Studies on the Transmission of 125I Igg and 125I Albumin from Serum to Seminal Plasma in Boars

Labelled swine albumin resp. IgG were injected intravenously in two boars. The radioactivity of seminal plasma was determined at frequent intervals. It was observed that minimal amounts of radioactivity of albumin and IgG could be detected in seminal plasma. The importance of a transmission of IgG from serum to seminal plasma is discussed.     

Variations in the Length of the Y Chromosome and the Seminal Attributes of Karan Fries Bulls

Fresh semen and blood samples from 20 Karan Fries bulls (4–6 years of age), maintained at the Artificial Breeding Complex of the National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, were collected for one year. All the bulls had 60 chromosomes, comprising 58 acrocentric autosomes and 2 sex chromosomes, with X as the larger and Y as the smaller submetacentric. The mean lengths of Y_p and Y_q; the total length of the Y chromosome and the length ratio were 1.10±0.01 m, 1.83±0.02 m, 2.92±0.02 m and 62.46%±0.18%, respectively. Analysis of the length measurements of the the Y chromosomes in Karan Fries bulls showed that all the measurements, viz., the short arm of the Y chromosome, the long arm of the Y chromosome, the total length of the Y chromosome and the variation in length of Y chromosome, varied significantly among bulls. All the seminal parameters, the volume of semen, mass activity, initial motility, concentration, live sperm count and the total abnormal sperm count, were significantly affected by bulls, whereas season had a significant effect on all the seminal parameters except the total abnormal sperm count. No significant relationship between the ratio of the long arm to the total length of the Y chromosome and seminal attributes was observed.     

Frankia spp.孢子和泡囊的诱导产生

对Ｆｒａｎｋｉａ孢子和泡囊的试验结果证明：当以酪蛋白水解物为氮源时,大量的泡囊产生;一般时间的无氮培养对孢子和泡囊形成的诱导铲应,在加入氮源后不能保持下去;聚乙二醇对泡囊的产生有诱导作用;提高培养基的琼脂浓度,有利于孢子的产生。     

广聚萤叶甲雄虫生殖系统特异性精液蛋白基因的筛选及表达分析

为明确广聚萤叶甲Ophraella communa雄虫精液蛋白基因在性别间的表达差异并筛选出在雄虫生殖系统特异性表达的基因,从转录组及蛋白组数据库选取13个精液蛋白基因,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术检测其在广聚萤叶甲不同性别、组织及发育阶段的表达特征。结果显示,在广聚萤叶甲雄虫13个精液蛋白基因中,有9个精液蛋白的mRNA表达水平在雄虫中更高,有5个精液蛋白基因具有专一的雄虫生殖系统特异性,分别为PGK、sucA、ENO、SDH和PLA2b基因,在雄虫生殖系统中的表达量分别较其在头部的表达量高273.01倍、401.48倍、11.21倍、64.27倍和1.86倍。PGK、sucA和ENO基因均在广聚萤叶甲老熟蛹期急剧上调表达,在性成熟成虫中的表达量最高,分别是卵期表达量的43.48倍、31.03倍和11.89倍,三者具有明显的组织和发育阶段时空特异性,推测PGK、sucA和ENO基因参与广聚萤叶甲雄虫生殖的可能性较其余基因更高。     

Influence of seminal plasma during different stages of bovine sperm cryopreservation

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of seminal plasma on bovine sperm cryopreservation and to assess the integrity of plasma and acrosomal membranes, mitochondrial potential, remodelling of F-actin cytoskeleton and sperm chromatin fragmentation during the cooling, equilibrium and freezing/thawing stages. Six ejaculates collected from seven Nelore bulls (n = 42) were used in this study. Each ejaculate was divided into two aliquots (with seminal plasma = SP group; without seminal plasma = NSP group) and packed to a final concentration of 50 × 10⁶ sperm per straw. Statistical analyses were performed using SAS software (version 9.3), and p ≤ .05 was considered significant. A time effect was observed for all sperm characteristics (p < .05), except for chromatin fragmentation (p > .05). The presence of seminal plasma better preserved the acrosomal integrity (SP = 75.2% and NSP = 71.7%; p < .05) and also provided lower F-actin remodelling during cryopreservation process (SP = 29.9% and NSP = 32.4%; p < .05). Regarding to the cryopreservation stages, it was observed that cooling step induced higher remodelling of F-actin than the equilibrium and freezing/thawing stages (56.3%, 32.2% and 23.9%, respectively; p < .05). The equilibrium step had minor influence on overall sperm characteristics while the freezing/thawing stage was responsible for the highest percentage of damage in plasma membrane (−65.2%), acrosomal membrane (−34.0%) and mitochondrial potential (−48.1%). On the other hand, none of the cryopreservation stages affected chromatin integrity. It was concluded that the presence of seminal plasma provides increased acrosomal integrity and reduced remodelling of F-actin cytoskeleton. Higher F-actin remodelling is observed after the cooling step while the freezing/thawing step is most damaging to sperm membranes and mitochondrial potential during bovine sperm cryopreservation.     

