Practice Of Artificial Insemination Research Articles

Changes in structure and fertilizing ability of marine and preshwater fish spermatozoa diluted in media of various salinities

The spermatozoa of various marine teleosts (sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax; sea bream, Sparus auratus) or fresh water teleosts (trout, Salmo gairdneri; pike, Esox lucius; guppy, Poecilia reticulata) were diluted in media of different salinities. Motility, morphological changes and fertilizing ability were the criteria used in judging the effects of such treatments. The medium best adapted to dilution of sea-fish sperm had a salinity of about 20‰. Sperm motility was increased and prolonged, and fertilization rate was significantly improved ( P<0.05) for the sea bass at a 1 1000 dilution. For freshwater fish (trout and pike), an extender with about 7‰ salinity increased motility time and fertility ability ( P<0.01) as compared to freshwater. After dilution in fresh water the structure of trout spermatozoa was considerably altered (rupture of plasma membrane and mitochondrial swelling). When spermatozoa were diluted in the extender, there were no significant structural changes in trout, but alteration occurred in the mid-piece of the guppy spermatozoon. It is concluded that fresh water or sea water are not the best media for the practice of artificial insemination in freshwater or marine fish. Investigations should be carried out to define the best extender for use in techniques of artificial insemination in fish produced in aquaculture.

HUMAN ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION SOME SOCIAL AND LEGAL ISSUES

The demand for human artificial insemination (AI) is increasing as a function of declining numbers of babies available for adoption and greater community awareness. This paper reviews some of the social and legal issues associated with the practice of AI: prevalence of marital infertility; demand for AI; moral objections; effect on marriage; legality of practice; legal position of all the parties to the practice; legislation proposed to regulate the practice; and payment of medical benefits.

Response to Selection of Breeding Stock for Milk Solids Production

A trial experiment of young sire testing for bull breeding was applied to closed populations of 300 Holstein and 300 Ayrshire cows. The data and selection practiced covered 10 years of year-round stable feeding and standard total digestible nutrient allowance. The selection differential for dams of young bulls gave results closest to the expected value; less success was achieved from selection by cow culling and progeny-testing of bulls. The statistical method that had the most stringent control of environmental effects on trends of milk solids yield was used to estimate annual rates of genetic improvement for 180-day milk solids, 4.46kg for Holsteins and 4.36kg for Ayrshires. Compared with the expected increase of 1.30% based on an h2 of 0.30, these increases were 1.06 and 1.30% of the most recent annual average milk solids yield. Correlated genetic responses for percentage of fat and solids-not-fat in Holsteins were significant but small. There was no significant change in percentages of fat, solids-not-fat, or protein in Ayrshires or for percentage of protein in Holsteins. Milk solids is a practical measure of productivity in dairy cattle, and present selection techniques and artificial insemination practices are an economic advantage.

Effect of Frequency of Semen Collection on Fertility, Hatchability and Spermatozoa Concentration in the Turkey

ABSTRACT THE increased interest in the practice of artificial insemination by turkey hatching egg producers to improve the reproductive efficiency of their flocks has resulted in many unanswered problems. These problems must be solved in order to increase the efficiency of artificial breeding and to make sound recommendations to flock owners employing this practice in their breeding program. Since the volume of semen obtained from turkey males at any one time is relatively small, varying from barely measurable amounts to slightly more than 0.3 ml. (Carson et al., 1955; and McCartney, 1956), information was needed to determine the effect of collection frequency on quantity of semen and fertilizing capacity. Lorenz et al. (1955) studied the effect of collection frequency on the quantity of semen produced by turkey males and found that the volume of semen decreased gradually during the first week of daily collection; however, this decrease in volume had no . . .

The practice of artificial insemination in humans

Drug Prescribing for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in General Practice: a Cross-Sectional Study

Fertility levels of bulls kept at an artificial insemination centre

The present method of estimating preliminary results in artificial insemination practice bears a definite relation to calving percentages, and, with few exceptions, may be generally adopted as a true measure of fertility.Single factors, such as an individual bull with a low conception rate, a new and less efficient inseminator, or variations in the results obtained at the Sub-Centres, etc., do not noticeably affect the average monthly conception rate in a large A.I. Centre. The most important influencing factors have been found to be the choice of diluent, and in some cases the elimination of the use of stored semen.No significant variation in fertility occurs with the season of the year, the age of the bull or the area of operation; but, for a bull to work satisfactorily at a centre and at the same time achieve good results, it is necessary that he should be treated as an individual and his psychology closely studied.In view of results obtained, one is able to conclude that methods of evaluation at present in use (estimating initial motility, density, percentage of abnormals and a test of viability by storage of diluted and undiluted samples) are up to a point satisfactory.A dilutor or buffer may influence the conception rate considerably, and it is felt that the diluent in use at present has its own fertility level.With the Centre's team of forty-eight bulls it is obvious that there must be some variation in fertility levels between individuals; but it is seen that, whereas bulls in natural service fall obviously into categories of ‘high fertility’ or ‘low fertility’, this division tends to disappear in A.I. with the application of the various techniques.

Fructose content and fructolysis in semen. Practical application in the evaluation of semen quality

SUMMARY1. A method is described whereby fructose content and fructolysis can be assayed accurately in small samples of semen. The advantages of this method lie in its simplicity, accuracy and practical convenience as a tool for the assessment of semen quality, applicable also under field conditions.2. The content of fructose in fresh semen depends upon the secretory function of accessory glands which is influenced directly by the activity of the male sex hormone. A low level of seminal fructose may coincide with other symptoms of hormonal malfunction and poor quality of spermatozoa. A high level of seminal fructose indicates satisfactory functional ability of the accessory glands, but it does not necessarily coincide with high quality of spermatozoa as expressed in terms of density and motility.3. The normal level of fructose in fresh semen undergoes frequent fluctuations which can be observed if semen collections are made from the same individual at different times. Considerable variations in the sperm/fructose ratio may also occur in the semen of the same individual as illustrated by the results of an ‘exhaustion test’.4. Fructose disappears from semen incubatedin vitro. The rate of fructose disappearance forms a convenient measure of sperm fructolysis. The normal rate of fructolysis in bull semen is 1·4–2 mg. fructose per 109sperm cells in 1 hr. at 37° C. At this high level it can be maintained until almost the whole reserve of fructose has been exhausted. Azoospermic and necrospennic semen, as well as that from vasectomized animals, are unable to utilize fructose. A reduced rate of fructolysis is found in low quality semen of subfertile and infertile animals.5. The conditions of sperm survival in semen incubated in narrow tubes as used for the fructolysis test as well as for storage of semen in the practice of artificial insemination, are almost purely anaerobic. Under such conditions the survival of spermatozoa must largely depend upon fructolysis and not upon respiration.

Artificial Insemination and the Determination of Vitality in the Male Bird by the Microscope

The success attending the practice of Artificial insemination in the breeding of horses and other animals suggested a study of the same practice with our domestic fowl. My assistant, Mr. Loyal F. Payne, was placed in charge of this investigation, and to him belongs full credit for the work recorded in his preliminary report on this subject which has recently been published as Circular No. 30 of the Oklahoma Agricultural Experiment Station. (It may be of interest to some to know that Mr. Payne will take up his duties September 1 as Assistant to Prof. J. C. Graham, of Massachusetts.)Most of the work up to this time has been spent in studying the sperm cells of the male, the physical characteristics, activity, longevity, and their actions after entering the oviduct. It was necessary that these things be understood before artificial fertilization could be practiced with any degree of success.