Percentage Of Dead Spermatozoa Research Articles

Effect of Turmeric Oil on Reproductive Efficiency of Adult Male Rats Exposed to Potassium Dichromate

This study conducted to investigate the effects of Potassium Dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and Turmeric Oil (TO) on reproductive efficiency of adult male rats. Twenty four male rats aged 100 days divided randomly into 4 groups. G1 received 1 ml of dimethyle sulfoxide (DMSO) 5% orally as control, G2 received K2Cr2O7 (24 mg/kg orally), G3 received TO dissolve in DMSO 5% (8.5 mg/kg orally) and G4 received both K2Cr2O7 + TO (24 mg/kg + 8.5 mg/kg orally ½ h in between). K2Cr2O7 treatment revealed significant decrease in body weight, total sperm count, percentage of live sperm, serum Glutathione (GSH), thickness of seminiferous epithelia and number of stage VII cells (spermatogonium, spermatocytes, spermatids) accompanied with significant increase in epididymal, seminal vesicle weight and percentage of dead and abnormal sperms and serum Malondialdehyde (MDA). TO treatment show significant increase in body, testes, epididymal, prostate weight, total sperm count, percentage of live sperms, serum GSH and Testosterone concentration, diameter and thickness of seminiferous tubules and cells number in stage VII with significant decrease in percentage of abnormal and dead sperms, serum MDA, while treatment with both K2Cr2O7 and TO show improvement in the parameters under study. In conclusion, K2Cr2O7 has dangerous effects on reproductive efficiency which have been improved by TO.

Effect of Addition of Taurine on the Liquid Storage (5°C) of Mithun (Bos frontalis) Semen

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of taurine on sperm motility, viability, total sperm abnormalities, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity, enzymatic profiles such as reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT), and biochemical profiles such as cholesterol efflux and malondialdehyde (MDA) production. A total of 50 ejaculates were collected twice a week from 8 mithun bulls, and semen was split into 4 equal aliquots and diluted with the TEYC extender. Group 1: semen was without additives (control); groups 2 to 4: semen was diluted with 25 mM, 50 mM, and 100 mM of taurine, respectively. Seminal parameters and enzymatic and biochemical profiles were assessed at 5°C. Inclusion of taurine into diluent resulted in significant (P < 0.05) decreases in percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, and acrosomal abnormalities after liquid storage compared with the control group. Additionally, taurine at 50 mM has significant improvement in quality of mithun semen than taurine at 25 or 100 mM stored in in vitro at 5°C. It was concluded that the possible protective effects of taurine on sperm parameters are from enhancing the function of antioxidant enzymes, preventing efflux of cholesterol from cell membranes and decreased MDA production.

Effect of Addition of Melatonin on the Liquid Storage (5°C) of Mithun (Bos frontalis) Semen

The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of melatonin (MT) on sperm motility, viability, total sperm abnormality, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity, DNA abnormality, antioxidant profiles such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), enzymatic profiles such as aspartate amino transaminase (AST), alanine amino transaminase (ALT), and biochemical profiles such as malonaldehyde (MDA) production and cholesterol efflux. Total numbers of 30 ejaculates were collected twice a week from eight mithun bulls and semen was split into five equal aliquots, diluted with the TEYC extender. Group 1 has semen without additives (control) and group 2 to group 5 have semen that was diluted with 1 mM, 2 mM, 3 mM, and 4 mM of melatonin, respectively. These seminal parameters, antioxidant, enzymatic, and biochemical profiles were assessed at 5°C for 0, 6, 12, 24, and 30 h of incubation. Inclusion of melatonin into diluent resulted in significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in percentages of dead spermatozoa, abnormal spermatozoa, and acrosomal abnormalities at different hours of storage periods as compared with control group. Additionally, melatonin at 3 mM has significant improvement in quality of mithun semen than melatonin at 1 mM, 2 mM or 4 mM stored inin vitrofor up to 30 h. It was concluded that the possible protective effects of melatonin on sperm parameters are it prevents MDA production and preserve the antioxidants and intracellular enzymes during preservation.

