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Zhang LX, Mao J, Zhou YD, Mao GY, Guo RF, Ge HS, Chen X. Evaluation of microRNA expression profiles in human sperm frozen using permeable cryoprotectant-free droplet vitrification and conventional methods. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:366-376. [PMID: 38738948 PMCID: PMC11280198 DOI: 10.4103/aja202390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
For sperm cryopreservation, the conventional method, which requires glycerol, has been used for a long time. In addition, the permeable cryoprotectant-free vitrification method has been continuously studied. Although the differences of cryopreservation effects between the two methods have being studied, differences in microRNA (miRNA) profiles between them remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the differences in miRNA expression profiles among conventional freezing sperm, droplet vitrification freezing sperm and fresh human sperm. We also analyzed the differences between these methods in terms of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) related to early embryonic development and paternal epigenetics. Our results showed no significant differences between the cryopreservation methods in terms of sperm motility ratio, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, acrosome integrity, and ultrastructural damage. However, sperm miRNA-sequencing showed differences between the two methods in terms of the numbers of DEmiRs (28 and 19 with vitrification using a nonpermeable cryoprotectant and the conventional method, respectively) in postthaw and fresh sperm specimens. DEmiRs related to early embryonic development and paternal epigenetics mainly included common DEmiRs between the groups. Our results showed that the differences between conventional freezing and droplet vitrification were minimal in terms of miRNA expression related to embryonic development and epigenetics. Changes in sperm miRNA expression due to freezing are not always detrimental to embryonic development. This study compared differences in miRNA expression profiles before and after cryopreservation between cryopreservation by conventional and vitrification methods. It offers a new perspective to evaluate various methods of sperm cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Jing Mao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Yan-Dong Zhou
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Guang-Yao Mao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Run-Fa Guo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Hong-Shan Ge
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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2
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Gloria A, Cunto M, Zambelli D, Bracco C, Ballotta G, Contri A. Cushioned and high-speed centrifugation improve sperm recovery rate but affect the quality of fresh and cryopreserved feline spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2024; 215:195-204. [PMID: 38096623 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
The development of endoscopic transcervical catheterization (ETC) in the queen increases the interest in handling fresh and cryopreserved feline semen. The ETC requires a small volume of the insemination dose with a high concentration, not easily reached with the actual frozen technique in this species. Centrifugation is widely used to concentrate spermatozoa for several purposes, but this process is detrimental to spermatozoa. This study verified the effects of conventional and cushioned centrifugation on fresh and cryopreserved feline spermatozoa. To this, semen was collected from 20 toms, grouped in seven pools and diluted. After dilution, the pools were divided into two aliquots, the first used for centrifugation on fresh semen, and the second, after freezing, on cryopreserved semen. Centrifugation regimens were: conventional at 500×g, conventional at 1000×g, and cushioned (iodixanol) at 1000×g. The sperm recovery rate was calculated for the three centrifugation regimens, and sperm kinematics, membrane and acrosome integrity, and plasma membrane stability on viable spermatozoa were assessed as endpoints. The data reported in this study showed that the centrifugation at 500×g resulted in negligible effects on both fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa, but the lower recovery rate (62.4 ± 3.1 % and 60.2 ± 1.6 %, respectively) underlines the loss of a large proportion of spermatozoa, unfavourable in a species with small total sperm ejaculated. On the other hand, the centrifugation at 1000×g improved the recovery rate (86.9 ± 4.3 % and 89.8 ± 2.4 % in fresh and cryopreserved samples, respectively), but was more deleterious for feline spermatozoa, especially in cryopreserved samples (i.e. total motility of 40.7 ± 5.4 % compared with 57.2 ± 9.8 % in cryopreserved uncentrifuged samples, P < 0.05), resulting in artificial insemination doses of lower quality. The recovery rate in cushioned centrifugation appeared less efficient, likely due to the small volume of feline samples, which makes difficult the separation of sperm pellet and cushioned fluid. Interestingly, in cryopreserved samples centrifuged at 1000×g the number of viable spermatozoa with membrane destabilization (31.3 ± 3.2 %) was greater than uncentrifuged (4.1 ± 0.7 %, P < 0.05) and those centrifuged at 500×g (9.8 ± 1.3 %, P < 0.05), suggesting modifications induced by the cryopreservation amplifies centrifugation sublethal damage on feline spermatozoa. Cushioned centrifugation on cryopreserved samples showed kinematics similar to uncentrifuged samples, but higher viable spermatozoa with membrane destabilization (37.4 ± 3.4 % vs 4.1 ± 0.7 %; P < 0.05). In felines, g-force is crucial for sperm recovery rate during centrifugation, with better results at 1000×g; on the other hand, greater g-forces could have a significant impact on the quality of feline insemination dose, especially in cryopreserved samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Gloria
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Marco Cunto
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Italy
| | - Daniele Zambelli
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Italy.
| | - Claudia Bracco
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy
| | - Giulia Ballotta
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Ozzano dell'Emilia, 40064, Italy
| | - Alberto Contri
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, 64100, Teramo, Italy
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3
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Salman A, Fernández-Alegre E, Francisco-Vázquez R, Domínguez JC, Álvarez-Rodríguez M, Caamaño JN, Martínez-Pastor F, Gómez-Martín R, Fernández-Fernández A, Areán-Dablanca H. Pre-freezing selection of Holstein bull semen with the BoviPure colloid as double- or single-layer centrifugation improves the post-thawing quality. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 258:107344. [PMID: 37837771 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) is critical for breeding in the dairy industry. High-merit bulls can present low freezability, hampering genetic dissemination. Thawed semen can be improved using density gradient centrifugation (DGC) with colloids, but little information deals with the pre-freezing application. Thus, the BoviPure colloid (optimized for bull spermatozoa) was tested for pre-freezing application as the usual double-layer (DLC) versus single-layer (SLC, quick and economical). Semen from twelve Holstein-Friesian bulls was extended with OPTIXcell extender, frozen (Control), or processed by SLC or DLC and frozen. Sperm were assessed pre-freezing for motility and viability and post-thawing (directly and after 4 h 38 °C) for apoptosis, capacitation status, acrosomal damage, mitochondrial activity, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and chromatin status (SCSA for DNA fragmentation and chromatin compaction and monobromobimane, mBBr, for disulfide bridges evaluation). The DGC improved parameters post-thawing (e.g., 57.5%±10.1 motility vs. control 53.3% ± 11.2) at the cost of sperm loss (sperm recovery of DGC 14.4% ± 2.5 and SLC 17.4% ± 2.5). DNA fragmentation (%DFI) decreased (0.21% ± 0.53 vs. control 1.30% ± 0.10), and SLC reduced chromatin compaction. A clustering procedure separated lesser (LF) and greater freezability (GF) bulls. LF samples were especially benefited by DGC, with SLC providing better post-thawing results for this group. In conclusion, pre-freezing DGC improved sperm parameters post-thawing, potentially improving the cryopreservation of low-freezability semen from high-merit bulls. SLC, quicker and economical, would be preferable since it showed similar or higher performance than DLC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Juan C Domínguez
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy, Universidad de León, Spain
| | | | - J Néstor Caamaño
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijon, Principado de Asturias, Spain
| | - Felipe Martínez-Pastor
- INDEGSAL, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Department of Molecular Biology (Cell Biology), Universidad de León, León, Spain.
