Preliminary Trial: Motility Comparisons of a Unique Freezing Technology (UFT) to Liquid Nitrogen Mist Methodology for Cryopreservation of Porcine Spermatozoa

The motility outcomes of boar semen frozen with newly developed freezing techniques using a new unique freezing technology (UFT) compared with traditional liquid nitrogen methodology were investigated with the intent of improving current fertility outcomes using semen. The UFT is an electronically controlled cooling chamber that houses an organic fluid bath that can be maintained at temperatures below 0 degrees C without solidifying to freeze samples. Four ejaculates from four different boars were collected for this trial. Samples were handled consistently during the pre- and post-freeze processing. From each ejaculate, samples were separated into eight cryopreservation treatment groups, six UFT variations and two control liquid nitrogen groups, immediately before freezing, in replicates of two. After the initial cryopreservation was complete, all samples were stored in liquid nitrogen for at least 48 h. Post-thaw motilities and original motility return percentages were assessed on a random, individual-sample basis. After the initial evaluations, samples from two boars were recollected and frozen using the UFT for breeding purposes. Four sows were bred with the UFT frozen semen to confirm fertility capability. When assessing the individual UFT techniques, all of six UFT techniques had improved post-thaw motilities. However, treatments F (micro = 29%, return micro = 37%) and J (micro = 27%, return micro = 34%) showed the highest statistical improvement for post-thaw (p < 0.05) and original motility percent returns (p < 0.05) when compared with either the control cryo-tube (micro = 15%, return micro = 19%) or straw groups (micro = 12%, return micro = 16%). The UFT semen had a 50% conception rate, with an average of seven piglets from the sows that farrowed. Our preliminary data suggest a higher motility return with a slower pre-freeze phase below the freezing point before the acceleration to liquid nitrogen temperatures. The preliminary data suggest that the UFT could be utilized as a potential cryopreservation option for boar semen.     

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。     

Determination of Appropriate Cryopreservation Protocols for Epididymal Cat Spermatozoa

Effects of Equex and glycerol additions and sample dilution step on frozen–thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa were investigated. The epididymal sperm pellets were resuspended in extenders using one‐ (groups III and IV) or two‐ (groups I, II, V and VI) step dilution. For one‐step dilution, the pellets were resuspended in plain egg yolk‐Tris medium (EYT) + 5% glycerol with (IV)/without (III) 0.5% Equex and cooled (4^°C, 1 h). For two‐step dilution, the pellets were resuspended in EYT (I and V) and in EYT + 3% glycerol (II and VI), cooled and further diluted with EYT + 10% glycerol with (I)/without (V) 1% Equex and with EYT + 7% glycerol with (II)/without (VI) 1% Equex. Immediately after freeze–thawing, no differences (p > 0.05) were found in the motility, viability and membrane integrity (HOST) among the groups except the lowest HOST in IV (p = 0.005 to p = 0.04). The acrosome integrity (FITC) in group I was comparable to that in group II (p > 0.05) and was higher than the rest (p < 0.001 to p = 0.02). At 2 h after thawing, the motility, viability and HOST were comparable among the groups (p > 0.05) except the lower percentages of viability in III (p = 0.008 to p = 0.3) and of HOST in IV (p = 0.005 to p = 0.2). Two‐step dilutions with Equex (I, II) were more beneficial for the FITC at 2 h than without Equex (V) (p = 0.005 and p = 0.02) and than one‐step dilutions (III, IV) (p < 0.001 to p = 0.02). In conclusion, epididymal cat sperm quality after freeze–thawing could be improved when Equex was added and two‐step dilution was performed during freezing. The extenders prepared for the first step of dilution could be with (3%) or without (0%) glycerol.     

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。     

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.     

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。     

牛胚胎玻璃化冷冻技术的发展和应用概况

胚胎冷冻保存是动物胚胎工程的重要组成部分，它是胚胎移植技术在生产中推广应用的重要基础。和现在通用的常规冷冻法相比，玻璃化冷冻具有用时短，所需设备少和操作简单等优点，成为目前国内外胚胎冷冻保存领域发展新方向。本文就牛胚胎玻璃化冷冻的概念、方法和国内外发展状况做一简要综述。     

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.     

