Methods and effects of Hongshan cock spermatozoa cryopreservation

Influence of Bacterial Contamination and Antibiotic Sensitivity on Cryopreserved Sperm Quality of Indian Red Jungle Fowl

Aims: Bacterial contamination may occur in feces during collection and processing of semen. Bacteria not only compete for nutrients with spermatozoa but also produce toxic metabolites and endotoxins and affect sperm quality. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of antibiotic supplementation on the sperm quality of Indian red jungle fowl, estimation and isolation of bacterial species and their antibiotic sensitivity. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected and initially evaluated, diluted, and divided into six experimental extenders containing gentamicin (2.5 μg/mL), kanamycin (31.2 μg/mL), neomycin (62.5 mg/mL), penicillin (200 U/mL), and streptomycin (250 μg/mL), and a control having no antibiotics were cryopreserved and semen quality was evaluated at post-dilution, post-cooling, post-equilibration, and post-thawing stages (Experiment 1). A total aerobic bacterial count was carried out after culturing bacteria (Experiment 2) and subcultured for antibiotic sensitivity (Experiment 3). Results: It was shown that penicillin-containing extender improved semen quality (sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, and acrosomal integrity) compared with the control and other extenders having antibiotics. The bacteria isolated from semen were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., and Bacillus spp. Antibiotic sensitivity results revealed that E. coli shows high sensitivity toward neomycin, kanamycin, and penicillin. Staphylococcus spp. shows high sensitivity toward streptomycin, neomycin, and penicillin. Bacillus spp. shows high sensitivity toward kanamycin and penicillin. Conclusions: It was concluded that antibiotics added to semen extender did not cause any toxicity and maintained semen quality as that of untreated control samples, and penicillin was identified as most effective antibiotic. It is recommended that penicillin can be added to the semen extender for control of bacterial contamination without affecting the semen quality of Indian red jungle fowl.

The Effect of Adding Different Levels of Reduced Glutathione to Extender on the Quality of Cooled Ring-Necked Pheasant Semen

Aim: Artificial propagation of ring-necked pheasant through semen preservation is of significance, as this species is facing enormous threats in its natural habitat. Semen preservation inevitably induces oxidative stress, and exogenous antioxidants need to be investigated for the preservation of ring-necked pheasant semen. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate the role of glutathione (GSH) in extender on the liquid storage of ring-necked pheasant semen. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected from 10 sexually mature males, evaluated for sperm motility, and pooled. Pooled semen was aliquoted for dilution with Beltsville poultry semen extender (1:5) at 37°C having GSH levels of 0.0 mM (Control), 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8 mM. Extended semen was gradually cooled to 4°C and stored in a refrigerator (4°C) for 48 hours. Semen quality, that is, sperm motility, membrane integrity, viability, acrosomal integrity, and DNA integrity, was assessed at 0, 2, 6, 24, and 48 hours. Results: Sperm motility (%), plasma membrane integrity (%), viability (%), and acrosomal integrity (%) were recorded higher (p < 0.05), whereas DNA fragmentation (%) was recorded lower in extender supplemented with 0.4 mM GSH up to 48 hours of storage compared with 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8 mM GSH concentrations and control. Conclusion: It is concluded that 0.4 mM GSH in extender improves sperm quality parameters of ring-necked pheasant during liquid storage up to 48 hours at 4°C.

Effect of Quercetin on Oxidative Stress, Mitochondrial Activity, and Quality of Indian Red Jungle Fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) Sperm

