High Concentration Of Spermatozoa Research Articles

Reproductive Tract Morphometry and Evaluation of Fresh Wild African ‎Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Milt from Lake Alau, Maiduguri, Nigeria‎

Reproductive morphometry of Clarias gariepinus (C. gariepinus) is essential in distinguishing different species that are closely related to it and adequate information is required regarding the seasonal variation of milt characteristic of wild species. This study was designed to document the reproductive tract morphometric dimensions and milt characteristics of wild C. gariepinus during spawning and non-spawning seasons in Lake Alau, Maiduguri, Nigeria. Sixty male brood stocks were used comprising thirty each for spawning and non-spawning seasons. The reproductive tracts were removed and their dimensions measured. The milt samples were collected, pooled and evaluated. Results of the study showed that the body weight, sperm concentration and testicular indices differed significantly (p˂0.05) between the two seasons of evaluation. In addition, a positive correlation (p˂ 0.05) between body weight of fish and milt volume (r = 0.656 and r = 0.646) was also observed in both seasons. It was concluded that the left testis of C. gariepinus is heavier, longer and thicker than the right. Nonetheless, the C. gariepinus had larger body weights and higher spermatozoa concentration in spawning season than in non-spawning season; those with larger body weights had higher volume of milt than those with lower body weights.

Reproductive biology of the Pacific sierra Scomberomorus sierra (Pisces, Scombridae) in the central Mexican Pacific

Monthly samples of Pacific sierra Scomberomorus sierra were taken during nine years (1998–2000 and 2002–2007) with gillnets in Navidad Bay, Jalisco (Mexico). The sex ratio for the whole sampling period was not significantly different from 1 (F:M, 1:0.9). Monthly trends of the gonadosomatic index, the percentage of individuals with ripe gonads, and mean oocyte diameter indicate that this species reproduces in the period from April to June (spring). This reproduction period is also supported by the microscopic characteristics of gonads (highest percentage of oocytes in advanced vitellogenesis phase and high concentration of spermatozoa in lobular lumen and testis main duct). Total length (TL) ranged from 26.0 to 102.8 cm, with a mean of 53.3 cm. Mean maturation lengths calculated for females and males were 59.3 and 56.4 cm TL, respectively. Most individuals caught had a length which was smaller than the mean maturation length indicating that the fishery is based mostly on juvenile fish.

Single layer centrifugation of stallion spermatozoa consistently selects the most robust spermatozoa from the rest of the ejaculate in a large sample size

An improvement in sperm quality after single layer centrifugation (SLC) has been seen in previous studies using small sample sizes (for example, n = 10 stallions). There is a need to investigate whether this improvement is repeatable over several breeding seasons with a larger number of stallions (n ≥ 30 stallions). To make a retrospective analysis of the results of SLC performed on more than 250 sperm samples (176 ejaculates) from 31 stallions in 3 consecutive breeding seasons. Sperm quality (motility, proportion of morphologically normal spermatozoa and the proportion of spermatozoa with undamaged chromatin) was assessed before and after SLC. All parameters of sperm quality examined were significantly better in sperm samples after SLC than in their unselected counterparts (P<0.001 for each parameter). The yield of spermatozoa obtained after SLC was influenced by the type of extender used and also by the concentration of spermatozoa in the original ejaculate, with fewer spermatozoa being recovered when the loading dose contained a high concentration of spermatozoa. The optimal concentration was approximately 100 × 10⁶/ml. Sperm concentration in the samples loaded on to the colloid influenced the sperm yield while the type of semen extender affected sperm quality and survival. Furthermore, the scaled-up SLC method was found to be suitable for use with a range of ejaculates, with similar sperm kinematics being observed for standard and scaled-up preparations. SLC consistently improved the quality of stallion sperm samples from a large number of ejaculates. The method could be scaled-up, allowing larger volumes of ejaculate to be processed easily from a wide range of stallions.