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4
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Zhao J, Meng P, Jin M, Ma X, Ma H, Yang H, Chen Y, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Luo Y, Liu J. Combined addition of L-carnitine and L-proline improves cryopreservation of dairy goat semen. Anim Reprod Sci 2023; 257:107325. [PMID: 37677888 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2023.107325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/29/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of semen renders artificial insemination easier and cheaper compared to use of fresh semen. However, the cellular oxidative stress, toxicity of cryoprotectants, and osmotic imbalance may lead to a decline in semen quality and fertilization ability during the process of cryopreservation. L-carnitine and L-proline have been demonstrated to possess effective antioxidant properties in cryopreservation, with the latter also exhibiting excellent permeability and thus being utilized as a permeable cryoprotectant in the field. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of LC and LP on cryopreservation of semen of dairy goats. After thawing, sperm motility, membrane integrity, and acrosome integrity rate of cryopreserved semen treated with LC (50 mM) were significantly higher compared to the untreated control samples. Based on this premise, we conducted experiments to assess the cryoprotective efficacy of different concentrations of LP. The findings demonstrated that the inclusion of 50 mM LP resulted in improved sperm motility compared to other concentrations. Furthermore, the levels of damaging reactive oxygen species and the malonyldialdehyde marker for oxidative stress were significantly lower in goat semen treated with these concentrations of LC and LP compared to semen exposed to other treatments. Semen treated with LC and LP also exhibited good fertilization ability during both in vitro fertilization and artificial insemination. Thus, LC (50 mM) and LP (50 mM) improve cryoprotection of dairy goat sperm which suggests that addition of these compounds will be highly beneficial to the development of dairy goat breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianglin Zhao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Peng Meng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the First Affiliated Hospital of The Fourth Military Medical University, 710032 Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Miaomiao Jin
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xianghai Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hongwei Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Hanwen Yang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yanzhi Chen
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Junyu Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Yan Luo
- College of Animal Engineering, Yangling Vocational and Technical College, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
| | - Jun Liu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, Yangling 712100, Shaanxi, China.
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5
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Caamaño JN, Santiago-Moreno J, Martínez-Pastor F, Tamargo C, Salman A, Fernández Á, Merino MJ, Lacalle E, Toledano-Díaz A, Hidalgo CO. Use of the flavonoid taxifolin for sperm cryopreservation from the threatened Bermeya goat breed. Theriogenology 2023; 206:18-27. [PMID: 37172535 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2023.05.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Taxifolin is a plant flavonoid effective as an antioxidant. This study aimed to assess the effect of adding taxifolin to the semen extender during the cooling period before freezing on the overall post-thawing sperm variables of Bermeya goats. In the first experiment, a dose-response experiment was performed with four experimental groups: Control, 10, 50, and 100 μg/ml of taxifolin using semen from 8 Bermeya males. In the second experiment, semen from 7 Bermeya bucks was collected and extended at 20 °C using a Tris-citric acid-glucose medium supplemented with different concentrations of taxifolin and glutathione (GSH): control, 5 μM taxifolin, 1 mM GSH, and both antioxidants. In both experiments, two straws per buck were thawed in a water bath (37 °C, 30 s), pooled, and incubated at 38 °C. Motility (CASA) was assessed at 0, 2, and 5 h, and sperm physiology was assessed at 0 and 5 h by flow cytometry (viability, intact acrosome membrane, mitochondria membrane potential, capacitation, intracellular reactive oxygen species -ROS-, mitochondrial superoxide, and chromatin status). In experiment 2, an artificial insemination trial (AI) was included with 29 goats for testing the taxifolin 5-μM treatment on fertility. Data were analyzed with the R statistical environment using linear mixed-effects models. In experiment 1 and compared to the control, T10 increased progressive motility (P < 0.001) but taxifolin decreased total and progressive motility at higher concentrations (P < 0.001), both post-thawing and after the incubation. Viability decreased post-thawing in the three concentrations (P < 0.001). Cytoplasmic ROS decreased at 0 and 5 h at T10 (P = 0.049), and all doses decreased mitochondrial superoxide post-thawing (P = 0.024). In experiment 2, 5 μM taxifolin or 1 mM GSH (alone or combined) increased total and progressive motility vs. the control (P < 0.01), and taxifolin increased kinematic parameters such as VCL, ALH, and DNC (P < 0.05). Viability was not affected by taxifolin in this experiment. Both antioxidants did not significantly affect other sperm physiology parameters. The incubation significantly affected all the parameters (P < 0.004), overall decreasing sperm quality. Fertility after artificial insemination with doses supplemented with 5 μM taxifolin was 76.9% (10/13), not significantly different from the control group (69.2%, 9/13). In conclusion, taxifolin showed a lack of toxicity in the low micromolar range and could benefit goat semen cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- J N Caamaño
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijón, Asturias, Spain.
| | | | - F Martínez-Pastor
- INDEGSAL, Universidad de León, León, Spain; Molecular Biology (Cell Biology), Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - C Tamargo
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijón, Asturias, Spain
| | - A Salman
- INDEGSAL, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | - Á Fernández
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijón, Asturias, Spain
| | - M J Merino
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijón, Asturias, Spain
| | - E Lacalle
- INDEGSAL, Universidad de León, León, Spain
| | | | - C O Hidalgo
- Department of Animal Selection and Reproduction, Regional Service for Agrifood Research and Development (SERIDA), Gijón, Asturias, Spain
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6
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Liang J, Larbi A, Lv C, Ali S, Wu G, Quan G. Fertility results after exocervical insemination using goat semen cryopreserved with extenders based on egg yolk, skim milk, or soybean lecithin. Reprod Domest Anim 2023; 58:431-442. [PMID: 36510740 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
To evaluate the effects of four extenders on the post-thaw quality and fertility of goat semen, six Yunshang Black bucks' semen was collected, pooled, diluted with Andromed® (Andr®), Optidyl® (Opt®), P3644 Sigma l-phosphatidylcholine (l-α SL), and skim milk-based (Milk) extenders, and then cryopreserved. The sperm motilities, abnormalities, membrane and acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were evaluated after thawing. After exocervical insemination with the thawed semen, the pregnancy, lambing, and twinning rates were recorded and compared. The results showed that sperm motilities, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial activity, and viable spermatozoa were significantly higher in the Andr® and Opt® groups than those in the l-α SL and Milk groups (p < .05). Furthermore, there was no difference between Andr® and Opt® (p > .05). The sperm abnormality was lower in semen frozen with the Andr® or Opt® extenders, as compared to the l-α SL or Milk extender (p < .05). Regarding, the viable cells with low ROS production, the optimal results were obtained in the semen frozen with Andr® and Opt® extenders. Following exocervical insemination, the pregnancy and lambing rates in the Milk group were significantly lower than those in the other groups (p < .05). No difference was found in the pregnancy and lambing rates between Andr®, Opt®, and l-α SL (p > .05). Furthermore, the twinning rates were similar between these four groups (p > .05). In conclusion, egg yolk or skim milk can be substituted by soybean lecithin during cryopreservation of goat semen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiachong Liang
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Genebank of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources, Kunming City, China
| | - Allai Larbi
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming City, China.,Laboratory of Sustainable Agriculture Management, Higher School of Technology-Sidi Bennour, Chouaıb Doukkali University, El Jadida, Morocco
| | - Chunrong Lv
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Genebank of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources, Kunming City, China
| | - Sikandar Ali
- Dow Institute for Advanced Biological and Animal Research, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Guoquan Wu
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Genebank of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Germplasm Enhancement, Kunming City, China
| | - Guobo Quan
- Yunnan Animal Science and Veterinary Institute, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Genebank of Livestock and Poultry Genetic Resources, Kunming City, China.,Yunnan Provincial Engineering Laboratory of Animal Genetic Resource Conservation and Germplasm Enhancement, Kunming City, China