Cryopreservation of aoudad (Ammotragus lervia sahariensis) sperm obtained by transrectal ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands and electroejaculation

This study examines (1) the effectiveness of transrectal, ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands (TUMASG) combined with electroejaculation for obtaining aoudad (Ammotragus lervia sahariensis) sperm samples for cryopreservation, and (2) the effectiveness of a Tris-citric acid–glucose-based medium (TCG; usually used for freezing ibex sperm) and a TES-Tris–glucose-based medium (TTG; typically used in the cryopreservation of mouflon sperm) as sperm extenders. After TUMASG, just one to three electrical pulses were required for ejaculation to occur in five of the six animals studied; one ejaculated after TUMASG alone. Transrectal, ultrasound-guided massage of the accessory sex glands would therefore appear to be useful in obtaining sperm samples from this species, requiring few subsequent electrical electroejaculation stimuli and sometimes none at all. After thawing, the membrane integrity (assessed by nigrosin-eosin staining) of sperm extended with TTG was greater than that of sperm extended with TCG (P < 0.05). The total percentage of sperm showing an intact acrosome, as assessed by fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated peanut (Arachis hypogea) agglutinin, was also higher in the TTG-extended sperm (P < 0.05), and the percentage of dead sperm with a damaged acrosome was lower (P < 0.05). No differences were seen between TCG and TTG in terms of apoptotic manifestations (DNA damage, caspase activity, mitochondrial membrane potential, and plasmalemma stability). Therefore, TTG appears to be a better extender than TCG for cryopreserving aoudad sperm.

Genetic analysis for semen traits in a crossing program of Saudi Aradi with Damascus goats

A crossbreeding program between Aradi Saudi breed (A) of goats with Syrian Damascus breed (D) was practiced for six years in two experiments (dairy experiment in Jouf and meat experiment in Qassim) applying bio-techniques of estrous synchronization and artificial insemination. The breeding plan permitted to produce four genetic groups of AA, DD, ½D½A and ¾D¼A in each experiment separately. A total number of 1800 ejaculates collected from 298 bucks were evaluated for volume of ejaculate (EV), pH, sperm concentration (SC), total motile sperm (TMS), total sperm output (TSO), percentages of motile (MS), live (LS), abnormal (AS) and dead sperms (DS). Animal models were used to estimate the heritabilities and permanent environmental effects, while a generalized least square procedure was used to estimate individual additive genetic effects, individual heterosis, maternal heterosis and individual recombination effects. Heritabilities for most semen characteristics were low or somewhat moderate and ranging from 0.08 to 0.23, while the permanent environmental effects were slightly higher than the respective heritabilities since the estimates ranged from 0.10 to 0.29. Estimates of individual additive effects for SC, TMS and TSO were in favour of Damascus bucks relative to Aradi bucks by 0.2, 0.43 and 0.44×109 per ml in the dairy experiment and by 0.08, 0.13 and 0.11×109 per ml in the meat experiment, respectively. Significant individual heterotic improvements (with a range of 4.9–26.5%) were recorded in the dairy and meat experiments for EV (0.075ml vs. 0.085ml), SC (0.25×109 per ml vs. 0.11×109 per ml), TMS (0.275×109 per ml vs. 0.125×109 per ml), and TSO (0.33×109 per ml vs. 0.155×109 per ml), associated with significant reduction in percentage of DS (5.5% vs. 1.55%). Crossbred dams showed significant maternal heterotic improvements in semen of their crossbred bucks in both dairy and meat experiments for EV (0.058ml vs. 0.055ml; P<0.05), SC (0.15×109 per ml vs. 0.09×109 per ml; P<0.05), TMS (0.225×109 per ml vs. 0.085×109 per ml; P<0.05), and TSO (0.58×109 per ml vs. 0.115×109 per ml; P<0.01), associated with favourable significant increases in MS (3.3% vs. 4.05%; P<0.05) and LS (3.7% vs. 2.25%; P<0.05) along with a reduction in percentage of DS (4.3% vs. 2.25%; P<0.05); the estimates ranging from 3.3 to 34.1%. The estimates of individual recombination losses for most semen parameters were favourable and non-significant.