Semen Characteristics of Vaccinated Shikabrown Cocks Challenged with a Velogenic Newcastle Disease Virus

1 Abstract: Twenty-five cocks consisting of 14 red and 11 white Shikabrown cocks selected on the basis of body weight and antibody titres were infected with 0.2 ml of 10 EID of a velogenic Kudu 113 strain of 6.0 50 Newcastle disease virus intranasally and intraocularly. Twenty-five cocks consisting of 14 red and 11 white Shikabrown cocks served as controls. Cloacal temperatures, live weights and semen samples of bot h control and infected cocks were taken weekly for six weeks. Semen was collected by abdominal message and evaluated for volume, colour, motility, concentration, percent live spermatozoa and percent total spermatozoa abnormalities. The semen volume of infected red cocks showed a general increase over that of control red cocks. The semen volume of the control white Shikabrown cocks was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of the infected white cocks. The white Shikabrown cocks had higher semen volume than the red Shikabrown cocks. The red Shikabrown cocks had slightly better semen colour than the white Shikabrown cocks. The control white cocks had better (p<0.05) spermatozoa motility than the infected white cocks, while the infected red cocks had significantly (p<0.05) spermatozoa motility than the control red cocks. Generally, the white Shikabrown cocks had better spermatozoa motility than the red cocks. The spermatozoa concentration of the control white cocks was consistently higher than that of the infected white cocks; the reverse was the case with the red cocks where the spermatozoa concentration of the infected red cocks was higher than that of the control red cocks. The white cocks had higher spermatozoa concentration than the red cocks. The control white Shikabrown cocks had significantly (p<0.05) higher percent live spermatozoa than the infected white cocks. The infected red Shikabrown cocks had significantly (p<0.05) higher percent live spermatozoa than the control red cocks. The control white cocks had significantly (p<0.05) higher percent live spermatozoa than the control red cocks. The infected red and white Shikabrown cocks had higher percentage total spermatozoa abnormalities than the control red and white cocks. It can be concluded from this study that the white Shikabrown cocks had better semen quality than the red Shikabrown cocks. It is recommended that breeder cocks be routinely vaccinated against Newcastle disease to ensure that the level of antibodies is high enough to prevent adverse effects on semen quality.

Retained Functional Integrity of Bull Spermatozoa after Double Freezing and Thawing Using PureSperm® Density Gradient Centrifugation

The main aim of this study was to compare the motility and functional integrity of bull spermatozoa after single and double freezing and thawing. The viability and morphological integrity of spermatozoa selected by PureSperm density gradient centrifugation after cryopreservation of bovine semen in two commercial extenders (Experiment 1) and the function of bull spermatozoa before and after a second freezing and thawing assisted by PureSperm selection (Experiment 2) were examined. On average, 35.8 +/- 12.1% of sperm loaded onto the PureSperm density gradient were recovered after centrifugation. In Experiment 1, post-thaw motility and acrosome integrity were higher for spermatozoa frozen in Tris-egg yolk extender than in AndroMed, whether the assessments were made immediately after thawing [80.4 +/- 12.7 vs 47.6 +/- 19.0% motile and 78.8 +/- 8.3 vs 50.1 +/- 19.5% normal apical ridge (NAR), p < 0.05] or after preparation on the gradient (83.3 +/- 8.6 vs 69.4 +/- 15.9% motile and 89.5 +/- 7.2 vs 69.1 +/- 11.4% NAR, p < 0.05). For semen frozen in Tris-egg yolk extender, selection on the PureSperm gradient did not influence total motility but significantly improved the proportion of acrosome-intact spermatozoa. After the gradient, both the total motility and percentage of normal acrosomes increased for spermatozoa frozen in AndroMed (Minitüb Tiefenbach, Germany). In Experiment 2, there was no difference in sperm motility after the first and second freeze-thawing (82.9 +/- 12.7 vs 68.8 +/- 18.7%). However, the proportion of acrosome-intact spermatozoa was significantly improved by selection through the PureSperm gradient, whether measured by phase contrast microscopy (78.9 +/- 9.7 vs 90.4 +/- 4.0% NAR, p < 0.05) or flow cytometry (53.4 +/- 11.7 vs 76.3 +/- 6.0% viable acrosome-intact spermatozoa, p < 0.001). The improvement in the percentage of spermatozoa with normal acrosomes was maintained after resuspension in the cooling extender and cooling to 4 degrees C (88.2 +/- 6.2) and after re-freezing and thawing (83.6 +/- 6.56% NAR). However, flow cytometric assessment of the sperm membranes revealed a decline in the percentage of viable spermatozoa with intact membranes after the second freezing and thawing compared with after gradient centrifugation (76.3 +/- 6.0% vs 46.6 +/- 6.6%, p < 0.001) to levels equivalent to those obtained after the first round of freeze-thawing (53.4 +/- 11.7% viable acrosome-intact spermatozoa). Sperm movement characteristics assessed by computer-assisted analysis were unaffected in the population selected on the PureSperm gradients but declined after cooling of the selected and extended spermatozoa to 4 degrees C. There was no further change in these kinematic measurements after the cooled spermatozoa had undergone the second round of freeze-thawing. These results demonstrate that bull semen can be frozen and thawed, followed by a second freeze-thawing cycle of a population of spermatozoa selected by PureSperm, with retained motility and functional integrity. This points to the possibility of using double frozen spermatozoa in bovine artificial insemination programmes and to the potential benefits of PureSperm density gradient centrifugation for the application of cryopreserved bull spermatozoa to other biotechnological procedures such as flow cytometric sex sorting followed by re-freezing and thawing.