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7
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Neila-Montero M, Riesco MF, Montes-Garrido R, Palacin-Martinez C, Chamorro C, de Paz P, Alvarez M, Anel L, Anel-Lopez L. An optimized centrifugation protocol for ram sperm ensuring high sample yield, quality and fertility. Theriogenology 2022; 191:179-191. [PMID: 35998401 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
The optimization and implementation of artificial insemination (AI) in sheep is necessary to increase the livestock productivity through enhanced control of reproductive function. Sperm centrifugation is a common procedure in the ejaculate handling in AI and other assisted reproductive technologies (ART), as part of new methods of sperm analysis, selection or preservation. However, our research group previously established that this simple procedure might cause a large sperm loss and induce deleterious effects on the sperm function of the ovine species when high centrifugation forces are employed. To our knowledge, there are no studies on combined effect of extender and different centrifugal forces on ram sperm yield and quality. Furthermore, evidence of in vivo fertility rate using sperm obtained with various centrifugation forces is also lacking in this species. Thus, the objective of this work was to define the ideal conditions for ram semen centrifugation that will achieve the best quantity and quality sample to ensure unaffected fertilization ability of centrifuged ram sperm. The Experiment 1 evaluated the effect of the centrifugation procedure of two extenders (INRA 96 and Tyrode's) and two cooling protocols (Rapid and Slow Refrigeration -35 °C to 15 °C-) on sperm recovery rate and quality (motility and kinetic parameters, viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial activity). INRA 96 combined with Slow Refrigeration and Tyrode's at room temperature registered the highest sperm recovery and quality values (P ≤ 0.05). In Experiment 2, the influence of three centrifugal forces (600, 1200 and 6000×g for 10 min) was assessed immediately after centrifugation on the technical performance and sperm functionality in diluted samples with INRA 96 and Tyrode's at the conditions set out in Experiment 1. The lowest pellet weight (P ≤ 0.05) without harmful effect on sperm physiological status (P > 0.05) was achieved at 1200×g, since 6000×g induced sperm motility damage (P ≤ 0.05) with both extenders. Finally, to ensure the total safety of the centrifugation protocol, Experiment 3 tested in a combined in vitro and in vivo test the effect of these three centrifugal forces on ram sperm quality after dilution (INRA 96) and liquid storage (6-8 h at 15 °C). The damage produced by 6000×g on sperm motility (P ≤ 0.05) was maintained over time, coinciding with a lower fertility (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, ram sperm can be centrifuged in INRA 96 extender up to 1200×g for 10 min at 15 °C as secure values with high recovery rates and without detrimental effects on sperm quality and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Neila-Montero
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Marta F Riesco
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Cellular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Rafael Montes-Garrido
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Cristina Palacin-Martinez
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - César Chamorro
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Paulino de Paz
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Cellular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Mercedes Alvarez
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Luis Anel
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
| | - Luis Anel-Lopez
- Itra-ULE, INDEGSAL, University of León, 24071, León, Spain; Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, 24071, León, Spain.
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8
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Mocé E, Mocé ML, Lozano-Palazón SA, Bernácer J, Martínez-Granell MM, Esteve IC, Bernat F, Contreras SJ, Villalba I, Gómez EA. Fertility prediction in dairy goats from Murciano-Granadina breed: The role of sperm evaluation and female traits. Animal 2022; 16:100525. [PMID: 35468505 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility is one of the most economically important traits in farm animals, due to the direct and indirect costs associated to low pregnancy rates. Thus, one of the priority goals in animal reproduction is to predict the performance that the semen doses will have in vivo based on the quality values obtained in laboratory assays. Attempts have been made for getting a predictive model of fertility of frozen-thawed sperm in dairy goats, but similar studies have not been conducted for chilled goat buck sperm doses that are mostly used for artificial insemination in many countries including Spain. We study how parameters of in vitro sperm quality and characteristics of Murciano-Granadina dairy goats may affect the in vivo fertility obtained after artificial insemination with semen doses chilled at 4 °C. Moreover, this information was used for obtaining predictive models of the fertility. Sixty-three ejaculates from 13 males were used to prepare chilled doses for the insemination of 495 goats over 13 sessions. Fresh and chilled sperm were evaluated for motility and plasma membrane integrity with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system and flow cytometry, respectively. Fertility was determined at parturition, according to the kidding goats. Overall fertility was 59.6%. Pearson's correlation coefficients between in vivo fertility and quality variables of fresh sperm were not significant and were low (below 0.34 in absolute value) for chilled sperm. Females' characteristics had a low negative impact on fertility (correlation coefficients of -0.19 with age, -0.20 with parturitions and -0.11 with total milk yield obtained in the best lactation). Fixed and mixed logistic regression procedures were used trying to explain the fertility results. None of the models accurately predicted fertility, but the best models included the percentage of total motile sperm or average path velocity from fresh semen, age of the females and the session effect (uncontrolled environmental effects). These analyses showed that primiparous goats were 2.42 times more likely to get pregnant than goats that had kidded four or more times. Our field assay data on fertility in Murciano-Granadina dairy goats highlighted the importance of making quality controls of sperm, of choosing the doses presenting high percentages of motile sperm exhibiting regular trajectories and of selecting the youngest goats for AI, after their first kidding. Efforts should continue to obtain better predictive models for improving fertility in goat dairy herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mocé
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - M L Mocé
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C. Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46113, Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - S A Lozano-Palazón
- ACRIMUR, C. Barón del Solar, 22-A, Edificio II, Entresuelo A, Puerta B, 30520 Jumilla, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Bernácer
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - M M Martínez-Granell
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - I C Esteve
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - F Bernat
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - S J Contreras
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - I Villalba
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - E A Gómez
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain.
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9
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Macêdo LFBD, Texeira LSDA, Braga CDCE, Porfírio KDP, Costa SCDS, Silva LHM, Nascimento WM, Silva FKDS, Bandeira NSA, Vieira RJ, Mineiro ALBB, Salgueiro CCDM, Nunes JF, Cardoso JDFS, Paula NRDO. Assessment of coconut water added to Numida meleagris egg yolk as cryoprotectant for goat semen. Anim Reprod 2022; 19:e20210114. [PMID: 36189165 PMCID: PMC9524056 DOI: 10.1590/1984-3143-ar2021-0114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Effects were assessed of the dilutants TRIS and ACP - 101c® with the addition of different guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) egg yolk concentrations. Fifteen ejaculates were collected from five goats of the Anglo Nubian breed. The ejaculates were pooled and then divided into 12 groups, two control groups (GC1 TRIS, with 2.5% Gallus gallus domesticus hen egg yolk GOGD), (GC2 Control Group ACP - 101c®, with the addition of 2.5% Gallus gallus domesticus hen egg yolk GOGD) and ten experimental groups (EG), containing TRIS and ACP added with different concentrations of egg yolk from guinea hen (Numida meleagris) (TRIS 2,5% GONM; TRIS 5% GONM; TRIS 10% GONM; TRIS 15% GONM; TRIS 20% GONM; ACP® 2,5% GONM; ACP® 5% GONM; ACP® 10% GONM; ACP® 15% GONM; ACP® 20% GONM). Then cryopreservation was carried out and the samples stored in liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). After seven days, the samples were thawed and assessed for spermatic kinetics, immunofluorescence and sperm morphology. Analysis of GOMN by the CASA system showed that the various parameters were similar to those of GOGD (P>0.05). The membrane integrity, mitochondrial potential and the acrosome were not influenced by the treatment (P>0.05) nor by the dilutant used for cryopreservation (P>0.05). The spermatic morphology was also preserved by the different GOGD and GONM concentrations in the ACP® and TRIS dilutants, with no statistically significant differences (P<0.05). It was concluded that Numida meleagris egg yolk, as external membrane cryoproctant added to the dilutants ACP-101c® and TRIS, improved goat semen quality.