Light, polarizing, and transmission electron microscopy:Three methods for the evaluation of sperm quality

Semen from 33 patients were evaluated by light microscopy (LM) obtaining sperm concentration, percent motility, percentage of sperm with normal morphology (PAP staining), and percentage of dead sperm (Eosin Y stained). The samples were observed by polarizing microscopy (PM), that evaluates sperm morphology and the viability by birefringence of organelles, and it provides a PM index (percentage of birefringent, viable, motile sperm) and a percentage of dead, non-birefringent sperm. Sperm were processed for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and TEM data were elaborated with a mathematical formula able to provide a fertility index (FI, number of sperm free of structural defects) and percentages of sperm immaturity and necrosis (dead sperm). To test the reliability of these techniques, the values of normal acrosome, nucleus, midpiece, and tail and the presence of cytoplasmic residues obtained with the three methods were compared. With the exception of cytoplasmic residues (P = 0.40), significant differences in the evaluation of each organelle were observed and TEM analysis resulted as the most stringent screening. In addition, relationships among relevant sperm variables were investigated. Motility showed positive correlations with the percentage of normal tail, midpiece, and PM index (P < 0.01), but it exhibited negative correlations with indices of sperm death (non-birefringent sperm: P < 0.05; percentage of eosin Y stained sperm: P < 0.05; necrosis: P < 0.01), which were positively correlated with each other (P < 0.01). Positive correlations were found between indices expressing normal sperm morphology: FI with PM index (P < 0.01) and with the percentage of normal sperm (PAP staining) (P < 0.01), which in turn were correlated with the PM index (P < 0.001). Sperm immaturity showed positive correlations (P < 0.01) with the presence of cytoplasmic residues detected with the three methods. In conclusion, LM, PM, and TEM are reliable techniques in evaluating sperm quality. PM appears to offer several advantages ‘midway’ between LM and TEM and it should be considered in sperm analysis.

Vitamin E and organic selenium enhances the antioxidative status and quality of chicken semen under high ambient temperature

1. The effects of supplemental dietary vitamin E and organic selenium (Se), and their combination, on improving semen quality characteristics and antioxidative status were investigated in cockerels exposed to high ambient temperature. 2. A total of 36 Egyptian local cross males, 40 weeks old, were housed individually in cages in an open-sided building (average daily temperature ranged from 33 to 36°C and relative humidity from 60 to 70%). Birds were divided randomly into 4 experimental treatments (n = 9 each): (1) control (basal diet without any supplementation with vitamin E or Se); (2) vitamin E (basal diet +200 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg diet); (3) Se (basal diet +0·3 mg organic Se/kg diet); and (4) vitamin E + Se (basal diet +200 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg diet +0·3 mg organic Se/kg diet). 3. Under heat stress conditions, inclusion of vitamin E and/or organic Se in the diets enhanced the semen quality traits, including the spermatozoa count and motility, and reduced the percentage of dead spermatozoa. 4. A combination of 200 mg/kg vitamin E with 0·3 mg/kg organic Se reduced the thiobarbituric acid reactive substance concentration in seminal plasma samples to about 28% of the controls; and also enhanced the seminal plasma glutathione peroxidase activity by two-fold compared with controls. 5. It was concluded that dietary vitamin E in combination with organic Se has a synergistic effect in minimising lipid peroxidation and improving the antioxidative status in seminal plasma of the domestic fowl, which probably translated into enhanced spermatozoa count, motility and reduced percentage of dead spermatozoa under heat stress conditions.

Effect of vitamins, probiotics and protein on semen traits in post-molt male broiler breeders

The study aimed to investigate the comparative effect of vitamins E and C, probiotics, lower than normal protein level and the combination of these treatments in male broiler breeders after Zn-induced molting. One hundred and eighty birds at 65 weeks of age were divided into six groups (five replicates per group) in a completely randomized block design. Birds were induced to molt by mixing zinc oxide in feed at the rate of 3000mg/kg of feed. Upon completion of molting, birds were fed different supplements. One group was kept as a control, while the other groups were fed: vitamin E (100IU/kg), vitamin C (500IU/kg), probiotics (50mg/L of water), lower dietary protein level (14%) or the combination of these treatments. Results revealed that vitamins (E and C) supplementation increased (P<0.05) semen volume, however, sperm motility and egg fertility were significantly higher only in vitamin E supplemented group compared to control. The dead sperm percentage decreased (P<0.05) in vitamin C fed group, whereas, sperm concentration did not differ (P>0.05) between the control and treated groups. The results validate the key role of antioxidant vitamins in male broiler breeders’ fertility after Zn-induced molting.

Is the bacterial quality of fresh semen of Tunisian Arab stallions influenced by the number of mounts in the artificial vagina and the percentage of dead spermatozoa?

Is the bacterial quality of fresh semen of Tunisian Arab stallions influenced by the number of mounts in the artificial vagina and the percentage of dead spermatozoa?

