?/PI^?) among the extenders. Post‐thaw sperm TMOT and PMOT were significantly higher in the AHP and ASP extenders of HT 2 group, whereas VSL, VCL and VAP were markedly lower in the TCP extender. Furthermore, spermatozoa from the AHP‐ and ASP‐extended semen of HT 2 group were characterized by higher MMP, PMI and NAR acrosome integrity following freezing‐thawing. In most of the extenders, the incidence of frozen‐thawed spermatozoa with apoptotic‐like changes was greater in HT 1. The findings of this study indicate that holding of boar semen at 10°C for 24 hr in long‐term preservation extenders modulates post‐thaw sperm quality characteristics in an extender‐dependent manner. These results will further contribute to the improvement in the cryopreservation technology of boar semen.     

猪精液超低温冷冻保存研究进展

猪人工授精(AI)技术已经广泛应用于畜牧业生产,但精液来源基本是17℃保存的新鲜猪精液,不利于精液长期保存和猪种资源保存。超低温冷冻保存技术是猪精液长期保存最有效的方法,冷冻精液可以实现不同地区、不同国家优良种猪精液间的交流,从而大大提高猪种资源的利用率,但冷冻解冻后的精液质量较差,受胎率、窝产仔数远低于鲜精,极大地限制了猪精液冷冻保存技术的广泛应用。本文综述了猪精液冷冻保存研究概况、猪精液冷冻损伤机理和猪精液冷冻保存影响因素,以期为猪精液超低温冷冻保存研究提供新的思路和方法。     

Colloid centrifugation of boar semen

Colloid centrifugation of boar semen has been reported sporadically for at least the last two decades, beginning with density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and progressing more recently to single layer centrifugation (SLC). Single layer centrifugation through a species-specific colloid has been shown to be effective in selecting the best spermatozoa (spermatozoa with good motility and normal morphology) from boar sperm samples. The method is easier to use and less time-consuming than DGC and has been scaled-up to allow whole ejaculates from other species, e.g. stallions, to be processed in a practical manner. The SLC technique is described, and various scale-up versions are presented. The potential applications for SLC in boar semen preservation are as follows: to improve sperm quality in artificial insemination (AI) doses for 'problem' boars; to increase the shelf-life of normal stored sperm samples, either by processing the fresh semen before preparing AI doses or by processing the stored semen dose to extract the best spermatozoa; to remove pathogens (viruses, bacteria), thus improving biosecurity of semen doses and potentially reducing the use of antibiotics; to improve cryosurvival by removing dead and dying spermatozoa prior to cryopreservation; to select spermatozoa for in vitro fertilization. These applications are discussed and practical examples are provided. Finally, a few thoughts about the economic value of the technique to the boar semen industry are presented.     

黄芪多糖对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响

为了评价黄芪多糖（Astragalus polysaccharides）对外来公猪精液冷冻保存的影响情况,为猪精液冷冻稀释液配方的改良提供理论依据,试验采集美系长白、大约克与杜洛克3种公猪的精液,用添加不同浓度（0、0.01%、0.02%、0.03%、0.04%、0.05%、0.06%）黄芪多糖的冷冻稀释液稀释,0.25 mL塑料细管分装并冷冻,测定解冻后精子活力、畸形率及顶体完整率,并进行相同浓度3种公猪之间和同种公猪不同浓度之间的比较。结果表明,在相同黄芪多糖浓度下,仅杜洛克公猪冻后精子顶体完整率在不添加黄芪多糖时显著高于大约克公猪（P<0.05）,其余均无显著差异（P>0.05）;每种公猪的最佳黄芪多糖添加浓度均为0.04%,在该浓度下精液冻后质量均显著优于对照组（P<0.05）;各种公猪最佳黄芪多糖添加浓度下的精液冻后质量指标之间均无显著差异（P>0.05）。总之,稀释液中添加0.04%黄芪多糖在长白、大约克与杜洛克3种公猪的精液冷冻都可以取得较好的效果。     

Cryopreservation of boar semen. III: Ultrastructure of boar spermatozoa frozen ultra-rapidly at various stages of conventional freezing and thawing.

Ejaculated boar spermatozoa subjected to a conventional freezing and thawing process, were ultra-rapidly fixed, freeze-substituted and examined by electron microscopy to monitor the presence of real or potential intracellular ice and the degree of cell protection attained with the different extenders used during the process. Numerous ice crystal marks representing the degree of hydration of the cells were located in the perinuclear space of those spermatozoa not in proper contact with the extender containing glycerol (i.e. prior to freezing). The spermatozoa which were in proper contact with the extenders presented a high degree of preservation of the acrosomes, plasma membranes as well as the nuclear envelopes. No ice marks were detected in acrosomes before thawing, indicating that the conventional assayed cryopreservation method provided a good protection against cryoinjury. The presence of acrosomal changes (internal vesiculization, hydration and swelling) in thawed samples however, raises serious questions about the thawing procedure employed.     

