Validation of the FACSCount AF System for Determination of Sperm Concentration in Boar Semen

A flow cytometric method has been developed for rapid determination of sperm concentration in semen from various mammalian species. * * Patent Pending, Int. Publication Number WO/00/54026.
All cells containing DNA are stained with SYBR‐14 or propidium iodide (PI) and sperm concentration is determined in relation to an internal standard of fluorescent microspheres (beads). Satisfactory staining can be achieved within 2–3 min and the following flow cytometric analysis on the FACSCount AF System rapidly provides the user with a precise and accurate assessment of the sperm concentration. In this study, the FACSCount AF System and Sperm Counting Reagent (BD Biosciences) was compared with microscopic counting using a Bürker–Türk haemocytometer. In addition, sperm concentration was determined using the Corning 254 spectrophotometer which is used routinely by Danish artificial insemination stations for boars. The results show that the agreement between flow cytometry and microscopic counting is very high. The slope for the regression line was 1.12 (SE = 0.03) with an estimated intercept with the Y‐axis of 22 × 10⁶sperm/ml (SE = 10 × 10⁶ sperm/ml) and an estimated error of the model of 10 × 10⁶ sperm/ml. For the spectrophotometer, the slope of the regression line was 1.09 (SE = 0.07) with an estimated intercept of 137 × 10⁶ sperm/ml (SE = 25 × 10⁶ sperm/ml). The average error made by the spectrophotometer was 55 × 10⁶ sperm/ml. In addition, the results obtained using flow cytometry was highly repeatable (CV = 2.7%) in comparison with the spectrophotometric method (CV = 6.3%). These results indicate that the FACSCount AF System is a valuable tool for precise and accurate assessment of sperm concentration in boar semen and that use of this system may lead to production of more uniform insemination doses containing a specific number of sperm per dose.     

Rotation of Boar Semen Doses During Storage Affects Sperm Quality

It is common practice to rotate boar semen doses during storage for prevention of sperm sedimentation. In this study, the effect of rotation of boar semen doses during storage on sperm quality was investigated. Manual turning twice daily and automatic rotation five times per hour resulted in the following effects: alkalinization of the BTS‐extender, loss of membrane integrity at day 3, and loss of motility and changes in sperm kinematics during a thermoresistance test at day 5. Using a pH‐stabilized variant of BTS extender, sperm motility and velocity decreased in continuously rotated samples, whereas membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity remain unaffected. It is concluded that rotation of semen samples adversely affects sperm quality and, therefore, should no longer be recommended for AI practice.     

Effects of Matrix Filtration of Low-Quality Boar Semen Doses on Sperm Quality

The aim of this work was to develop a method to enhance the sperm parameters of ejaculates with low sperm quality from Piétrain boars. Seminal doses were filtered through columns of DEAE Sephadex (length 2.5 ± 0.5 cm), CM Sephadex (length 5 ± 0.5 cm), glass wool (length 2 ± 0.5 cm) or glass bead (length 10 ± 0.5 cm), with an exit flow rate of 1 ml/40 s in all cases. For each male, 10 ml of the sperm cell-rich fraction diluted at 1 : 6 were filtered. Sperm quality was assessed before and after filtration. Sperm morphology, sperm motility and sperm concentration were determined using the computer program sca ^® 2002 Production, and sperm viability was evaluated by fluorescence multistaining. Osmotic resistance test and hyperosmotic resistance test were used to determine the osmotic resistance of spermatozoa, whereas l -lactate production estimated the metabolic activity. Results showed a decrease of sperm concentration and osmotic resistance of spermatozoa after filtration in the four matrixes. However, an increase in the frequency of viable spermatozoa with intact acrosome after filtration in glass bead columns and an increase of morphologically normal spermatozoa after filtration in Sephadex CM-50, glass wool and glass bead columns were observed. Despite the decrease in the frequency of progressive motile spermatozoa, l -lactate production and mitochondrial sheath integrity maintained constant after filtration. Our findings indicate that column filtration is an effective method to enhance the sperm quality by selecting viable and morphologically normal spermatozoa without altering DNA, plasma membrane, mitochondrial sheath integrity or inducing premature acrosome reaction.     