Alleviation of reproductive toxicity of gossypol using selenium supplementation in rams1

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reproductive toxicity of gossypol and the possible counteracting effect of selenium supplementation in rams. Twenty-five mature crossbred (Barki × Rahamni) rams were randomly divided into 5 equal groups. The first group served as a control (no gossypol in diet). The second and third groups received diets containing free gossypol of 9 and 14 mg·kg(-1) BW·d(-1)(low level and high level of gossypol), respectively. The fourth and fifth groups received the same diets given to the second and third groups, respectively, with an oral administration of 1 mg selenium (as sodium selenite) daily for each animal. Results showed reductions in ejaculate volume (P = 0.028), percentage of dead sperm (P = 0.003), total functional sperm fraction (P < 0.001), and blood serum concentration of testosterone (P < 0.001) in the presence of both levels of gossypol inclusion. Furthermore, high level of gossypol reduced forward motility (P < 0.001) and semen initial fructose concentration (P = 0.002) and increased abnormal-head sperm (P = 0.003) and blood serum concentration of triiodothyronine (P = 0.006). Regardless of selenium supplementation, increasing level of free gossypol in diet resulted in a significant decrease in the percentage of forward motility (P = 0.037) and significant increases in the mean values of sperm concentration (P < 0.001), total sperm output (P = 0.002), percentage of total abnormal sperm (P = 0.058), and abnormal-head sperm (P = 0.016). On the other hand, regardless of levels of gossypol inclusion, selenium supplementation resulted in significant increases in libido (P < 0.001), mean values of ejaculate volume (P < 0.001), percentage of forward motility (P = 0.019), total sperm output (P < 0.001), total functional sperm fraction (P < 0.001), semen initial fructose concentration (P = 0.031), and blood serum concentrations of both testosterone and triiodothyronine (P < 0.001). In conclusion, free gossypol in diet induced adverse effects on semen quality in rams, but selenium supplementation successfully counteracts most of the hazardous effects of gossypol on semen characteristics.

Effect of dietary melatonin supplementation on semen characteristics in adult roosters exposed to oxidative stress

The present study was designed to determine the effect of melatonin dietary supplementation 40 mg/kg in adult Ross 308 male chickens 24 weeks concomitantly exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (1%) with drinking water for 6 weeks on reproductive performance.Semen were collected at 0, 2, 4, 6 weeks. From the results no significant differences in the volume of ejaculates during the time of hydrogen peroxide treatment, while sperm concentration, mass motility and individual motility show significant decrease during the experimental period as compared with the control group, accompanied with a significant increase in dead and abnormal sperms during the experimental period as compared with zero time. Also, no significant differences in ejaculates volume in melatonin with hydrogen peroxide treatment compared with the hydrogen peroxide group and zero time, administration of melatonin with hydrogen peroxide caused significant increase in sperms concentration , individual motility at the 4th and 6th week and mass motility in 2nd,4th and 6th week compared with hydrogen peroxide group and the experiment period had no significant effects on sperm concentration and mass motility while significant increase appear in individual motility at the 6th week compared with zero time and 2nd week. Melatonin dietary supplementation in roosters exposed to oxidative stress caused significant decrease in percentage of dead and abnormal sperms at 2nd, 4th and 6th week compared with hydrogen peroxide group and there is no significant difference in dead sperms percentage during the experiment period while significant decrease appear at 4th and 6th week in abnormal sperms percentage compared with zero time. Melatonin supplementation alone had no significant effects on ejaculates volumes of compared with zero time and the control group , while melatonin administration caused significant increase in sperm concentration at 4th and 6th week compared with the control group and zero time and 2nd week and cause increase in mass motility and individual motility at 6th week of the experiment compared with the control group and zero time , the results showed that melatonin cause significant decrease in percentage of dead sperms during experiment period compared with the control group and zero time and in abnormal sperms percentage during the experiment period compared with the control group and then significantly decreased at 2nd,4th and 6th week compared with zero time and the control group. It was concluded from this study that the dietary supplementation of melatonin reduce adverse effects that produced by hydrogen peroxide on semen characters in adult male chickens, and dietary supplementation of melatonin alone has a good effects in semen characters in adult male chickens.