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10
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Neila-Montero M, Riesco MF, Alvarez M, Montes-Garrido R, Boixo JC, de Paz P, Anel-Lopez L, Anel L. Centrifugal force assessment in ram sperm: identifying species-specific impact. Acta Vet Scand 2021; 63:42. [PMID: 34736507 PMCID: PMC8567708 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-021-00609-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Centrifugation is routinely employed in handling the ejaculates of some species, but it is not part of the commonly used protocols in ram. However, the development and implementation of new assisted reproductive technologies, alternative preservation models based on washing sperm from a cellular ageing-accelerating substance such as the seminal plasma, and basic studies in spermatology is associated with the use of centrifugation. This requires a specific evaluation of the centrifugation protocols considering the species-specific relationship with the potential damage produced by this procedure. No previous studies have determined the effect of different centrifugation forces on ram sperm. Therefore, we aimed to assess the performance of three centrifugal forces (600×g, 3000×g, and 6000×g for 10 min at room temperature) and their effects on ram sperm motility and functionality. Results Sperm motility and functionality parameters were assessed at 0 h and after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C. As expected, a higher cell packaging degree was obtained at high centrifugation forces (P ≤ 0.0001). Cell packaging was unstable at all centrifugal forces. Thus, there was a high cell resuspension rate after less than 2 min. Regarding sperm quality, there was a change in movement pattern of 3000×g and 6000×g centrifuged sperm after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C, characterized by an increase in rapid progressive motility, linearity, straightness, and beat frequency, and a decrease in medium progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, path velocity, and head lateral amplitude. Non-significant differences were obtained among the different treatments concerning the total viability. However, we observed a significant increase (P ≤ 0.05) in the percentage of viable apoptotic sperm in the samples centrifuged at 6000×g at 0 h. Conclusions Centrifugal forces equal to or greater than 3000×g induced some deleterious effects in ram sperm quality, and lower forces did not provide a successful cell packaging degree. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13028-021-00609-8.
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11
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Akourki A, Echegaray A, Perdomo O, Escartin NA, Guillén M. Effects of Gossypium spp., Balanites aegyptiaca, and Sesamum indicum seeds oils on quality of chilled and frozen-thawed ram semen. Vet World 2021; 14:1412-1419. [PMID: 34316186 PMCID: PMC8304443 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2021.1412-1419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim: Essential oils found frequently in plants are well known for their activities against bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and antioxidant properties. This study aimed to analyze egg yolk replacement by seed oils of Gossypium spp. (cotton), Balanites aegyptiaca (desert date), and Sesamum indicum (sesame) in semen extender, on ram sperm quality chilled at 4°C and frozen-thawed. Materials and Methods: Ejaculates were collected from adult rams and refrigerated at 4°C in a Tris-based extender containing 1.25%, 2.5%, 5%, and 10% of Gossypium spp., B. aegyptiaca, and S. indicum seed oils, to evaluate which were the two best extenders for comparison with BIOXcell, a commercial extender for deep freezing ram semen. Results: The data showed that sperm movements analyzed by the CASA system were faster in extenders supplemented with 2.5-5% of cottonseed oil and 1.25-10% of sesame oil, whereas in the extender containing B. aegyptiaca oil, all seminal parameters studied had the worst values. During the sperm-freezing process, 5% of cottonseed oil and 5% sesame seed oil were selected from the first study, with sesame oil reaching the best sperm quality. Thus, sperm motility and velocity were 44.14±13.99%, 24.44±12.6%, and 25.92±11.50%; and 20.26±9.56%, 8.76±6.38%, and 9.42±5.40%, respectively, for sesame oil, cottonseed oil, and BIOXcell. Conclusion: In summary, 2.5-10% of cottonseed oil and 1.25-10% of sesame seed oil can replace egg yolk in a Tris–egg yolk–based extender. Moreover, a Tris-based extender supplemented with 5% sesame seed oil could be an alternative for deep freezing ram semen, even though these results need to be confirmed with semen collected from rams with appropriate sexual rest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adamou Akourki
- Enseignant Chercheur, Université Dan Dicko Dankoulodo de Maradi, BP: 465 Maradi, Niger
| | - Arantxa Echegaray
- Departamento de Reproducción animal del HUMECO, C/Mecanica 11. 22006 Huesca. Spain
| | - Orlando Perdomo
- Departamento de Reproducción animal del HUMECO, C/Mecanica 11. 22006 Huesca. Spain
| | | | - Marta Guillén
- Departamento de Reproducción animal del HUMECO, C/Mecanica 11. 22006 Huesca. Spain
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12
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Viera MN, Ungerfeld R, Velázquez R, Santiago-Moreno J. Relationship between the seasonal changes in plasma testosterone and thyroxine concentrations with sperm cryoresistance in Gabon bucks. Trop Anim Health Prod 2021; 53:370. [PMID: 34173067 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-021-02830-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 06/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Gabon buck is a breed with little marked seasonality in our latitude (Uruguay, 35° SL). The role of thyroid hormones on the regulation of their seasonal reproductive activity and sperm cryoresistance is unknown. Seasonal changes in testosterone concentration can affect sperm variables, but the influence of testosterone changes on sperm cryoresistance in other species determines that the recommended time for freezing sperm does not coincide with the period with greater sperm fresh quality. The objectives of the present work were to (i) describe the thyroxine seasonal pattern in bucks in a subtropical area, and its association with annual changes in sperm variables; (ii) relate the seasonal changes of testosterone and thyroxine concentrations with the sperm cryoresistance. For one year, semen of 10 adult Gabon bucks was collected by electroejaculation every two weeks. After sperm selection, the sample was frozen. Testosterone and thyroxine concentrations varied according to the month (P < 0.0001). Testosterone reached the greatest values in April (P < 0.0001) and May (P < 0.0001) and thyroxine reached minimum values (P < 0.0001) in the same months. During these months, a negative correlation ratio (CR) was found between testosterone concentration and CR-functional membrane (R = - 0.50; P < 0.0001). CR values for most sperm variables decreased during March-May, coinciding with the presence of maximum testosterone concentrations. In conclusion, high testosterone levels are associated with the worst sperm response to freezing-thawing process. Thyroxine concentrations have a strong seasonal pattern, but there was no relationship to sperm cryoresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Noel Viera