Breed of Boar Influences the Optimal Concentration of Gamma‐oryzanol Needed for Semen Cryopreservation

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of boar breed on the optimal concentration of gamma‐oryzanol on the qualities of cryopreserved boar semen. Semen was collected from 20 boars (10 Duroc, 5 Large white and 5 Landrace boars). The semen sample was divided into five groups (A–E) according to the concentration of gamma‐oryzanol in extender II, that is 0, 0.08, 0.16, 0.24 and 0.32 mm , respectively. The semen was cryopreserved by nitrogen vapour and storage in nitrogen tank (?196°C). After storage for a week, samples were thawed at 50°C for 12 s and evaluated for progressive motility, sperm viability and acrosome integrity. The results demonstrated that gamma‐oryzanol significantly improved progressive motility, viability and acrosome integrity of frozen–thawed boar semen. Considering the influence of breeds on the optimal concentration of gamma‐oryzanol, for Duroc boar, gamma‐oryzanol at 0.16 mm (group C) yielded the highest percentage of progressive motility, sperm viability and acrosome integrity. For Large white and Landrace boars, gamma‐oryzanol at 0.24 mm (group D) showed a significantly higher percentage of progressive motility, viability (not significant in Landrace) and acrosome integrity than other concentrations. In conclusion, the optimal concentration of gamma‐oryzanol needed for boar semen cryopreservation in lactose–egg yolk (LEY) freezing extender is not only depended on individual boar but also breed of boar, that is 0.16 mm for Duroc and 0.24 mm  for Large white and Landrace.     

Measurement of Concentration and Viability in Stallion Sperm

Sperm concentration and sperm membrane intactness (SMI) or viability are two measures of sperm quality that provide important but different information about a stallion's reproductive capability. Sperm concentration is a measure that, by itself, informs little about the reproductive status of either the stallion or the ejaculate. Nevertheless, it is part of the product, along with semen volume, that determines total sperm number. The correct calculation of total sperm number directly affects the number of mares a stallion can breed and therefore, fertility. If either sperm concentration or semen volume is incorrectly measured, both the number of mares that a stallion can breed and the fertility of those breedings are affected. Although considerable between-stallion variation exists, sperm concentration, semen volume and total sperm number tend to be seasonal and vary with ejaculation frequency.     

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。     

不同处理对猪精子活率、顶体完整率、DNA含量及精清酶活性的影响

对猪全精进行稀释、保存、冷冻、冷休克处理,测定相关指标.结果表明,精液1:1稀释后,在室温(25℃)保存过程中,精子活率、顶体完整率逐渐下降,精清中GOT活性持续升高,ALP活性变化不明显,LDH活性首先于保存的第24h升高,以后下降.精液1:10稀释后,精子活率急剧降低,顶体完整率没有显著性变化;随室温保存时间的延长,两者呈下降趋势,到室温保存的第24h,除GOT活性升高外,其它两种酶活性变化不明显.精液经冷冻解冻、冷休克处理后,精子活率、顶体完整率大幅度下降,精清中GOT、LDII、ALP活性升高,并随冷休克处理时间的延长而加剧;稀释后再进行冷休克处理,各指标变化幅度减小.本试验结果还表明,猪精液DNA含量为3.14mg/10~9精子,其与精子密度呈正相关(r=0.893),试验中各种处理均未引起精子DNA含量明显变化.     