Effect of Vitamin C and Selenium on Some Physiological and Reproductive Characters in Adult Roosters Exposed to Oxidative Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of Vitamin C (450 mg/kg diet) and sodium selenite (0.5 mg/kg diet) in adult white Leghorn male chickens (30 weeks of age), whose concomitantly exposed to oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide (0.5%) supplemented with drinking water for 6 weeks on reproductive performance. Semen were collected at 0, 2, 4 and 6weeks, The study results showed that hydrogen peroxide treatment caused a significant decrease in the body weight, sperm concentration, mass motility and individual motility during experimental period. Also a decrease in testosterone and testis glutathione concentration at the 6th week of the treatment, accompanied with a significant increase in dead and abnormal sperm percentage, testis malondialdehyde level compared with the control group. Histopathological changes revealed presence of necrosis and sloughing in the epithelial lining of the semineferous tubules and vacuolar degeneration of the supporting cells that fall in the lumen of the semineferous tubules and necrosis of interstitial cells. Vitamin C and sodium selenite with hydrogen peroxide caused a significant increase in body weight, sperm concentration, mass motility and individual motility during the experimental period, testosterone and glutathione level, accompanied with a significant decrease in dead and abnormal sperm percentages and Malondialdehyde level compared with hydrogen peroxide. In addition to the improvement in the histological picture of the semineferous tubules, mitosis germ cells were observed through their arrangement in circular tubules. It was concluded from this study that Vitamin C and Sodium selenite reverse the adverse effects produced by hydrogen peroxide on certain physiological and reproductive aspects in adult male chickens.

Effects of Vitamins, Probiotics, and Protein Level on Semen Traits and Some Seminal Plasma Macro- and Microminerals of Male Broiler Breeders After Zinc-Induced Molting

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of vitamin E, vitamin C, probiotics, dietary protein level, and their combination on semen traits and seminal plasma macro- and microminerals in 65-week-old male broiler breeders after zinc-induced molting. One hundred eighty birds were induced to molt by mixing zinc oxide (3,000 mg/kg) in the diet. The birds were divided into six groups (five replicates) by completely randomized design. One group was kept as control (16% CP), while the other five were supplemented with vitamin E (100 IU/kg feed), vitamin C (500 IU/kg feed) probiotics (50 mg/L), protein level (14% CP), and their combination. Semen samples were weekly collected for determination of semen volume, sperm concentration, motility, and dead sperm percentage. Analyses of Na, K, Ca and Mg, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu in seminal plasma were also performed. Overall, mean semen volume was significantly high in vitamin E and C supplemented groups compared to control. Overall mean sperm motility was significantly higher in vitamin E supplemented group, whereas dead sperm percentage was significantly lower in the vitamin C group compared to control. Mineral analyses revealed that overall mean seminal plasma Mg increased significantly in vitamin E and C supplemented groups compared to control. Similarly, significantly high overall mean seminal plasma Cu concentration was observed in vitamins E and C and combination groups. It can be concluded that vitamins have a vital role in improving semen quality and bioavailability of Mg and Cu in seminal plasma of the post-molt cockerels.

Effect of age on semen quality in naked neck and dwarf chicken under tropical climatic conditions

The present study was undertaken to elucidate the effect of age on semen quality of naked neck and dwarf chicken lines under tropical climatic conditions. Semen collected by abdominal massage at 4-week intervals from 24 to 48 weeks of age was evaluated for different semen quality parameters. Except sperm concentration and appearance, all other parameters were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) affected by the age of the birds. The semen volume, motility, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide dye reduction test and percentage of live sperm were significantly (P &lt; 0.05) lower at 24 weeks of age compared with 40 weeks of age. At 24 weeks of age the dead sperm percentage was significantly (P &lt; 0.05) high and with advancing age it decreased. There was a significant difference (P &lt; 0.05) between the gene lines for volume, appearance, motility, sperm concentration, and percentage of live and dead sperm. Except for sperm concentration, significant (P &lt; 0.05) interaction between gene lines and age was observed in other parameters. In conclusion, semen quality was different between naked neck and dwarf line males and age affected semen quality of the gene lines studied in different manners.

