Temperature and storage period over spermatic parameters of jundiá, Rhamdia quelen (Quoy & Gaimard, 1824)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the spermatic parameters of jundia, Rhamdia quelen, semen stored for short periods under different temperatures. Fifteen males were used in a time factorial experimental design (13 × 3 × 3 × 3). The sperm was stored at: 15; 25 and 35°C and activated in water at: 15; 25 and 35°C each, respectively, within storage periods of: 0; 2; 4; 6; 8; 10; 12; 16; 20; 24; 32; 40 and 48 h after collection. The treatments were performed in triplicates and in sequential protocols every 50 h. The motility parameters were evaluated using Pearson's correlation analysis and the significant parameters (P < 0.05) were summarized using principal component analysis forming two predicted groups. Group 01 composed the following parameters: curvilinear velocity, wobble and linearity; group 02 comprised average path velocity, straight line velocity, beating cross frequency and motility rate. Effects (P < 0.05) of treatments were observed only in group 02, with interaction between time and temperature of exposure and between exposure time and water temperature. Superior results of spermatic parameters of group 02 were observed right after collection. However, the exposure and spermatic activation at 15°C assured significant results 48 h after collection when compared with 25 and 35°C.     

Age‐related changes in semen quality characteristics and expectations of reproductive longevity in Duroc boars

Quadratic fitting was used to regress semen characteristics of 1441 samples consisting of 12‐month collection from 58 Duroc boars against animal age varied from 10 to 80 months. Data was divided into two groups of cool (14.0–22.7°C, RH 81.5%) and hot season (22.9–29.9°C, RH 86.6%), to test effects of age, season and their interactions. Results revealed that young boars of around 1 year old could endure the hot season. The endurance gradually diminished as animals grew. In the hot season animals exhibited peak performance at age around 33 month and it remained for 1 month, while cool‐season kept boars could last for 48 months from 16 months old onward. The reproductive longevity should be 51 month in a subtropical environment and it may extend to 70 month if heat stress can be avoided. The estimated total sperm contribution of a Duroc boar would be 1.8 times more when kept below 22°C than in a natural subtropical environment. It is concluded that to maintain Duroc boars as semen donor to at least 4 years of age is feasible in a subtropical environment and boar longevity could reach 6 years old if well kept in a temperate region.     

日粮维生素E水平对山羊精液品质的影响

采用4×4拉丁方设计,给金堂黑山羊饲喂维生素E浓度不同(常量:30 mg/kg维生素E,10,50,100倍常量的添加量)而其他营养成分均一致的4种日粮,探索日粮中添加维生素E对山羊精液品质的影响。结果表明:日粮中添加维生素E有助于提高山羊采精量、精子密度和鲜精活率,改善其精液品质(P<0.05);随着日粮中维生素E浓度的增加,山羊采精量、精子密度和鲜精活率也随之改善,添加量为常量的50倍(1500 mg/kg)时,精子密度和鲜精活率最佳(P<0.01)。当添加量超过常量50倍时(100),精子密度和鲜精活率有所降低,但与添加量为50倍的试验组差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

白枕鹤精液冷冻技术的研究

白枕鹤（ＧＲＵＳＶ　ＩＰＩＯ）羽毛青灰，红面，体型健美优雅，具有很高的观赏价值，已被国家列为二级保护动物。对白枕鹤类的人工授精、孵化、育雏以及冷冻精液技术的研究，可促进人工饲养条件下鹤类的增殖和种群的繁衍。本研究采用Ｂｅｌｔｓｖｉｌｌｅ稀释液做为基础液，４—６％ＤＭＳＯ做为冷冻保护剂，按常规冷冻法冻精配种受胎率达４０％，此项研究填补了我国在鹤类精液冷冻技术方面的空白。     

Heritability and genetic correlation estimates of semen production traits with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs

We estimated heritabilities of semen production traits and their genetic correlations with litter traits and pork production traits in purebred Duroc pigs. Semen production traits were semen volume, sperm concentration, proportion of morphologically normal sperms, total number of sperm, and total number of morphologically normal sperm. Litter traits at farrowing were total number born, number born alive, number stillborn, total litter weight at birth, mean litter weight at birth, and piglet survival rate at birth. Litter traits at weaning were litter size at weaning, total litter weight at weaning, mean litter weight at weaning, and piglet survival rate from birth to weaning. Pork production traits were average daily gain, backfat thickness, and loin muscle area. We analyzed 45,913 semen collection records of 896 boars, 6,950 farrowing performance records of 1,400 sows, 2,237 weaning performance records of 586 sows, and individual growth performance records of 9,550 animals measured at approximately 5 mo of age. Heritabilities were estimated using a single-trait animal model. Genetic correlations were estimated using a 2-trait animal model. Estimated heritabilities of semen production traits ranged from 0.20 for sperm concentration to 0.29 for semen volume and were equal to or higher than those of litter traits, ranging from 0.06 for number stillborn and piglet survival rate at birth to 0.25 for mean litter weight at birth, but lower than those of pork production traits, ranging from 0.50 for average daily gain to 0.63 for backfat thickness. In many cases, the absolute values of estimated genetic correlations between semen production traits and other traits were smaller than 0.3. These estimated genetic parameters provide useful information for establishing a comprehensive pig breeding scheme.     