Effects of melatonin implants on reproduction and growth of turbot broodstock

The effect of 18 mg. melatonin (MLT) implants on thereproductive performance of turbot (Scophthalmus maximusL.) broodstock was determined in 20 females and 12 males. Implantedanimals showed supra-physiological plasma MLT concentrations during threemonthsafter implantation, being at that time about one hundred times higher thandiurnal MLT concentrations. Direct effects of MLT implants were observed ongonadal maturation of turbot females three months after implantation (P <0.01), although the faster ovarian response to increasing photoperiod was notconsistent and no differences were detected at the final reproductiveperformance. MLT implants had a positive effect on turbot male reproductivefeatures, since gonadal recrudescence started 45 days earlier (P < 0.05)showing a trend towards higher spermatozoa concentration. Further research isadvisable to ascertain the MLT dose required for and time of implantation inturbot broodstock.

Reproductive characteristics of Ethiopian highland sheep: II. Genetic parameters of semen characteristics and their relationships with testicular measurements in ram lambs

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of season on, and to estimate heritabilities of, and genetic correlations among, semen and spermatozoa characteristics and the relationship of these characteristics with measures of testicular or scrotal size in 6-, 9- and 12-month old ram lambs of Menz and Horro sheep breeds indigenous to Ethiopian highlands. A total of 278 ram lambs with substantial pedigree information were involved in the study. There was improvement in all semen and spermatozoa traits with age, the means at 12 months being consistently superior to values at 6 and 9 months of age. There were no significant breed differences in any of the traits studied, except semen volume at 9 months (0.67, S.E. 0.07 for Horro versus 0.39, S.E. 0.05 ml for Menz) and proportion of dead spermatozoa at 12 months (0.18, S.E. 0.03 versus 0.23, S.E. 0.02, respectively). Season was significant ( p<0.05) for most of the traits studied, and differences were attributed primarily to nutrition. Semen collected in the wet season had higher spermatozoa concentration while samples collected in the dry season had higher proportion of abnormalities. After correcting for differences in total spermatozoa abnormalities, the wet season (of collection) had the highest spermatozoa output (volume×concentration) in 12-month old ram lambs. Heritability estimates varied substantially in magnitude, ranging from zero to over 0.4. Traits with non-trivial heritability estimates were mass motility at 9 months (0.32, S.E. 0.11), individual motility at 9 months (0.32, S.E. 0.12) and at 12 months (0.16, S.E. 0.12) and proportion of abnormal spermatozoa at 9 months (0.35, S.E. 0.13). Genetic correlations among semen and spermatozoa characteristics, as well as correlations with testicular measurements, were medium to high and generally favourable, but were associated with large standard errors. The genetic correlations of scrotal circumference with semen volume (0.55, S.E. 0.11), mass motility (0.62, S.E. 0.20), individual motility (0.54, S.E. 0.12), concentration (0.25, S.E. 0.04) and proportion of abnormal spermatozoa (−0.75, S.E. 0.24) in 12-month old rams indicated that selection based on this trait, which is highly heritable and easy to measure and can be measured early in life, should have appreciable favourable correlated response in semen quality and spermatozoa production.