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de La República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Rodolfo Ungerfeld
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de La República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rosario Velázquez
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimenticia (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Santiago-Moreno
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimenticia (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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13
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O'Brien E, García-Casado P, Castaño C, Toledano-Díaz A, Bóveda P, Santiago-Moreno J. Sperm Response to in vitro Stress Conditions in Wild and Domestic Species Measured by Functional Variables and ROS Production. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:650946. [PMID: 34124220 PMCID: PMC8195250 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.650946] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The domestication process has resulted in profound changes in the reproductive physiology of the animals that might have affected the sperm characteristics and thus their sensitivity to handling and cryopreservation procedures. This work assesses the response of the sperm of domestic and wild ungulates to a cooling storage at 15°C for 20 h followed by incubation at 38.5°C, 5% CO2, for 2 h. In addition, this paper examines the most representative sperm traits to assess their responsiveness to these stress conditions. Sperm samples were collected from domestic and their wild ancestor species: ram, mouflon, buck, Iberian ibex, domestic boar, and wild boar. Sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane status, DNA fragmentation, and reactive oxygen species production were evaluated at the beginning of the experiment, after 20 h of refrigeration at 15°C, and, finally, at 2 h of incubation at 38.5°C. Sperm from all domestic species (ram, buck, and domestic boar) suffered more stress than their wild relatives (mouflon, Iberian Ibex, and wild boar). In pigs, the percentage of intact mitochondria was lower in the domestic species compared to wild boar. In sheep, we found a higher reactive oxygen species production in rams, while in goats, the curvilinear velocity was lower in the domestic species. The PCA (principal components analysis) showed that the motility and their kinetic variables were the most represented variables in the principal components of all species, indicating that they are essential biomarkers for evaluating the stress response. Sperm viability was highlighted as a representative variable for evaluating the stress response in domestic boar, mouflon, ram, and ibex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma O'Brien
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Cristina Castaño
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Adolfo Toledano-Díaz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Bóveda
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Santiago-Moreno
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
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14
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Viera MN, Santiago-Moreno J, Ungerfeld R. Comparison of the Conventional and Ultra-Rapid Freezing Techniques in Gabon Bucks Throughout the Year. Biopreserv Biobank 2021; 19:312-317. [PMID: 33751902 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2020.0155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this work was to compare the effectiveness of ultra-rapid freezing (UF) and conventional slow freezing (CF) to cryopreserve buck sperm throughout the year. During 1 year, semen from 10 adult Gabon bucks was collected by electroejaculation every 2 weeks. Before and after freezing, samples were selected by density gradient centrifugation, and after sperm selection, the sample was divided into two aliquots. One aliquot was CF with an extender based on Tris, citric acid, and glucose (TCG) +6% yolk +5% glycerol, and maintained at 5°C for 3 hours of equilibration before freezing. The other aliquot was frozen using an UF method with an extender based on TCG +6% yolk +100 mM sucrose, and maintained at 5°C for 30 minutes. The evaluations included the percentages of motile sperm, sperm with progressive motility, quality of sperm motility, and the percentages of sperm with functional membrane, live sperm, sperm with morphoabnormalities, and sperm with intact acrosome. The percentage of sperm with intact acrosome was higher using the conventional freezing method (p < 0.05). After thawing and at pre- and postselection stages, the quality of motility, and the percentages of motile sperm, progressive motile sperm, sperm with functional membrane, and with intact acrosome were greater using CF than UF (p < 0.005). Conventional freezing was more effective than UF to cryopreserve sperm from Gabon bucks, at least in our experimental conditions. Most differences in favor of CF were observed in the quality of motility, and the percentages of motile sperm, progressive motile sperm, sperm with functional membrane, and with intact acrosome during long periods of the year, or even remained throughout it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Noel Viera
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Julián Santiago-Moreno
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rodolfo Ungerfeld
- Departamento de Biociencias Veterinarias, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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15
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Sahoo B, Guttula PK, Gupta MK. Comparison of spermatozoal RNA extraction methods in goats. Anal Biochem 2020; 614:114059. [PMID: 33285124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.114059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RNA sequencing (RNAseq) has divulged newer role of spermatozoal RNA in male fertility. This study aimed to evaluate different sperm purification and RNA extraction methods for long-read RNA sequencing of poly(A) transcriptome in goat spermatozoa. Sperm samples were purified by swim-up separation using different purification medium. Spermatozoal RNA was extracted by seven different methods with additional supplementation of reducing agents in lysis buffer. poly(A) selected RNA was used for cDNA library preparation and long-read RNAseq in Nanopore sequencer. Sperm purification by 1 h swim-up resulted in higher recovery (89.20 ± 1.15%), motility (82.33 ± 1.53%), viability (88.10 ± 5.03%) and plasma membrane integrity (71.33 ± 4.51%) in sperm TALP (sp-TL) medium. A monophasic solution of GITC with phenol and DTT resulted in the highest yield of large sized RNAs (3.89 ± 0.46 ng/million cells) suitable for long-read RNAseq of poly(A) transcripts. RNAseq resulted in reads of length, ranging from 500bp to 2 Kb. A total of 123 transcripts were identified in goat spermatozoa by de novo assembly and included sperm-specific transcripts such as CATSPERG, PRM2, CYLC2, SPATA6, PLCZ1 etc. This study is the first report of long-read RNAseq of poly(A) transcriptome in goat spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Guttula
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India.
