scholarly journals Could the Storage Time Post-collection Affect the Post-thaw Motility and Fertilizing Ability of Mediterranean Brown Trout Semen?

Author(s):  
Giusy Rusco ◽  
Michele Di Iorio ◽  
Roberta Iampietro ◽  
Alessandra Roncarati ◽  
Stefano Esposito ◽  
...  

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different cool storage time intervals between collection and semen freezing on both fresh and cryopreserved semen motility parameters and the post-thaw fertilizing ability of Mediterranean brown trout semen. The ejaculates were split into six aliquots and stored on ice for 1 to 6 hours, until freezing. Fresh and post-thawing sperm motility were evaluated by Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis system, whilst the fertilizing ability was assessed by in vivo trials. In fresh semen, at 3 h of storage, a significant decrease of total motility, linear movement (STR, LIN) and beat cross frequency was recorded, whilst the amplitude of lateral displacement of the spermatozoon head underwent a significant increase. Velocity parameters (VCL, VAP and VSL) were not affected by the cold storage time, whilst the duration of sperm movement was significantly higher at 1h compared to the other times tested. Freezing procedure overall decreased almost all post-thaw sperm motility parameters, however no significant differences was observed over time, both in term of fast and linear movement. Cool storage time did not significantly affect the percentage of post-thaw eyed embryos. Our results showed that Mediterranean brown trout semen can be stored on ice even up to 6 hours before freezing, without decreasing its post-thawing quality and fertilizing ability.

Fishes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 26
Author(s):  
Giusy Rusco ◽  
Michele Di Iorio ◽  
Roberta Iampietro ◽  
Alessandra Roncarati ◽  
Stefano Esposito ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of different cold-storage time intervals between collection and semen-freezing on both fresh and cryopreserved semen motility parameters and the post-thaw fertilizing ability of Mediterranean brown trout semen. The ejaculates were split into six aliquots and stored on ice from 1 to 6 h, until freezing. Fresh and post-thaw sperm motility was evaluated by a Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis system, whilst the fertilizing ability was assessed by in vivo trials. In fresh semen, at 3 h of storage, a significant decrease of total motility, linear movement (STR, LIN) and beat cross frequency (BCF) was recorded, whilst the amplitude of lateral displacement of the spermatozoon head (ALH) underwent a significant increase. In frozen semen, no significant difference was observed for all the motility parameters evaluated, except for the total motility between 1 and 6 h of storage and the duration of sperm movement between 1 and 5 h. Cold-storage time did not significantly affect the percentage of live embryos following the use of frozen semen. In conclusion, our results showed that, if necessary, the Mediterranean brown trout semen can be frozen even until 6 h post-collection without losing its fertilizing ability.


Aquaculture ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 433 ◽  
pp. 62-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Nynca ◽  
G.J. Dietrich ◽  
S. Dobosz ◽  
J. Grudniewska ◽  
A. Ciereszko

2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 154 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Qeusada ◽  
J. Dorado ◽  
D. Acha ◽  
I. Ortiz ◽  
M. Urbano ◽  
...  