Uso de midodrín y congelación de semen en el tratamiento de las alteraciones del transporte espermático.: Caso clínico

Retrograde ejaculation severely compromises male fertility. The use of sympathicomimetics for the treatment of this condition has poor results, except in patients with partial retrograde ejaculation, whose semen has a higher spermatozoa concentration. The semen of two patients with partial retrograde ejaculation was collected and frozen after the injection of a sympathicomimetic (Midodrine). The frozen/thawed samples were mixed with fresh semen recently ejaculated to obtain a minimal number of motile spermatozoa, and used for intrauterine insemination (> de 1 x 10(6) motile spermatozoa/ml). In both cases, pregnancies that developed satisfactorily, were obtained.

In vitro fertilization of porcine oocytes in chemically defined medium

Abstract Porcine follicular oocytes matured in vitro were inseminated with ejaculated boar spermatozoa. We examined whether or not protein is essential for spermatozoa to penetrate oocytes when added during preincubation of spermatozoa, during sperm-oocyte coincubation, or during both periods. The absence of additional protein (bovine serum albumin; BSA) in preincubation media had no effect on the sperm penetration of oocytes, although fetilization media with protein showed higher rates of penetrated oocytes than media without additional protein (77% with BSA and 57% with fetal bovine serum; FBS, vs 14% with no macromolecule, 19% with polyvinylalcohol; PVA, and 27% with polyvinylpyrrolidone; PVP). A high concentration of spermatozoa at insemination increased the rate of sperm penetration even in medium without additional protein. Oocytes with or without cumulus cells were inseminated with preincubated spermatozoa in the fertilization medium without additional protein. The results showed no difference in the penetration rate between oocytes with and those without cumulus cells. In conclusion, although BSa in the fertilization medium was found to accelerate the ability of porcine spermatozoa to penetrate porcine oocytes matured in vitro, protein and cumulus cells were not essential for in vitro penetration of oocytes.

THE EVOLUTION OF GAMETIC INCOMPATIBILITY IN NEOTROPICAL ECHINOMETRA: A REPLY TO MCCLARY.

In an earlier paper (Lessios and Cunningham 1990), we examined gametic compatibility among three species of sea urchin genus Echinometra. Two of these species (E. lucunter and E. viridis) are found in Caribbean, whereas third (E. vanbrunti) was isolated in eastern Pacific by Pliocene rise of Isthmus of Panama. We found that crosses between E. viridis and E. vanbrunti produced rates of fertilization almost equal to those involving homogametic crosses, and that sperm of E. lucunter could fertilize eggs of other two species at comparable rates. However, eggs of E. lucunter could not be fertilized by heterospecific sperm. This barrier was significantly more effective toward allopatric species than toward sympatric one. On basis of four possible phylogenetic topologies linking three species and on known date of completion of Central American Isthmus, we discussed implications of this finding regarding evolution of reproductive isolation in marine invertebrates with external fertilization. McClary (1 992) wrote a critique of this article centered on two issues, one conceptual, other technical. His two points are that examination of gamete compatibility can provide an important insight into evolution of closely related species, but cannot solely be used to infer (p. 1580) and that exposing eggs to a high concentration of spermatozoa is highly artificial (p. 1579). We are puzzled by McClary's claim that we have used gametic compatibility to infer phylogeny, because our article indicates quite clearly that we did not. We discussed probability that each possible phylogenetic topology was correct in context of previous evidence on morphological and isozymic divergence between these species (Lessios 1979, 1981), placed emergence of gametic isolation on each tree, and concluded that is no correlation between reproductive isolation and existing measures of genetic divergence within genus (Lessios and Cunningham 1990, p. 938). In direct contradiction to McClary's assertion, only topology we rejected (as supported by neither morphology nor isozymes) is one that would have been suggested by gametic compatibility, that is, an ancient origin of E. lucunter and a more recent split between two gametically compatible species. McClary stated that the topology which appears to be favored by authors, that E. viridis split from stock that would eventually result in two geminate species, E. lucunter and E. vanbrunti, before rise of Isthmus (Fig. 1 D, p. 937) depends on assumption that compatibility between gametes, once lost in evolution, is unlikely to be regained (p. 1579). Why this topology should depend on any assumption regarding gain and loss of ability to crossfertilize is entirely unclear. We do not see how it is logically possible to believe simultaneously that we favor an early split of E. viridis and that we used gametic compatibility to infer phylogeny. Our article indicates that we did neither. Thus, with respect to question of whether phylogenies can be built on basis of data on gametic compatibility between species, there is no disagreement between our views, as presented in Lessios and Cunningham (1990), and those of McClary (1992). Although we did not use it to build phylogenetic trees, we did make assumption that compatibility between eggs and sperm of populations once lost in evolution is not likely to be regained, and we did state that if this assumption were true, apparent compatibility between gametes of E. vanbrunti and E. viridis

GAMETE COMPATIBILITY OR INCOMPATIBILITY? A COMMENT ON LESSIOS AND CUNNINGHAM (1990).