Quercetin attenuates H2O2‐induced toxicity of rooster semen during liquid storage at 4°C

Current study was carried out to examine the protective effects of quercetin against toxicity induced by hydrogen peroxide in rooster semen in vitro. Semen samples were collected from ten roosters (Ross 308 broiler breeder males, 32 weeks old) twice a week by abdominal massage method. Samples with ≥70% progressive motility were selected, pooled, diluted and used for the study. Experimental groups consisted of negative control, control that received solvent of quercetin, H₂O₂ (40 μM) and combination groups which incubated with constant dose of H₂O₂ (40 μM) plus various levels of quercetin (20, 40 and 80 μM). Measurement of total hydroperoxide (HPO), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase activity as well as routine sperm tests were done at 0, 24 and 48 hr of storage at 4°C. Results revealed that exposure to hydrogen peroxide significantly increased HPO (138.43 ± 7.32 vs. 66.08 ± 3.97 μmol/g protein), MDA (7.21 ± 0.08 vs. 5.71 ± 2.16 μmol/g protein) and NO (0.367 ± 0.013 vs. 0.215 ± 0.011 μmol/g protein) levels and decreased sperm progressive motility (27.28 ± 1.21 vs. 47.49 ± 1.29%), and amounts of TAC (11.49 ± 0.39 vs. 15.70 ± 0.79 mmol/g protein) compared to control at 24 hr (p < 0.05). Changes at mentioned variables were repeated at 48 hr of storage. Also, co‐administration of quercetin (especially at 40 and 80 μM) with hydrogen peroxide restored the toxic effects of hydrogen peroxide on rooster semen parameters such as primary and secondary lipid peroxidative indicators and other evaluated variables. The study concluded that rooster semen enrichment with quercetin would protect lipid peroxidative and nitrosative hydrogen peroxide‐mediated damage during cold liquid storage of rooster semen.     

Secondary sexual traits and semen characteristic of chicken germline chimeras

Birds obtained by embryo engineering are used to study embryo development and to produce transgenic birds. As this method of producing birds still generate strong emotions of the public opinion head ornaments, testes and semen characteristics of sex chimera roosters were examined to check whether they differ from chickens obtained by non‐manipulated methods. Measurements of head ornaments, testes and semen were correlated with each other. Semen quality factor (SQF) was calculated, as well as the level of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) of bilateral traits (wattles and testes). Positive correlation was found for comb width and wattle length and comb thickness and sperm concentration. Semen characteristics and FA did not exceed the level encounter in other chicken lines. Results obtained indicate that germline chimeras are similar in appearance of secondary sexual traits, and semen and testes characteristics to chickens produced in non‐manipulated way.     

用H-Y抗血清对大鼠胚胎进行性别鉴定的研究

利用高度近交系大鼠的新生仔睾丸作抗原对处女大鼠进行免疫,制得 H-Y 抗血清.将同系大鼠的桑椹胚置于含有抗血清的培养液中体外培养5～6小时.结果表明其中部分胚胎能继续发育至囊胚(46.7%);另一部分胚胎停滞发育(53.3%),但解除抗体后重新恢复发育能力(34%).经胚胎移植后证明,前者约有79%发育为雌鼠,而后者约86%发育为雄鼠.由此可见,H-Y 抗血清对雄性胚胎具有特异性的抑制作用.用同样方法免疫远交系大鼠,所得抗血清不能对雄性胚胎产生抑制作用.     

Effect of Se and VE Supplement on Semen Quality,Antioxidant Enzyme Activities and Heat Shock Protein Expression of Goat in High Temperature Season

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of selenium and vitamin E supplement on semen quality, antioxidant enzyme activities and heat shock protein expression of goat in Hainan high temperature season.16 adult Hainan Black goat with good health and approximate weight were randomly divided into 4 groups, fed with basal diet(control group), basal diet+0.5 mg/kg Se(Se group), basal diet+100 mg/kg VE(VE group), and basal diet+0.5 mg/kg Se+100 mg/kg VE(Se+VE group), respectively.The experimental period was 93 d.Semen samples were collected in the last week of the experiment on two consecutive days.The semen quality, antioxidant enzyme activities and heat shock protein expression were analyzed.The results showed that compared with control group, the ejaculate volume was not significantly affected by Se or VE supplement(P>0.05).Sperm density and sperm motility were increased significantly by Se and VE supplement(P<0.05), and the abnormal rate was decreased extremely significantly(P<0.01).The goats fed with Se and VE also had higher activities of GSH-Px(P<0.01), SOD(P<0.05), CAT(P<0.05) and T-AOC(P<0.01), and lower MDA concentration in seminal plasma(P<0.05).The relative expression levels of HSP70 and HSP90 mRNA in supplement groups were decreased extremely significantly(P<0.01).However, there were some certain differences between the Se and VE supplement groups on semen quality and heat shock protein expression.In conclusion, the supplementation of Se and VE could help to improve goat semen quality by increasing the sperm density, sperm motility, the antioxidant enzyme activities, and decreasing the abnormal rate in hot season of Hainan.Finally, Se and VE supplement had good effects on relieving the environment heat stress.