牛卵母细胞冷冻保存研究进展

通过随时随地提供具有发育能力的卵母细胞,卵母细胞冷冻保存赋予体外受精、核移植、转基因等胚胎工程技术的极大灵活性,还可为珍稀濒危野生动物的保种提供技术参考.综述了牛卵母细胞冷冻保存方法及冷冻保存对牛卵母细胞结构和发育能力的影响.     

Development of Procedures for Sex-sorting Frozen–Thawed Bovine Spermatozoa

Dairy bull sperm may be sex‐sorted, frozen and used to artificially inseminate heifers with acceptable fertility if the herd is well‐managed. One drawback to the technology is that donor bulls must be located within a short distance of the sorting facility in order to collect semen, which limits the number of bulls from which sorted sperm are available. A successful method used to overcome this limitation in sheep is sex‐sorting from frozen–thawed semen and refreezing for artificial insemination. This technique is attractive to the dairy industry, and therefore a series of three experiments was designed to investigate the optimal methods to prepare, sex‐sort and re‐freeze frozen–thawed bovine sperm. Sperm were prepared for sorting by density gradient separation in either PureSperm^® or BoviPure?, followed by staining in one of three diluents (Androhep^®, Bovine Sheath Fluid + 0.3% BSA or TALP buffer). Sperm were sorted and collected into Test yolk buffer, and frozen in an extender containing 0, 0.25, 0.375 or 0.5% Equex STM Paste. Frozen–thawed sperm were better orientated (p = 0.006) and had fewer damaged membranes (8.7 ± 0.6% vs 19.5 ± 2.4%; p = 0.003) after centrifugation in PureSperm^® rather than BoviPure? gradients. Sperm orientation (p < 0.05) and motility (69.9 ± 3.0 vs 55.6 ± 4.0; p < 0.001) were highest after staining in Androhep^® rather than in TALP buffer. Sperm were more motile (58.2 ± 4.7 vs 38.7 ± 3.5; p < 0.001) and had better acrosome integrity (74.3 ± 2.9 vs 66.8 ± 2.0; p < 0.001) after freezing in an extender containing 0.375% Equex STM Paste than in extender without Equex. Hence, a protocol has been developed to allow frozen–thawed bull sperm to be sex‐sorted with high resolution between the sexes, then re‐frozen and thawed with retention of motility and acrosome integrity.     

葡萄籽原花青素对猪精液冷冻保存效果的研究

在猪精液冷冻基础液中分别添加0μg/mL,10μg/mL,20μg/mL,30μg/mL,40μg/mL,50μg/mL的葡萄籽原花青素,通过对冷冻-解冻后猪精子的动力学参数、生理参数以及生化参数的检测,旨在研究其对猪精液冷冻保存效果的影响。结果表明,当葡萄籽原花青素添加浓度为20μg/mL和50μg/mL时,解冻后精子活力、活率、顶体完整率、线粒体活性、质膜完整性和酶活性都显著高于对照组(P0.05),但是两组间比较差异不显著(P0.05)。与对照组和其他实验组相比,当葡萄籽原花青素添加浓度为40μg/mL时,精子畸形率降低了9.30%,精子活力、活率、顶体完整率、线粒体活性和质膜完整性分别提高了12.59%、11.78%、14.27%、12.53%和11.96%(P0.05)。当葡萄籽原花青素的添加量为40μg/mL时,MDA的量最低为1.16nmol/mg,SOD和GSH-Px酶活性最大分别为77.36U/mg、35.21U/mg。结果显示,在猪精液稀释液中添加一定浓度的葡萄籽原花青素,可以显著提高冷冻-解冻后猪精子品质和抗氧化能力。当葡萄籽原花青素的添加量为40μg/mL时,其对猪精子冷冻保存效果最好。     

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.     