Semen quality, testosterone, seminal plasma biochemical and antioxidant profiles of rabbit bucks fed diets supplemented with different concentrations of soybean lecithin

A total of 28 adult V-line rabbits were fed ad libitum a control diet or a diet supplemented with 0.5%, 1.0% and 1.5% soybean lecithin (SL) for 12 weeks. Bucks that received 0.5%, 1.0% or 1.5% dietary SL had a higher ejaculate volume, mass motility, sperm concentration, total sperm output and total motile sperm. Dietary SL reduced the percentage of dead sperm and increased the normal sperm, and this concurred with an increase in blood testosterone concentration. Blood and seminal plasma total lipid, acid phosphatase and seminal plasma alkaline phosphatase were significantly increased because of inclusion of SL. Interestingly, SL reduced blood and seminal plasma thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances while increasing blood and seminal plasma glutathione content, glutathione S-transferase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activity. Conception rate and litter size at birth and weaning were also significantly improved. Practically, it could be suggested that SL is a suitable supplement for improving semen quality, antioxidant status, reproductive traits and the economic efficiency of V-line rabbit bucks and 1% is an adequate concentration.

Characterization of flagellar cysteine‐rich sperm proteins involved in motility, by the combination of cellular fractionation, fluorescence detection, and mass spectrometry analysis

Mammalian sperm proteins undergo thiol group (SH) oxidation to form disulfides bonds (SS) as they travel through the epididymis during cell maturation. Disulfide bonds are involved in chromatin condensation and tail organelle stabilization. In this work, we used a fluorescent thiol-selective labeling agent, monobromobimane (mBBr), to study the protein thiol status of rat sperm during maturation. Fluorescence signal decrease along the epididymal trip, more evidently in the head, but also in the tail, indicates that both sub cellular regions participate in the thiol changes. The sources of the fluorescence signal are sulfhydryls sperm proteins labeled by mBBr (mBBr-spp). Initial attempts to identify the mBBr-spp labeled were detected in the initial-caput, but not in the distal cauda-segment of the epididymis in sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-PAGE analysis. This phenomenon could be due to protein resistance to solubilization. For this reason, disulfide bond reduction was accomplished by sodium dodecyl sulfate plus dithiothreitol treatment to recover the mBBr signal in SDS-PAGE. Under this protocol, a major 27 kDa protein band displays a strong signal. Protein identification by mass spectrometry and sequence database searching correlated this protein with the outer dense fiber 1 (ODF1). The mBBr specifically bound to N-terminal domain cysteine of ODF1. The mBBr reduces rat sperm motility, quantitatively and qualitatively, and the effects are dose dependent, without significantly increasing the percentage of dead sperm. Thus, we found that ODF1 is highly responsible for mBBr fluorescence detection in the sperm tail, and the motility inhibition by the fluorescence marker indicates that ODF1 N-terminal domain are related to sperm motility. © 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Semen Traits and Seminal Plasma Biochemical Parameters in White Leghorn Layer Breeders

This study was designed to determine the semen quality and seminal plasma biochemical parameters in White Leghorn layer breeders in the early phase of maturity. Individual ejaculates from 25 males were analysed for the determination of volume, sperm concentration, dead sperm percentage (DS) and sperm motility. Seminal plasma was separated and analysed for total oxidant status (TOS), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase, ceruloplasmin, triiodothyronine, thyroxine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Our findings showed a significant (p < 0.05) positive correlation between TOS and DS in layer breeders. The values of TAC were significantly negatively correlated with TOS and DS, while positively correlated with PON1. Conversely, AST showed significant negative correlation with motility and DS. Significantly, negative correlation was also observed between ALT and sperm concentration. In conclusion, these parameters provide some valuable basal data that may help better understanding the semen quality characteristics of White Leghorn layer breeders.

Effects of aqueous extract of catechin tea on some parameters of sperms and histopathological changes in testis of mice treated with Methotrexate (MTX)

Methotrexate (MTX ) is commonly used for the treatment of certain cancers including but not limited to leukemia, Hodgkin's disease and head and neck cancers and causes reproductive damage in mice. The aim of this research, is to study the effects of catechin aqueous extract on some parameters of sperms and histopathological changes in testis of mice treated with methotrexate. Thirty-two adult albino male mice were divided into four groups, (8 mice in each group) First group was (negative control) received normal saline intraperitoneally, while second group was treated with extract of catechin as positive control. The third group was treated with methotrexate (50 μg/kg). The fourth group was treated with methotrexate (50 μg/kg) also (ip) and extract of catechin 6g/kg for 21 days. The results showed significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in sperms motility , increased percentage of dead sperms and abnormalities of sperms in mice treated with MTX, there was significant (P&lt;0.05) decrease in diameters of seminiferous tubules, primary spermatocytes and spermatids, increased interstitial spaces as compared with control, while in the second group result showed significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in sperms motility , decreased percentage of dead and abnormalities of sperms and significant (P&lt;0.05) increase in diameters of seminiferous tubules, primary spermatocytes and spermatids and decrease interstitial spaces compared with first and third groups.