Motility of spermatozoa ofAlburnus alburnus (Cyprinidae) and its relationship to seminal plasma composition and sperm metabolism

The composition of seminal plasma and metabolism of sperm of the cyprinid fishAlburnus alburnus were investigated. Statistically significant correlations were found between motility parameters and seminal fluid osmolality, pH, Na⁺, K⁺ and protein levels (negative correlations: % immotile spermatozoa-Na⁺, K⁺; positive correlations: % motile spermatozoa-osmolality, pH, Na⁺, K⁺, protein; % linear motile spermatozoa-pH protein; swimming velocity of spermatozoa-pH, Na⁺, protein). Spermatozoan motility and ATP metabolism and glycolysis were correlated as indicated by measurement of ATPase, pyruvate kinase, adenylate kinase and lactate dehydrogenase activity. The physiological meanings of these correlations and their possible significance for quality control of semen are discussed.Abbreviations used ACP acid phosphatase - ADP adenosine diphosphate - AK adenylate kinase - ALP alkaline phosphatase - ASPAT aspartate aminotransferase - ATP adenosine triphosphate - ATPase magnesium dependent adenosine triphosphatase - CRPO creatine phosphate - -GLU \-D-glucuronidase - ICDH isocitrate dehydrogenase - LDH lactate dehydrogenase - PK pyruvate kinase     

Advancement of Ovulation in the Sow Related to Seminal Plasma Application before Insemination

Contents: The relationship between seminal plasma constitutents in the boar ejaculate and ovulation time was investigated in German landrace gilts in a total of 182 heat periods. The animals were inseminated in the first two trials (I = 34 gilts; II = 60 gilts) once at spontaneous heat with seminal plasma free liquid semen after a pretreatment with either 60 ml seminal plasma or dilution medium. In a third experiment (III) 22 gilts were treated in 4 subsequent heat intervals with 120 ml seminal plasma, oestrogen solution or physiological saline at the beginning of standing heat without any application of spermatozoa to investigate the possibility of induction of ovulation. In the inseminated gilts embryos were recovered surgically 3 to 5 days after AI. Fertilization rate and embryo quality were recorded. The time of ovum activation was calculated in a retrospective manner using the corresponding age values of Hunter (1974) for embryo development. Considering a six hour lapse after ovulation for complete activation of all eggs, the probable ovulation time was determined and used for calculation of the interval between insemination and ovulation. In two experimental groups ovulation was determined by trans cutaneous sonography of the ovaries in the standing gilt. This method revealed a seminal plasma dependent advancement of ovulation time ranging between 5 and 14.4 hours. A seminal plasma dependent prostaglandin release in the endometrium is believed to be the main factor in stimulation of the ovulation process .     

Freezability and Fertility Results with Uncentrifuged Stallion Semen

The first (1 to 3) sperm-rich fractions of the ejaculate were collected from 4 stallions using an open-ended vagina. The volume of the collected fractions was 12 ± 8 ml with a density of 475 ± 200 million spermatozoa/ml. Before freezing, the semen was diluted with a skim-milk based extender 1:1 to 1: 8 (volume of semen: volume of extender), depending on the initial sperm concentration to achieve a final concentration of 100 million/ml. The total number of spermatozoa in an insemination dose ranged from 0.7 to 1 billion spermatozoa. Within 12 h after ovulation, 48 mares were inseminated in 70 cycles. The total single-cycle pregnancy rate at day 21 was 24%, but varied from 10% to 33% per cycle among the stallions.     

Carcinoma of an accessory genital gland in a 23‐year‐old Camargue gelding

This report describes the case management, histopathological and post mortem findings in a 23‐year‐old gelding with a peri‐rectal mass. The mass was debulked surgically and submitted samples revealed it to be a poorly differentiated carcinoma. In the post operative period the horse developed signs of abdominal pain and dysuria and was subjected to euthanasia. Post mortem examination revealed a large infiltrative mass located between the rectum and urethra, consistent with a carcinoma of an accessory genital gland, most likely the seminal vesicle.