Effects of Cryopreservation on Bull Spermatozoa Distribution in Morphometrically Distinct Subpopulations

Assisted sperm morphometry analysis (ASMA) was used in this study to determine the effects of cryopreservation on bull spermatozoa distribution in morphometrically distinct subpopulations. Ejaculates were collected from five bulls and were divided. One portion was diluted at 30 degrees C in a skim milk-egg yolk medium, containing glycerol. A microscope slide was prepared from single extended sperm samples prior to freezing. The remainder of each sample was frozen in nitrogen vapours. After thawing, sperm smears were prepared as described above. All slides were air dried and stained with Hemacolor. The sperm-head dimensions for a minimum of 200 sperm heads were analysed from each sample by means of the Sperm-Class Analyser (SCA), and the mean measurements recorded. Our results showed that applying the ASMA technology and multivariate cluster analyses, it was possible to determine that three separate subpopulations of spermatozoa with different morphometric characteristics coexist in bull ejaculates (large, average and small spermatozoa). The mean values of each sperm head dimension among the three subpopulations of spermatozoa were significantly different (p < 0.001). Besides, there were significant (p < 0.001) differences in the distribution of these three sperm subpopulations between fresh and thawed samples. Thus, the percentage of representation of the subpopulation that includes those spermatozoa whose dimensions are the biggest, decreased from 52.06% in extended fresh samples to 15.51% in the thawed ones. Contrarily, the percent of representation of the subpopulation containing the smallest spermatozoa, increased from 8.70% in extended fresh samples to 34.04% in the thawed ones. In conclusion, the present study confirms the heterogeneity of sperm head dimensions in bull semen, heterogeneity that vary through the cryopreservation procedure.     

牛精液冷冻机理的探讨

为了深入探讨精液冷冻理论,突破传统”结晶态”和“玻璃态”学说束缚。从近年来牛精液冷冻液固两相变化研究成果出发,基于非线性耗散结构理论对牛精液冷冻机理进行深入探讨。现有研究结果表明,精液冷冻过程属于远离平衡态开放系统体系,通过与外界交换物质和能量,自发产生自组织现象,达到新的平衡状态,形成耗散结构。用耗散结构理论方法研究精液液固两相运动规律,突破了精液冷冻理论研究的传统框架,更好地说明了精液冷冻机理。     

犊牛睾丸支持细胞的分离与冷冻保存

以新生犊牛睾丸为实验对象,应用组合酶法进行支持细胞分离培养,并研究了冷冻保存后支持细胞的生长特性。结果表明:在细胞分离时,消化睾丸组织,分离曲细精管法所获得的细胞悬液中的有效细胞数高于组织剪碎法。支持细胞体外培养,4 h后开始贴壁,3~4 d铺满培养皿底壁,传代后细胞生长较快,2 d即可增殖一代。HE染色,胞质染色较淡,而细胞核染色较深,呈圆形或椭圆形位于细胞质中央或偏位,核仁明显。采用10%FBS+10%DMSO的DMEM液做冷冻液,对细胞进行冷冻保存时,支持细胞的复苏率在65%以上。解冻后的支持细胞体外培养,4h开始有细胞贴壁,24h后大部分细胞贴壁,3~4d铺满培养皿底壁。     

牛体外胚胎冷冻保存的研究进展

体外胚胎冷冻保存技术是胚胎移植技术的重要组成部分,在辅助生殖技术中发挥重要作用,同时对种质资源保存、加强遗传改良和促进优质种源国际交流等方面具有重要意义。然而,体外胚胎冷冻过程中存在脂质含量过高、活性氧水平升高及机械损伤等问题,导致体外胚胎冷冻效率低,这极大地限制了体外胚胎冷冻保存技术的广泛应用。大量研究表明,通过去脂质、优化体外胚胎培养液、人工塌陷囊胚腔和优化冷冻程序等手段,可以有效提高冷冻后胚胎的存活率和发育能力。因此,本文概述了体外胚胎冷冻保存技术的研究进展和胚胎冷冻过程中存在的问题,总结了提高体外胚胎冷冻效率的方法措施,旨在为提高体外胚胎冷冻保存效率提供一定参考。