Several studies on sperm cooling and cryopreservation have been done in horses; however, only a few them have been developed in donkeys. In addition, no studies have been performed to freeze cooled stored donkey semen. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if it is possible to freeze donkey sperm after 24 h of cool storage. Semen was collected from 4 Andalusian donkeys by artificial vagina. After collection, each sample was separated into 2 aliquots; one of them was immediately frozen (t0) and the other one was cooled and stored before freezing (t24). The cryopreservation procedure consisted of a previous dilution of semen with EquiPro™. After that, semen was centrifuged and the sperm pellet resuspended with Gent® extender plus ethylene glycol (4%) to achieve a final concentration of 100 × 106 sperm mL–1. Sperm was slowly cooled to 5°C, loaded in 0.5-mL plastic straws and frozen in LN vapours. The second aliquot (t24) was diluted with Gent® extender to a final concentration of 50 × 106 sperm mL–1 and then cooled and stored at 5°C for 24 h. After that, cooled semen samples were cryopreserved following the same procedure as described above. Straws were thawed in a water bath at 37° for 30 s. Computer-assisted sperm motility analysis was performed. Total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), and the following kinematic parameters: velocity curvilinear (VCL; µm s–1), velocity straight line (VSL; µm s–1), velocity average path (VAP; µm s–1), linearity (LIN; %), straightness (STR; %), wobble (WOB; %), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH; µm), and beat cross frequency (BCF; Hz) were compared between treatments by ANOVA. Results were expressed as mean ± standard error. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between treatments (t0 v. t24) for TM (63.76 ± 4.75 v. 51.67 ± 3.69), PM (36.01 ± 3.19 v. 27.24 ± 2.72), VCL (77.29 ± 0.65 v. 67.56 ± 0.78), VSL (58.50 ± 0.61 v. 52.11 ± 0.76), VAP (67.82 ± 0.64 v. 59.41 ± 0.79), LIN (57.90 ± 0.33 v. 59.53 ± 0.32), STR (70.39 ± 0.30 v. 72.43 ± 0.41), WOB (75.64 ± 0.22 v. 75.48 ± 0.32), ALH (1.88 ± 0.09 v. 1.69 ± 0.10), and BCF (6.28 ± 0.04 v. 6.51 ± 0.06). These preliminary results showed significant differences between cryopreservation at 0 and 24 h post-cooling; however, understanding that direct freezing is better in terms of sperm motility, cryopreservation of cooled stored semen could still be considered good according to the values obtained for sperm motility parameters after thawing. In our opinion, sperm centrifugation before cooling probably improve the results of cryopreservation 24 h post-cooling, due to the negative effect of seminal plasma on sperm viability during storage. In addition, the analysis of other sperm parameters would be useful to check more accurately differences between treatments. In conclusion, sperm motility parameters were higher in donkey semen samples immediately frozen after collection in comparison to semen samples cryopreserved after 24 h of cooling storage. Further studies are needed to improve cooling and cryopreservation procedures for freezing cooled stored donkey semen.


2018 ◽  
Vol 63 (No. 11) ◽  
pp. 429-434
Author(s):  
Zoltán Bokor ◽  
Balázs Csorbai ◽  
Levente Várkonyi ◽  
Zsolt Szári ◽  
Ferenc Fodor ◽  
...  

The effects of a simple saline solution prepared using two different pH (4.4 and 8.5) on sperm motility in burbot were investigated. Results were recorded during a 96-hour chilled storage (4°C) in 24-hour intervals. Measurements were focused on the detailed characteristics of motility using 12 parameters obtained from the Computer-assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Significantly higher progressive motility (pMOT), distance average path (DAP), distance curved line, distance straight line (DSL), average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity, straight line velocity, and beat cross frequency (BCF) were observed with the activating solution buffered at pH 8.5 in comparison with pH 4.4. Already after 24 h a significant reduction was measured in pMOT (0 h: 49 ± 24%, 24 h: 12 ± 7%). Similar decreasing tendency was recorded only after 72 h in DAP (0 h: 26 ± 4 µm/s, 72 h: 19 ± 9 µm/s), DSL (0 h: 21 ± 5 µm/s, 72 h: 17 ± 8 µm/s), VAP (0 h: 59 ± 9 µm/s, 72 h: 43 ± 21 µm/s), and BCF (0 h: 28 ± 2 Hz, 72 h: 18 ± 10 Hz). The response of different investigated CASA parameters to different treatments varied in our experiments. According to our studies, numerous burbot sperm motility parameters are sensitive to chilled storage and to low pH of the activating solution. Our results could support the effective sperm quality assessment and successful artificial propagation process in burbot.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ali Lesani ◽  
Somaieh Kazemnejad ◽  
Hengameh Mousavi ◽  
Iman Ramazani Sarbandi ◽  
Mahdi Moghimi Zand

Abstract The employment of Nanotechnology as a valuable tool could be beneficial to patients and also offer new alternatives for Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART). Surface modification by nanoparticles leads to the alteration of surface characteristics (e.g. roughness, elasticity, and surface charge). These alterations affect sperm behavior especially its motility since sperms exhibit wall following behavior and surface accumulation. Moreover, surface modification is an attempt towards mimicking the complex in vivo environment of the female tract (highly folded and ciliated) with continually changing surface topology and also its functions. In this paper, we present the results of investigating the interactions between sperm cells and surface modified substrates using Nano diamond particles. A combinational and low-cost method was used for modification. The results show that the sperm motility parameters are significantly improved from 5 to 85%. Also, the results indicate that in optimized surface modification condition, the sperms swim faster and straighter and the surface facilitates the swimming due to the inherent characteristics of ND particles. Taken together, the replacement of normal with modified surfaces in fertility-aid microfluidic devices can enhance their efficiency and further improve their outcomes.