20 FACTORS THAT AFFECT PURITY AND YIELD OF BOVINE SEX-SORTED SPERM

The purposes of these studies were to examine the influence on the yield of sex-sorted sperm by the different size of sorting gate and to evaluate factors that affect the purity of sex-sorted sperm. As the sorting gate was expanded, so the yield of bovine sex-sorted sperm using flow cytometry was increased. At the same time, the purity of sex-sorted sperm became low. In addition, though the sorting gates were the same size, the purity of sex-sorted sperm differed among trials. These observations indicated the existence of factors that affect purity besides the size of sorting gate. To examine the yield of sex-sorted sperm, X-bearing sex-sorted sperm from 4 Holstein bulls were produced repeatedly 34 times by 3 flow cytometers. The sizes of sorting gates were fixed at 40–42%, 44%, and 46%. Each yield of sorting gate at 40–42%, at 44% and at 46% was compared. To evaluate factors that affect purity, X- or Y-bearing sex-sorted sperm were produced by one flow cytometer. These trials were repeated 160 times for the sorting of X-bearing sperm and 45 times for the sorting of Y-bearing sperm. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was used to analyse the relationships between the purity of sex-sorted sperm and the following sorting conditions, the percentage of oriented sperm, the percentage of dead sperm, degree of separation between X-bearing and Y-bearing sperm, the size of sorting gate, event rate, drop drive frequency, drop delay value and drop delay accuracy. The highest yield was acquired by sorting gate at 44%. The number of sex-sorted sperm was increased as sorting gate was expanded, however, the purity became low. The purities of the sperm by some trials using sorting gate at 46% were less than our acceptable lowest purity that was 90%. So that those sperm must be discarded. Therefore the yield of sorting gate at 44% was greater than sorting gate at 46%. Stepwise multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors for increasing purity of X-bearing sex-sorted sperm were the percentage of oriented sperm (P &lt; 0.001), the degree of separation between X-bearing sperm and Y-bearing sperm (P &lt; 0.001), the drop delay accuracy (P &lt; 0.001), the event rate and the drop drive frequency, and the factor for decreasing purity of X-bearing sex-sorted sperm was the size of sorting gate (P &lt; 0.001). On the other hand, the factors for increasing purity of Y-bearing sex-sorted sperm were the percentage of oriented sperm (P &lt; 0.01), the degree of separation between X-bearing sperm and Y-bearing sperm (P &lt; 0.01) and the event rate (P &lt; 0.05), and the factor for decreasing purity of Y-bearing sex-sorted sperm was the size of sorting gate (P &lt; 0.01). From these results, it can be concluded that the purity of sex-sorted sperm was not depend on simply by size of sorting gate but was more completely explained by other sorting conditions.

Dietary grape pomace affects lipid peroxidation and antioxidative status in rabbit semen.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the effect of dietary grape pomace (GP) on certain characteristics, mainly lipid peroxidation and the antioxidative status of rabbit buck semen. Twenty seven adult New Zealand White rabbit bucks (6 months of age) were divided into three homogeneous groups (n=9) and randomly submitted to one of the three investigated dietary treatments. Animals in the fi rst treatment (control) group were given the basal diet. The diets of the second (GP-10) and third (GP-20) treatment groups contained 10 and 20% of GP, respectively. Bucks received the experimental diets for 10 continuous weeks. GP did not appear to have any signifi cant effect on body weight gain. Bucks receiving 10 or 20% dietary GP had a higher semen volume, 32% above that of rabbits in the control group (P&lt;0.05). The same trend was observed for sperm count. Dietary GP reduced the percentage of dead sperm and enhanced sperm motility. Interestingly, GP reduced lipid peroxidation in seminal plasma as indicated by TBARS, and significantly increased both the total antioxidant capacity and glutathione peroxidase activity (P&lt;0.05). In conclusion, the use of antioxidant dietary fi bers rich in functional nutraceuticals (such as GP) may decrease lipid peroxidation and increase the antioxidative defense of rabbit semen.