Aim: The study was designed to elucidate the effects of quercetin in an extender on oxidative stress, mitochondrial activity and quality of Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) sperm during cryopreservation. Materials and Methods: Semen was collected from seven adult males through abdominal massage and evaluated for semen volume, concentration, and motility. The qualifying semen ejaculates having >80% motility were diluted in red fowl extenders with 0 (control), 5, 10, 15, and 20 mM quercetin. Diluted semen was frozen following a glycerol-based protocol. Semen quality (motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosome integrity, and chromatin condensation status) and biochemical parameters (mitochondrial activity, ferric reducing antioxidant power, and malondialdehyde [MDA]) were determined at various stages of cryopreservation. Results: Sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosome integrity, and chromatin condensation were recorded highest (p < 0.05) with 15 mM quercetin compared with 5, 10, and 20 mM quercetin and control at post-dilution, cooling, equilibration, and freeze-thawing. Nevertheless, mitochondrial activity and antioxidant potential were recorded highest with 15 mM quercetin compared with all experimental extenders at post-equilibration and freeze-thawing. MDA concentration in sperm and seminal plasma were recorded lowest (p < 0.05) in the extender having 15 mM quercetin at post-equilibration and freeze-thawing. Cryopreservation stages showed negative effects (p < 0.05) on semen quality parameters, irrespective of experimental extenders. Conclusions: It is concluded that quercetin (15 mM) supplementation in red fowl extender improves sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosome integrity, chromatin condensation, and mitochondrial activity by elevating the total antioxidant potential and ameliorating lipid peroxidation during cryopreservation.

Cryoprotectant effects of egg yolk on Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) sperm

Egg yolk is a good external cryoprotectant of mammalian sperm and some wild bird's sperm, but, at least in domestic breeds of chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus), it may inhibit eventual fertilization of ova when high concentrations are used. We hypothesized that egg yolk can protect the sperm from cryo-induced damages providing adequate fertilization in one phylogenetic wild ancestor of current chicken breeds: the Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi). To test the hypothesis, the present study was designed to evaluate different concentrations of egg yolk in extender in comparison with glycerol. Semen collected from Indian red jungle fowl cocks (n = 8) was cryopreserved using different egg yolk concentrations (10%, 15%, 20% and 25%) or 20% glycerol (control group) following routine protocol of cryopreservation. During cryopreservation, sperm motility (67.5 ± 2.5%), plasma membrane integrity (66.3 ± 2.4%), viability (58.8 ± 1.3%) and acrosomal integrity (60.0.8 ± 2.0%) were recorded highest in an extender with 15% egg yolk compared to other experimental extenders and control at post-dilution, cooling, equilibration and thawing. The no. of fertilized eggs (26.6 ± 0.7, 21.6 ± 1.2), percent fertility (55.9 ± 4.4, 46.5 ± 2.2), no. of hatched chicks (23.6 ± 1.0, 17.2 ± 1.0), percent hatch (49.5 ± 3.2, 37.1 ± 2.5%) and hatchability of the fertile eggs (89.4 ± 2.2, 79.7 ± 3.7) were recorded higher (P < 0.05) with semen cryopreserved with 15% egg yolk compared to control (20% glycerol). It is concluded that 15% egg yolk can be used in cryopreservation protocol of Indian red jungle fowl sperm.

Effect of season and age on Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) semen characteristics: A 4-year retrospective study

The reproductive potential of the adult males is expected to vary with age/season and largely differ not only in closely related avian species but even in subspecies, breeds and/or strains of the same species. Thus, it is pre-requisite to have knowledge of seminal parameters to achieve maximum production potential of at-risk species for ex situ in vitro conservation programs. A 4-year study was designed to evaluate the effect of age and season (spring, summer, autumn and winter) on semen characteristics of Indian red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus murghi) in a retrospective manner. Semen ejaculates (n = 1148) were regularly collected from eight adult cocks 6 to 54 months of age. Quantitative and qualitative semen parameters viz; volume (μL), concentration (1 × 10⁹ mL^-1), total sperm number per ejaculate (1 × 10⁹ mL^-1), motility (%), viability (%), plasma membrane integrity (%), acrosome integrity (%) and semen quality factor were recorded. A chronological increasing trend with age of most sperm quantitative and qualitative traits (semen volume, sperm concentration, total sperm number per ejaculate, plasma membrane integrity, viability, acrosomal integrity and semen quality factor) was observed. The highest values were observed at four years of age (P < 0.05) with the exception of sperm motility that was not affected by the age. Spring was the best season for sperm parameters viz; volume, motility, plasma membrane integrity, viability and acrosomal integrity (P < 0.05), however a remarkable sperm production was noticed all over the year. It is concluded that Indian red jungle fowl exhibits an evolution of sperm production that greatly differs in many points from other fowl sub-species. It is suggested that semen ejaculates of highest quality achieved for semen banking at the age of four year in the spring season.