GAMETE COMPATIBILITY OR INCOMPATIBILITY? A COMMENT ON LESSIOS AND CUNNINGHAM (1990).

Cellular sensitization against spermatic and seminal plasma antigens in women after intrauterine insemination

Using an indirect lymphokine-assay, the leucocyte-migration-inhibition-test (LMI-test), the cellular sensitization of fertile and infertile patients before and after homologous and heterologous intrauterine insemination (IUI) was investigated. In this assay several preparations of spermatozoa ("washed"-, "swim-up"- and "pellet"-spermatozoa) in different concentrations (1, 5 and 10 x 10(6) sperms/ml culture medium) and seminal plasma were tested as antigen. In all investigated groups a cellular immune response against spermatic antigen was demonstrable and seemed to be dose dependent. In contrast to fertile women who reacted with an enhancement of the macrophage migration for low concentrations the same concentration of antigen induced an inhibition of macrophage migration in fertile patients. For high concentrations of spermatic antigens there was a difference in the intensity of cell-mediated immune response between fertile and infertile women. Since infertile patients demonstrated an increased level of cell-mediated immune response it is possible that infertility may be caused by this altered immunological reaction. This response changes after multiple IUI-treatment and that change might be caused by the high concentration of spermatic antigens as there was a difference in the intensity of cell-mediated immune response between fertile and infertile women. Since infertile patients demonstrated an increased level of cell-mediated immune response it is possible that infertility may be caused by this altered immunological reaction. This response changes after multiple IUI-treatment and that change might be caused by the high concentration of spermatozoa. The immunological response of infertile patients seems to be similar in those receiving husband and donor IUI.

Effects of Ad Libitum and Restricted Feeding on Semen Quantity and Quality, Body Composition, and Blood Chemistry of Caged Broiler Breeder Males

One hundred eighty, 16-wk-old, caged broiler breeder males were randomly assigned to one of three feeding treatments: 1) restricted feeding (RES), breeder-recommended levels minus 25%; 2) control feeding (CON), breeder-recommended levels; 3) full-fed (FF), ad libitum feeding. Each group received the same com-soybean diet, with 15.5% CP and 2,878 kcal ME/kg feed. The males were ejaculated twice weekly, and BW, semen characteristics, hematocrits (HCT), and serum testosterone (T) were determined every 4 wk. At 17, 35, and 56 wk of age males were killed for body composition determination of percentages of protein, moisture, and fat.The FF males were heavier throughout the experiment than either CON or RES males. The FF group had a higher percentage of males in semen production than CON, which had a higher percentage of males in production than RES. Males of the FF group produced more semen with a higher spermatozoa concentration (SC) than CON, which males had higher spermatozoan concentrations than RES. The FF males had a higher level of T overall than CON or RES males. Hematocrits of FF were higher than those of CON birds, which were higher than those of RES birds. Body compositions were not significantly different among treatments at 17 wk; however, at 35 and 56 wk, FF males had a higher percentage of fat and a lower percentage of protein than birds in the other two groups.Significant positive correlations were found between body fat and the variables HCT, BW, semen weight (SW), and SC. Body weight was positively correlated with SW, and T was correlated with HCT.

A new technique for dechorionation and observations on the development of the naked egg in Oryzias latipes

AbstractA simple technique for removing the chorion (egg envelope) of Oryzias latipes eggs is described in which the chorion is mechanically cut off with microsurgical scissors before and immediately after insemination. When dechorionated eggs were inseminated, a high incidence of polyspermic fertilization was observed. Fusion was induced among dechorionated eggs that were in contact when they were inseminated with a high concentration of spermatozoa. However, monospermic eggs that were dechorionated immediately after completion of the cortical reaction induced by insemination changed shape periodically during cleavage and developed normally to fry.