Author(s):  
María Milagros Giaccagli ◽  
Matías Daniel Gómez-Elías ◽  
Jael Dafne Herzfeld ◽  
Clara Isabel Marín-Briggiler ◽  
Patricia Sara Cuasnicú ◽  
...  

To become fully competent to fertilize an egg, mammalian sperm undergo a series of functional changes within the female tract, known as capacitation, that require an adequate supply and management of energy. However, the contribution of each ATP generating pathway to sustain the capacitation-associated changes remains unclear. Based on this, we investigated the role of mitochondrial activity in the acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability during capacitation in mice. For this purpose, the dynamics of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was studied by flow cytometry with the probe tetramethylrhodamine ethyl ester (TMRE). We observed a time-dependent increase in MMP only in capacitated sperm as well as a specific staining with the probe in the flagellar region where mitochondria are confined. The MMP rise was prevented when sperm were exposed to the mitochondrial uncoupler carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazine (CCCP) or the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H89 during capacitation, indicating that MMP increase is dependent on capacitation and H89-sensitive events. Results showed that whereas nearly all motile sperm were TMRE positive, immotile cells were mostly TMRE negative, supporting an association between high MMP and sperm motility. Furthermore, CCCP treatment during capacitation did not affect PKA substrate and tyrosine phosphorylations but produced a decrease in hyperactivation measured by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA), similar to that observed after H89 exposure. In addition, CCCP inhibited the in vitro sperm fertilizing ability without affecting cumulus penetration and gamete fusion, indicating that the hyperactivation supported by mitochondrial function is needed mainly for zona pellucida penetration. Finally, complementary in vivo fertilization experiments further demonstrated the fundamental role of mitochondrial activity for sperm function. Altogether, our results show the physiological relevance of mitochondrial functionality for sperm fertilization competence.


2006 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Gardón ◽  
J. A. Rodriquez ◽  
J. Gadea

The processes of cooling and freezing/thawing produce physical and chemical stress on the sperm membrane, and this stress is associated with oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation that further reduce sperm viability and fertilizing ability. It is known that the process of freezing is associated with a significant reduction of the intracellular reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The aim of these experiments was to investigate the effects of addition of GSH to thawing extenders on motility parameters and ROS generation in frozen-thawed ovine and caprine spermatozoa. Frozen spermatozoa from eight rams (Ovis aries) and eight bucks (Capra hircus) (generously provided by Ovigen, Zamora, Spain) were thawed in a water bath at 37�C for 30 s and resuspended in sperm-TALP medium (Parrish et al. 1986 Theriogenology 25, 591-600) without (control) and with addition of 1 mM or 5 mM GSH. After 30 min of incubation at 37�C, sperm motility was evaluated using a computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system (SCA, Microptic, Barcelona, Spain). The recorded parameters of motility were: % total, % progressive, curvilinear velocity, straight-line velocity, average path velocity, linearity of the curvilinear trajectory, straightness, amplitude of lateral head displacement, wobble of the curvilinear trajectory and beat cross frequency. Another set of sperm samples was incubated in the presence of (0.7 �M) 22,72-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (Gadea et al. 2005 J. Androl. 26, 396-404) to estimate production of ROS by flow cytometry. Data were analyzed by two-way ANOVA, considering the specific sperm treatment (GSH addition) and the males as the main variables. In ram frozen spermatozoa, all of the motility parameters were significantly improved when the medium was supplemented with GSH (P < 0.01) with even better results when 5 mM GSH was used. As an example, progresive motility increased from 31.16% (control) to 39.17 and 43.97%, respectively, for 1 and 5 mM GSH. Despite of the male effect detected (P < 0.01), all eight rams studied presented a similar pattern (interaction P > 0.05). The generation of ROS was significantly reduced when GSH was added (6.23a for control vs. 5.32b and 3.85c for 1 and 5 mM, respectively; P < 0.01). In buck frozen spermatozoa, % motility and progressive motility were significantly higher in GSH groups than in the control (P < 0.01), with no differences between 1 and 5 mM GSH. However, for the other motility parameters, the differences were not significant, which probably could be related to differences in the pattern shown by different animals (interaction of buck by treatment P < 0.05). ROS generation was significantly reduced when GSH was added (7.50a for control vs. 4.32b and 2.70b for 1 and 5 mM, respectively; P < 0.01). The addition of GSH to the thawing medium had a positive influence on the parameters studied in both species, increasing the motility patterns and reducing the ROS generation. In conclusion, we can assume that the addition of reduced glutathione to the thawing medium exerts a protective effect on spermatozoa functionality. This work was supported by AGL-2003-03144.