Boar variability affects sperm metabolism activity in liquid stored semen at 5 degrees C

Metabolic activity of boar spermatozoa, liquid stored for three days at 5 degrees C, was measured using bioluminescence for ATP content, fluorescent assay (JC fluorochrome) of mitochondrial activity and oxygen consumption. Sperm motility and plasma membrane integrity (PMI) were simultaneously analyzed. Apart from the statistically significant effect (P < 0.001) of semen storage time, the importance of the individual source of the ejaculate for the analyzed parameters of metabolic efficiency of spermatozoa was shown. This phenomenon was manifested in the interaction of the individual source of the ejaculate with spermatozoa motility, integrity of their membranes and metabolic activity with the passing time of semen preservation. Recorded results indicate that the individual factor may have a significant influence on the technological usefulness of boar spermatozoa for liquid storage. Quality analyses conducted on boar semen stored at 5 degrees C may be used for pre-selection of boars producing sperm with an enhanced tolerance to cold shock.     

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。     

Cryopreservation of boar semen by egg yolk-based extenders containing lactose or fructose is better than sorbitol

The present study determined the effect of different types of sugars (lactose, fructose, glucose and sorbitol) used in egg yolk-based extender on the post-thawed boar semen quality. Twenty-two ejaculates from 6 fertility-proven Yorkshire boars were cryopreserved by liquid nitrogen vapor method. Sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity and intact functional plasma membrane were determined at 0, 2 and 4 hr after thawing. It was found that the lactose-based extender resulted in a higher percentage of post-thawed sperm motility, viability, intact acrosome and functional plasma membrane than sorbitol-based extender (P<0.05) and fructose-based extender yielded a higher post-thawed sperm motility and viability than sorbitol-based extender (P<0.05). It could be concluded that sorbitol was not an effective sugar for the cryopreservation in boar semen.     

冷冻速率和解冻温度对猪精液冷冻效果的影响

为优化冷冻和解冻方法,提高冷冻效果,本试验比较了不同冷冻速率(-100 ℃ 10 min、-120 ℃ 10 min、-140 ℃ 10 min)和不同解冻温度(37 ℃ 30 s、45 ℃ 30 s、52 ℃ 30 s、60 ℃ 30 s)对猪精液冷冻效果的影响。结果表明,采用-120 ℃熏蒸10 min,解冻后精子活力为0.36,质膜完整率和顶体完整率也优于其他2组,且差异显著(P<0.05)。采用37 ℃ 30 s方法解冻,精子活力、质膜完整率显著高于其他3组,顶体完整率也高于其他3组,但差异不显著(P>0.05),其畸形率最低和60 ℃ 30 s组差异明显(P<0.05),但与45 ℃ 30 s组和52 ℃ 30 s组差异不显著(P>0.05)。因此,采用-120 ℃平衡10 min冷冻,37 ℃ 30 s水浴解冻方法更为适合0.25 mL细管猪冻精解冻。     

OC3Morphometry Characterisation of Catalan Donkey Spermatozoa and Identification of Sperm Morphometric Subpopulations

In order to determine the injure produced in boar spermatozoa through cryopreservation process, we analyzed the expression of the hexose transporters Glut-3 and Glut-5 and the zona pellucida binding protein As-A (P68) in three different steps of the freezing-thawed protocol: at 17°C (fresh BTS-diluted semen, 1 : 2 v/v, step 1), at 5°C (after glycerol addition; step 2), and post-thawing (step 3). All sperm analyses were carried out with immunogold techniques under electronic microscopy. For this study eight healthy post-pubertal Iberian boars were submitted to a collection of twice per week through 3 months, evaluating two ejaculates from each boar. Glut-3 maintains the expression in the acrosome region post-thawing but not along the tail where is reduced. The expression of Glut-5 and As-A is majority located at the post-acrosome region of the spermatozoa at step 1, but in step 2 and step 3 this expression is relocated to sperm tail area. In conclusion, while cryopreservation affects the localization and the expression of Glut-3 and Glut-5, its fertilizing capacity is not significantly reduced. The stabilization of boar semen at 5°C was found to be the most crucial step for sperm survival.     

国外犬精液冷冻技术的研究进展

从犬的冷冻精液成功受孕产仔以来,犬精液冷冻研究已成为犬繁殖技术的一部分,国外已经详细建立了采精、稀释、冷冻、解冻及精液品质评价的有关参数,并运用于实际生产中,最高受胎率可达90%。相比之下,国内在这方面的研究还不够深入。本文就国外的犬精液冷冻研究进行详细综述,以给我国养犬业的发展提供借鉴。     

猪精液细管法冷冻保存技术的研究

为研制更为简易、高效的冷冻稀释液配方及冷冻程序,充分发挥优良种公猪的生产潜力,本实验采用细管法对种公猪精液冷冻保存技术进行了研究,比较了4种基础液配方稀释液冷冻效果,基础液I:葡萄糖、蔗糖、柠檬酸钠;基础液II:葡萄糖、蔗糖;基础液III:葡萄糖、乳糖、柠檬酸钠;基础液IV:葡萄糖、乳糖。结果表明:采用一步法稀释和IV液冷冻保存猪精液,其解冻后精子活率(0.501)极显著(P<0.01)高于I液(0.359)和III液(0.359),显著(P<0.05)高于II液(0.476),II液显著(P<0.05)高于I液和III液;解冻后IV液的精子顶体完整率(26.9%)显著(P<0.05)高于I液(22.4%)、II液(24.2%)和III液(22.5%),IV液冷冻解冻后精液的精子活率,在室温(23±2)℃下4h内能够保持0.30以上。     

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%。