猪精液中五种病毒的初步检测

为探明猪精液在疫病传播中的作用,应用PCR和RT-PCR技术分别从发病猪场和未发病猪场采集种公猪精液进行猪瘟病毒(CSFV)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)和牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)的检测。结果发现,发病猪场的种公猪精液中CSFV、PRRSV、PRV、PCV-2的感染率分别为30.0%、50.0%、4.0%和30.0%,而未发病猪场的感染率分别为4.0%、20.0%、0.0%和8.0%,这表明精液是多种猪病原传播的良好媒介,提示种公猪对于疫病的发生和传播起着重要作用。     

猪精液液态保存的研究进展

猪的人工授精主要使用液态保存精液 ,此法保存精子的存活率高、功能受损较小、授精繁殖率较高且操作简便。体外液态保存猪精液时 ,不仅要注意猪精子对温度变化敏感的特性 ,还要考虑酸碱度、离子的种类和强度、渗透压、过氧化损伤和微生物污染等对精子的影响 ,要向稀释液中添加各种保护成分 ,维持精子的存活和功能。目前主要是比较和改进各种稀释液 ,建立准确的精子质量评价方法 ,提高受精率     

Boar Semen Studies: I. Laboratory Evaluation of Processing Phases *

A successful method for low temperature preservation of bull semen was modified for use with boar semen. Observations were made on the effects of varying cooling rate, equilibration time, freezing rate, glycerol concentration, method of glycerol addition, packaging containers, extender pH and tonicity. Observations indicate that boar semen should be cooled and frozen at a slower rate than bull semen. Within the ranges or methods examined, the other factors had little effect on recovery of motility after freezing.     

Signalling Compartmentalization Involved in the Boar Sperm Acrosome Reaction

Veterinary Research Communications -     

猪精液提取蓝耳病病毒核酸的方法比较

为筛选从猪精液中提取微量蓝耳病病毒(PRRSV)核酸的有效方法,将蓝耳病(变异株)弱毒苗稀释成不同滴度(TCID₅₀/mL)的病毒液,与健康猪常温精液混合作用。分别用Trizol法、磁珠法、离心柱法提取含毒精液中的病毒RNA,用荧光RT-PCR试验检测病毒RNA,结果表明,当精液中病毒滴度高于0.1 TCID₅₀/mL时,3种病毒RNA提取方法均可检出。离心柱法对猪精液中PRRSV核酸提取灵敏度最高,可检出0.01 TCID₅₀/mL滴度的病毒,稳定性好。     

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。     

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。     

商品猪场确定种猪及精液配种价值的生物经济学方法

商品猪场选购种猪或精液时 ,需要考虑其配种的综合效果 ,这些包括配种后母猪受胎率、窝产活仔数及商品猪的日增重、饲料转化率及瘦肉率等。本文通过建立生物经济学模型模拟商品猪群生产过程 ,利用差额法计算这些指标对出栏猪利润的影响 ,确定其边际效益 ,在此基础上提出“相对配种价值”指数的概念 ,用来估计种猪及精液的综合利用价值 ,为商品猪场选择适当的种猪、精液及配种方法提供参考     

Studies on the Effect of Supplementing Boar Semen Cryopreservation Media with Different Avian Egg Yolk Types on in Vitro Post-thaw Sperm Quality

Fertility after insemination of cryopreserved boar semen is currently below that of fresh semen. In an attempt to improve the post-thaw motility and acrosome integrity of boar sperm, semen was frozen using an adapted Westendorf method in which the chicken egg yolk was replaced by either duck or quail egg yolk. The different composition of the yolk types, particularly the amount of cholesterol, fatty acids and phospholipids, were thought to potentially afford a greater level of protection to sperm against damage during freezing and thawing. Sperm frozen in medium containing chicken egg yolk displayed higher motility immediately after thawing, but there was no difference in the motility of sperm frozen with different types of egg yolk 3 or 6 h after thawing and maintenance at 37 degrees C. Sperm frozen in media containing chicken or duck egg yolk had a higher proportion of intact acrosomes immediately after thawing than sperm frozen in medium containing quail egg yolk, but 6 h after thawing and maintenance at 37 degrees C the sperm that had been frozen in medium containing chicken egg yolk had a higher proportion of intact acrosomes than the sperm frozen in media containing duck or quail egg yolk. Analysis of the composition of the different yolk types showed that the basic components of the yolks were similar, but the ratios of fatty acids and phospholipid classes differed. Duck egg yolk had more monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) than chicken egg yolk, which had more MUFA than quail egg yolk. Duck egg yolk contained more phosphotidylinositol (PI) than chicken or quail egg yolks and quail egg yolk contained more phosphotidylserine than either chicken or duck egg yolks. The differences in post-thaw motility and acrosome integrity of boar sperm when frozen in media containing the different types of egg yolk may be due to the variation in composition.     