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Flores-Gil VN, Millan de la Blanca MG, Velázquez R, Toledano-Díaz A, Santiago-Moreno J, López-Sebastián A. Influence of testosterone administration at the end of the breeding season on sperm cryoresistance in rams (Ovis aries) and bucks (Capra hircus). Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 72:106425. [PMID: 32278257 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.106425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2019] [Revised: 10/13/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
This study examines the influence of administering testosterone at the end of the mating season, on the responses (morphometric and functional) of ram and buck sperm to freezing-thawing. Five rams were administered 25 mg testosterone propionate (TP) subcutaneously in 2 mL of olive oil twice per week (Monday and Thursday) from October 1 to 31; 5 bucks received exactly the same treatment but from November 1 to 30. Control groups were administered 2 mL of olive oil without TP twice per week over the same period. In the rams, no significant differences were seen in plasma testosterone between the treated and control groups during treatment (0.8 ± 0.2 ng/mL vs 1.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL; P > 0.05). Significant differences were seen in this respect, however, in the bucks (4.3 ± 0.8 ng/mL and 6.9 ± 0.9 ng/mL; P < 0.05). In the rams, TP treatment increased (P < 0.05) the straight-line velocity (VSL), linearity (LIN), straightness (STR) and wobble (WOB) values in fresh sperm samples. Similarly, in the frozen-thawed samples, TP treatment increased the VSL, average path velocity (VAP), LIN and WOB values (P < 0.05) compared with controls. In the bucks, treatment with TP had no effect on any measured variable in fresh sperm; frozen-thawed sperm, however, returned greater VSL, LIN, STR, and WOB values (P < 0.05) than did controls. In the rams, treatment with TP led to a reduction in all fresh sperm head morphometric variables (P < 0.05). Freezing-thawing further reduced (P < 0.05) all morphometric variables in both the control and treated groups. In the bucks, treatment with TP increased (P < 0.05) the length, area, and perimeter of fresh sperm cells, unlike that seen in ram sperm. Compared with fresh sperm, freezing-thawing led to reduced (P < 0.05) morphometric variables in both the control and treated bucks, except for the sperm head width, which in the controls remained unchanged. In conclusion, TP treatment at the end of the mating season affected fresh sperm quality, in both Spanish Merino rams and Murciano-Granadina bucks, in a species-specific manner, but improved the sperm kinetic variables after freezing-thawing in both species, apparently improving sperm cryoresistance. Treatment with TP affects the dimensions of the sperm head in a species-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- V N Flores-Gil
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - R Velázquez
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Toledano-Díaz
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - J Santiago-Moreno
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A López-Sebastián
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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17
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Martínez-Fresneda L, O'Brien E, López Sebastián A, Velázquez R, Toledano-Díaz A, Tesfaye D, Schellander K, García-Vázquez FA, Santiago-Moreno J. In vitro supplementation of testosterone or prolactin affects spermatozoa freezability in small ruminants. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2020; 72:106372. [PMID: 31431310 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2019.06.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In small ruminants, testosterone and prolactin plasma concentrations show circannual fluctuations as an adaptation mechanism to their seasonal breeding behavior. Sperm resistance to the freezing-thawing process shows seasonal fluctuation throughout the year, with lower sperm freezability at the beginning of the breeding season when prolactin and testosterone levels reach their maximum concentration. Nevertheless, whether these hormones directly affect post-thaw sperm quality parameters is still unclear. The objective was to study the effect of testosterone or prolactin added in vitro on sperm freezability in domestic ram (Ovis aries) and buck (Capra hircus). Sperm samples were incubated for 1 h with a range of testosterone (0, 2, 4, or 6 ng/mL; Exp. 1) or prolactin (0, 20, 100, 200, or 400 ng/mL; Exp. 2) concentrations. Samples were cryopreserved by slow freezing in straws at 0 h and after 1 h incubation. Sperm viability, acrosome integrity, motility, and kinetic parameters were assessed at 0 and 1 h in fresh and frozen-thawed samples. Results showed no hormone effect in fresh sperm, whereas these hormones affected post-thaw sperm parameters. In Exp. 1, in vitro incubation with testosterone decreased the post-thaw acrosome integrity of ram sperm (from 68.1 ± 6.3% to 49.6 ± 3.9%; P < 0.05). In Exp. 2, in vitro incubation with prolactin decreased the post-thaw acrosome integrity of ram (from 78.2 ± 3.4% to 66.3 ± 3.5%; P < 0.05) and buck sperm (from 81.7 ± 2.5% to 67.6 ± 3.5%; P < 0.05). Moreover, prolactin increased the post-thaw amplitude of lateral head displacement in ram sperm (from 3.3 ± 0.1 μm to 3.8 ± 0.2 μm; P < 0.05). In conclusion, either testosterone or prolactin added in vitro decreased the post-thaw acrosome integrity of ram and buck sperm. This suggests a destabilization process that could be decreasing sperm freezability when physiological levels of these hormones are high in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Martínez-Fresneda
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany; Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research 'Campus Mare Nostrum', 30100 Murcia, Spain
| | - E O'Brien
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A López Sebastián
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - R Velázquez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - A Toledano-Díaz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - D Tesfaye
- Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - K Schellander
- Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Institute of Animal Science, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
| | - F A García-Vázquez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research 'Campus Mare Nostrum', 30100 Murcia, Spain; Biomedical Research Institute of Murcia (IMIB-Arrixaca), University of Murcia, 30120 Murcia, Spain
| | - J Santiago-Moreno
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA), 28040 Madrid, Spain.
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Falchi L, Pau S, Pivato I, Bogliolo L, Zedda MT. Resveratrol supplementation and cryopreservation of buck semen. Cryobiology 2020; 95:60-67. [PMID: 32533984 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2020.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2020] [Revised: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Resveratrol (Resv) was tested to assess its effects on buck semen freezability. Ejaculates of 4 bucks were collected, washed and diluted in a commercial extender at 30 °C. Extended semen was divided into 4 aliquots supplemented with increasing concentrations of Resv: 0 μM (control); 10 μM; 25 μM and 50 μM. Aliquots were cooled to 4 °C in 5h and frozen in LN2. Thawing was performed at 37 °C for 30 s. At the 3 stages of the experiment (30 °C, 4 °C, thawing), motility (CASA), osmotic resistance (Hos test) and integrity of cytoplasm and acrosome membranes (PI/PSA staining) were assessed. Moreover, in thawed samples, the oxidative status (MDA assay) and early apoptosis (DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay) were evaluated. Resveratrol supplementation did not affect most of the motility parameters analysed, except for total motility, ALH (lateral head displacement) and velocity distribution (P < 0.05). Functional and morphological integrity of membranes was not affected at any stage of the experiment (P > 0.05). In thawed spermatozoa, the oxidative status was not preserved by Resv (P > 0.05) while early apoptosis, was significantly decreased in the 50 μM Resv group (P < 0.05). Resveratrol did not improve buck semen freezability; the observed effects on motility and DNA were not dose dependent and not mediated by a potential anti-oxidant activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Falchi
- Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli studi di Sassari, via Vienna n.2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Salvatore Pau
- Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli studi di Sassari, via Vienna n.2, 07100, Sassari, Italy; Centro di Competenza Biodiversità Animale, viale Adua 2/c, Sassari, 07100, Italy.
| | - Ivo Pivato
- Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinaria, Universidade de Brasilia, Campus Universitario Darcy Ribeiro, Brasilia, 70910-900, Brazil.
| | - Luisa Bogliolo
- Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli studi di Sassari, via Vienna n.2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa Zedda
- Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università degli studi di Sassari, via Vienna n.2, 07100, Sassari, Italy.
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Galarza DA, López‐Sebastián A, Santiago‐Moreno J. Supplementing a skimmed milk–egg yolk‐based extender with L‐carnitine helps maintain the motility, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity of chilled ram sperm. Reprod Domest Anim 2020; 55:805-813. [DOI: 10.1111/rda.13687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Diego A. Galarza
- Department of Animal Reproduction INIA Madrid Spain
- Faculty of Agriculture Sciences University of Cuenca Cuenca Ecuador
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Abstract
The process of embryonic development is crucial and radically influences preimplantation embryo competence. It involves oocyte maturation, fertilization, cell division and blastulation and is characterized by different key phases that have major influences on embryo quality. Each stage of the process of preimplantation embryonic development is led by important signalling pathways that include very many regulatory molecules, such as primary and secondary messengers. Many studies, both in vivo and in vitro, have shown the importance of the contribution of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as important second messengers in embryo development. ROS may originate from embryo metabolism and/or oocyte/embryo surroundings, and their effect on embryonic development is highly variable, depending on the needs of the embryo at each stage of development and on their environment (in vivo or under in vitro culture conditions). Other studies have also shown the deleterious effects of ROS in embryo development, when cellular tissue production overwhelms antioxidant production, leading to oxidative stress. This stress is known to be the cause of many cellular alterations, such as protein, lipid, and DNA damage. Considering that the same ROS level can have a deleterious effect on the fertilizing oocyte or embryo at certain stages, and a positive effect at another stage of the development process, further studies need to be carried out to determine the rate of ROS that benefits the embryo and from what rate it starts to be harmful, this measured at each key phase of embryonic development.
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Epididymal and ejaculated sperm differ on their response to the cryopreservation and capacitation processes in mouflon (Ovis musimon). Sci Rep 2019; 9:15659. [PMID: 31666633 PMCID: PMC6821854 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-52057-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa must undergo the process of capacitation to fertilize the egg which involves a cell destabilizing process. Capacitation-like changes such as protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP) are associated with cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to compare the cryoresistance and capacitation response of epididymal and ejaculated sperm of European mouflon (Ovis musimon). Post-thaw sperm parameters were analysed from epididymal and ejaculated samples cryopreserved by slow-freezing or ultrarapid-freezing for comparison. Sperm capacitation status was assessed by the semiquantification of PTP levels, cell localization of PTP and kinematic clustering. Epididymal sperm had higher cryoresistance than ejaculated sperm in both freezing techniques, and slow-freezing rendered better results than ultrarapid-freezing in both sperm samples. Ejaculated sperm had higher PTP levels than epididymal sperm and, additionally, ejaculated sperm showed higher phosphorylation in capacitating (CA) than in non-capacitating (NCA) conditions while there was no effect of medium in epididymal sperm. There was a higher tail PTP in CA than in NCA conditions in both types of sperm. Kinematic analysis revealed that the cluster associated with hyperactivated movement increased in ejaculated sperm incubated in CA whereas no effect of medium was observed in epididymal sperm clusters. In conclusion, epididymal sperm showed better freezability and lower capacitation status compared to ejaculated sperm.
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Câmara T, Sousa Júnior A, Barçante F, Silva J, Sousa M, Machado A, Salgueiro C, Montenegro A, Nunes J. Comparação da qualidade seminal de caprinos das raças Canindé e Alpina Britânica no Nordeste brasileiro. ARQ BRAS MED VET ZOO 2019. [DOI: 10.1590/1678-4162-10297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
RESUMO O estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade seminal de caprinos das raças Canindé (autóctone) e Alpina Britânica (exótica) no Nordeste brasileiro. O experimento foi realizado nos períodos de julho a setembro dos anos de 2015 e 2016. As coletas seminais foram realizadas com auxílio de vagina artificial, de machos das raças Canindé (n = 4) e Alpina Britânica (n = 7). Após a coleta, o sêmen foi avaliado quanto a: volume (ml), concentração (sptz/ml), motilidade (%) e vigor (1-5). Em seguida, diluído em ACP-101c e criopreservado em máquina TK3000TM. Posteriormente, foram analisados os parâmetros cinéticos, através do software SCA®, e a atividade mitocondrial. No sêmen fresco, as duas raças apresentaram valores de motilidade e concentração dentro do preconizado para a espécie. Entretanto, os valores de volume e circunferência escrotal foram superiores na raça Alpina Britânica (0,73 ml ± 0,32; 27,35 cm ± 2,09) do que na raça Canindé (0,36 ml ± 0,07; 23,25 cm ± 0,95) (p < 0,05). Já no sêmen descongelado, os parâmetros motilidade total - MT (36,96% ± 11,16 vs. 20,50% ± 14,15), motilidade progressiva - MP (26,67% ± 11,13 vs. 11,29% ± 9,42), vigor (2,91 ± 0,90 vs. 1,88 ± 0,67), velocidade curvilinear - VCL (78,12 µm/s ± 12,41 vs. 59,28 µm/s ± 15,57), velocidade linear - VSL (49,23 µm/s ± 9,87 vs. 29,9 µm/s ± 9,48), velocidade média da trajetória - VAP (66,08 µm/s ± 12,77 vs. 45,70 µm/s ± 12,20), linearidade - LIN (62,97% ± 6,96 vs. 49,54%±9,50), retilinearidade - STR (74,63% ± 6,44 vs. 65,77% ± 8,92), e oscilação - WOB (84,32% ± 5,94 vs. 74,42% ± 7,31) foram superiores para a raça Canindé em detrimento à Alpina Britânica (p < 0,05). Portanto, o sêmen fresco das duas raças podem ser utilizados em biotécnicas reprodutivas. Já o sêmen pós-descongelação da raça Canindé apresentou melhor qualidade, provavelmente pelos animais estarem mais adaptados às condições adversas da região Nordeste, sendo recomendado para programas de inseminação artificial.
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Dariush G, Gholamhossein R, Rouhollah F, Mahmood GS, Abdolhossein S, Mohsen S, Loghman A. The Application of Ultrasonic Vibration in Human Sperm Cryopreservation as a Novel Method for the Modification of Physicochemical Characteristics of Freezing Media. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10066. [PMID: 31296942 PMCID: PMC6624318 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46424-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The application of ultrasonic vibration was performed to modify the water molecules as the main compositions of the freezing medium used for human sperm cryopreservation. Different time periods of ultrasonic vibration (ULV) at the frequency of 28 kHz were applied for the evaluation of physicochemical properties of the water molecules. The most significant bubble size, zeta potential, and pH were obtained for the water molecules exposed to ultrasonic vibrations for 18 minutes and this time period was selected for further experiments due to the optimum results. In the next stage, semen samples were diluted with freezing medium containing ULV-exposed water and then cryopreserved. All the semen parameters were significantly reduced in cryopreserved groups as compared with the fresh control group. The highest percentage of total and progressive motility, viability, membrane and DNA integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential were observed in frozen ULV compared with the frozen control. The rate of apoptosis in frozen ULV was significantly lower than that of in the frozen control. Furthermore, the gene expression ratios of α- and β-tubulins were significantly increased during cryopreservation, while the expression ratio of the tubulin polymerization promoting protein (TPPP) gene was decreased. Similar results were also observed when the protein levels of the genes mentioned earlier were evaluated by the ELISA method. Therefore, the changes in physicochemical properties of the freezing medium of human sperm cryopreservation using ULV can improve the quality of frozen products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gholami Dariush
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
| | - Riazi Gholamhossein
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fathi Rouhollah
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Shahverdi Abdolhossein
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Sharafi Mohsen
- Department of Embryology, Reproduction Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACER, Tehran, Iran. .,Department of Poultry Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Alaei Loghman
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics (IBB), University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
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24
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Galarza DA, Ladrón de Guevara M, Beltrán-Breña P, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Rizos D, López-Sebastián A, Santiago-Moreno J. Influence of sperm filtration and the addition of glycerol to UHT skimmed milk- and TEST-based extenders on the quality and fertilizing capacity of chilled ram sperm. Theriogenology 2019; 133:29-37. [PMID: 31055159 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2019] [Revised: 04/12/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The poor fertility of ram semen stored chilled for long periods has encouraged the development of protocols designed to improve the kinetic vigour and cervical barrier-crossing capacity of sperm. The present work evaluated the effect of sperm selection with Sephadex filtration and the supplementation of 2% glycerol (GLY) to extenders based on ultra-heat-treated skimmed milk (UHT) or Tris-Tes-Glucose (TEST) on ram sperm kinetic parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial function and fertilizing ability, over long chilling times. The results showed that for non-filtered semen, values for progressive sperm motility (%PSM), straight line velocity (VSL, μm/s) and the percentage of sperm with an intact plasma membrane/intact acrosome/a high mitochondrial function index (%IPIAHM) at all times up to 96 h of chilling were higher when the UHT extender (P < 0.01) was used compared to TEST extender irrespective of the presence of GLY. When semen was previously filtered with Sephadex, the addition of GLY to the UHT extender improved total motility (%TM), the %PSM and the VSL at 96 h compared to all other treatments (P < 0.01). The best results of all were obtained with non-filtered semen and UHT either with or without GLY. Heterologous IVF using zona-intact bovine oocytes was used to assess the fertilizing capacity of non-filtered fresh (FS0), chilled-for-24 h (CS24) or chilled-for-48 h (CS48) ram semen diluted in UHT extender (GLY-free). Heterologous IVF showed that ram sperm, either FS0, CS24 or CS48, were equally capable of penetrating zona pellucida intact bovine oocytes, leading to pronuclear formation and hybrid embryo cleavage (46.3 ± 3.2; 48.8 ± 3.2; and 43.3 ± 3.5, respectively). No differences were seen with respect to fresh sperm in terms of sperm binding, penetration, polyspermy, pronucleus formation or cleavage rates (P > 0.05). In conclusion, neither Sephadex filtration nor addition of glycerol provided extra benefits to ram sperm chilled up to 96 h. Chilled, non-filtered sperm extended with UHT without GLY showed better sperm functionality than did similar sperm extended with TEST extenders. Indeed, sperm diluted in UHT extender, maintained fertilizing ability up to 48 h.