3种抗凋亡试剂在猪精液低温保存中的应用

The objective of the present study was to improve the low temperature preservation of boar semen and evaluate the effect of three anti-apoptotic drugs (puerarin, metoprolol tartaric and dichloroacetate) on keeping the quality of boar semen. Semen was collected from adult boars of proven fertility with the gloved-hand technique, and only the semen showing a minimum of 70% motile was used. Semen was diluted in extenders containing anti-apoptotic drugs (0,0.02,0.10,0.50 and 2.50 mmol/L puerarin, 0,0.02,0.10,0.50 and 2.50 mmol/L metoprolol tartaric acid, 0,0.04,0.20,1.00 and 5.00 mmol/L dichloroacetate). All sperm suspensions were stored at 5 ℃ and sperm motility was detected once a day. Six parameters (motility of extended soermatozoa,spermatozoal-survival effective time,spermatozoal-survival overall time, spermatozoal-survival index, the 72 h deformity rate and acrosomal integrity) were measured, six replicates were performed. The results showed that under the conditions of this study, a certain concentration of three drugs can extend the life-span of spermatozoa under the low temperature, and the optimal concentration of puerarin, metoprolol tartaric acid and dichloroacetate was 0.50, 0.50 and 1.00 mmol/L, respectively.     

OC4Influence of Seminal Plasma Added to Highly Diluted Semen on Sperm Motility of Young Boar Feed with Selenium and Vitamin E

High dilution rates have been documented as detrimental for boar spermatozoa, shortening their lifespan (Centurion et al. 2003, Biol Reprod 69: 640–646). Addition of seminal plasma (SP) to semen extenders, or selenium (Se) and vitamin E (VE) in diet of boars could increase motility of highly diluted spermatozoa (HDS). The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of seminal plasma on sperm motility of HDS from boars feed with Se and VE. Sixteen 12 month-old boars were designed to one of four dietary treatments: (i) control, Se 0 ppm–VE 0 IU/kg; (ii) Se 0–VE 250; (iii) Se 0.5–VE 250 and (iv) Se 0.5–VE 0. Boars were treated for 8 weeks before semen collection. Sperm rich fractions from each boar were diluted to 5 × 10⁶ sperm/ml in PBS medium and incubated at 37°C with or without 10% SP. The measurements were done at 0, 2 or 5 h. Data were analyzed as a mixed model for a factorial design [2 (Se) × 2 (VE) × 2 (SP) × 3 (h)]. Percentage of sperm motility (PSM) increases significantly (p < 0.001) with addition of Se (81.3 ± 1.52), VE (81.0 ± 1.62) and SP (81.5 ± 1.57) vs control (73.4 ± 1.61). There was significant interaction Se × VE (p < 0.001) and Se × VE × SP (p < 0.05) in PSM. However, PSM was affected significantly by time (0 h 83.4 ± 1.92; 2 h 80.7 ± 1.92 and 5 h 67.9 ± 1.92; p < 0.001). There was significant interaction SP × Time (p < 0.05) in PSM. These results indicate that Se, VE and SP improve seminal viability. Addition of 10% of SP maintains PSM at least during 5 hours.