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Affiliation(s)
- D A Galarza
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040, Madrid, Spain; Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca, EC010205, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | | | - P Beltrán-Breña
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - M J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UCM, Madrid, Spain.
| | - D Rizos
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, 28040, Madrid, Spain
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Dialysis of the goat semen and its effect on the quality of frozen/thawed spermatozoa processed in the presence of egg yolk. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 198:65-73. [PMID: 30217678 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Revised: 08/24/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of dialysis on the quality of frozen/thawed buck semen. Ejaculates (n = 15) from three Saanen bucks were divided into three experimental groups. Semen in Group Ce (centrifugation) was processed by standard method and washed two times at 1.085 × g for 20 min. During this time, the diluted control semen (Co) was stored at room temperature. Semen in Group D was dialyzed using 300 kDa cut-off semi-permeable cellulose tubing. The semen from all groups was diluted with extender containing 20% egg yolk and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor. After thawing, semen samples were evaluated by microscopic and biochemical analyses. Phospholipase A2 was in amounts that was 72.0 ± 11.7% less after dialysis and 21.3 ± 10.0% less after washing with centrifugation compared to the control semen (P < 0.05). Spermatozoa from Group Co had a lesser motility and viability and greater percentage of morphological abnormal spermatozoa in comparison to Groups D and Ce at 3 h after thawing and incubation on 37 °C. At the same time motility and percentage of HOST positive spermatozoa were greater in Group Ce compared with D (P < 0.05). There, however, was no difference in morphology and viability (CFDA/PI analysis) of spermatozoa between Ce and D group. Results from the present study suggest the dialysis is the promising alternative method for reducing phospholipase A2 in the buck semen before cryopreservation.
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26
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Sephadex filtration as successful alternative to density-gradient centrifugation procedures for ram sperm selection with improved kinetics. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 192:261-270. [PMID: 29580753 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Density-gradients centrifugation (DGC) and filtration columns (FC) are used to separate deformed or dead sperm, debris, and other cells that may negatively affect the fertilizing capacity of sperm in fresh, chilled and frozen/thawed semen. The present study was conducted to evaluate the suitability of DGC (BoviPure®, Percoll® and Accudenz®) and FC (Sephadex G-15®) sperm selection procedures for fresh-extended and cold-stored ram semen by assessment of post-treatment sperm quality variables. Twenty normospermic ejaculates from ten adult Merino rams were used. Sperm concentration of recovered cells was greater (P < 0.001) after BoviPure treatment than other procedures in both fresh and cold semen. With the Sephadex method, there were more desirable values than with use of DGC procedures in several sperm motility variables measured by using the CASA system. In non-refrigerated semen samples, the percentage of progressive sperm motility (%PSM) after Sephadex filtration was greater (P < 0.05) than after BoviPure treatment; the straightline velocity (VSL) value after Sephadex filtration was greater (P < 0.01) than after Accudenz treatment; the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) after Sephadex and Accudenz treatment was less than non-filtered semen (P < 0.001) and after Percoll (P < 0.01) and BoviPure (P < 0.05) treatments. In cold-stored semen samples, the %PSM after Sephadex filtration was greater than non-filtered (P < 0.05) semen and after BoviPure (P < 0.05), Percoll (P < 0.05) and Accudenz (P < 0.001) treatments. It is concluded that Sephadex column filtration can be used to select ram sperm in non-refrigerated and cooled semen, because percentage progressively motile sperm and some other sperm motility characteristics are greater with use of this techniques as compared with use of DGC methods.
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27
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Barbas JP, Leahy T, Horta AE, García-Herreros M. Sperm kinematics and subpopulational responses during the cryopreservation process in caprine ejaculates. Cryobiology 2018; 82:137-147. [PMID: 29571632 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2018.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation in goats has been a challenge for many years due to the detrimental effects of seminal plasma enzymes produced by the bulbo-urethral glands which catalyse the hydrolysis of lecithins in egg yolk to fatty acids and lysolecithins which are deleterious to spermatozoa. This fact implies to carry out additional processing steps during sperm cryopreservation for seminal plasma removal triggering different sperm responses which may affect sperm functionality. The objective of the present study was to determine specific sperm subpopulation responses in different handling steps during the cryopreservation process by using functional sperm kinematic descriptors in caprine ejaculates. Buck ejaculates (n = 40) were analysed for sperm concentration, viability, morphology and acrosome integrity. Moreover, sperm motility was assessed using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system after five different handling steps (fresh sperm, 1st washing, 2nd washing, cooling and frozen-thawed sperm) during a standard cryopreservation protocol for goat semen. The results were analysed using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and multivariate clustering procedures to establish the relationship between the distribution of the subpopulations found and the functional sperm motility in each step. Except for the 1st and 4th steps, four sperm kinematic subpopulations were observed explaining more than 75% of the variance. Based on velocity and linearity parameters and the subpopulations disclosed, the kinematic response varies among processing steps modifying sperm movement trajectories in a subpopulation-specific and handling step-dependent manner (p < 0.001). The predominant motile subpopulation in freshly ejaculated buck sperm had very fast velocity characteristics and a non-linear trajectory (41.1%). Washing buck sperm twice altered the subpopulation structure as well as cooling which resulted in a dramatic reduction in sperm velocities (p < 0.01). Frozen-thawed spermatozoa showed similar characteristics to cooled sperm except there was a further increase in linearity with a large proportion of sperm attributed to new slow, linear cluster (32.5%). In conclusion, this study confirms the variability and heterogeneity of goat sperm kinematic patterns throughout the cryopreservation process and suggests that the predominant motility pattern (assayed in vitro via CASA) of high quality spermatozoa might be typified by high speed and a non-linear trajectory. The relationships among the number and distribution of sperm subpopulations and the different handling steps were particularlly relevant, specially after the cooling and the post-thawing steps, when effects derived from these critical handling steps were evident and altered drastically the sperm motion patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Barbas
- National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (I.N.IA.V., I.P.), Santarém, Portugal
| | - T Leahy
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - A E Horta
- National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (I.N.IA.V., I.P.), Santarém, Portugal
| | - M García-Herreros
- National Institute for Agricultural and Veterinary Research (I.N.IA.V., I.P.), Santarém, Portugal.
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