2013 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 271
Author(s):  
G. A. Monteiro ◽  
C. P. Freitas-DellAqua ◽  
P. N. Guasti ◽  
Y. F. R. Sancler-Silva ◽  
C. Ramires-Neto ◽  
...  

The development of a reliable technique for freezing epididymal semen would provide a unique opportunity to preserve valuable genetic material from unexpectedly lost stallions. The semen analysis method with the best ability to predict fertility is an examination of the sperm chromatin structure. This test evaluates the susceptibility of spermatozoa DNA to denaturation. The ability of spermatozoal DNA to maintain an intact double-stranded configuration is determined by exposure to an acid environment. The aim of this study was to compare the DNA fragmentation index of sperm obtained from ejaculate (G1) and sperm from the cauda epididymis (G2). For G1, two ejaculates from each of seven stallions were collected and then subjected to cryopreservation using BotuCrioTM extender. One week after the last semen collection, the stallions underwent bilateral orchiectomy. Sperm from the cauda epididymis was harvested immediately after castration (G2) by retrograde flushing of the caudal portion of the epididymis using a skim milk-based extender (BotuSemenTM). The recovered sperm was then cryopreserved using BotuCrioTM extender. The sperm motility parameters were analysed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (HTM IVOS 12, Hamilton Thorne Inc., Beverly, MA, USA), and the DNA fragmentation index was estimated using acridine orange test epifluorescence microscopy. The samples were evaluated immediately (0 h) and 8 h after thawing. The total motility, progressive motility, and percentage of rapid cells of the G1 v. G2 samples at 0 h were, respectively, 62.3 ± 12.9a v. 72.6 ± 8.4a, 31.6 ± 9.2a v. 35.3 ± 10.32a, and 49.3 ± 14.33a v. 59.7 ± 13.59a. At 8 h, the results were 26.0 ± 21.6b v. 54.7 ± 12.2a, 6.1 ± 6.4b v. 17.4 ± 8.54a, and 13.7 ± 14.85b v. 37.6 ± 14.15a. Evaluation of the DNA fragmentation in the G1 and G2 samples yielded 6.7 ± 1.41a v. 5.7 ± 1.60a at 0 h and 8.3 ± 1.78b v. 7.2 ± 1.19b at 8 h for percentage of DNA fragmentation after thawing. At 0 h, no differences in the sperm parameters were observed between groups, but statistical differences were observed in the sperm motility parameters between the treatment groups after 8 h. For the DNA fragmentation index, no difference was found at 0 and 8 h between the groups. However, after thawing, a higher percentage of DNA fragmentation was observed in the ejaculated sperm (8 h) as compared with the epididymal sperm (0 h). On the basis of these results, we can conclude that frozen–thawed cauda epididymal sperm had similar or higher motion parameters than ejaculated sperm after thawing. In addition, incubating the sperm at 20°C for 8 h after thawing resulted in higher motion parameters and less DNA fragmentation of the epididymal sperm. This finding suggests that epididymal sperm are more resistant to the cold shock caused by cryopreservation. FAPESP for financial support and Botupharma for donation of BotuSemenTM and BotuCrioTM extender.


2008 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 192
Author(s):  
C. Matás ◽  
J. C. Gardón ◽  
F. A. Garcia-Vazquez ◽  
S. Pacchini ◽  
M. Ducci

High levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS: superoxide, hydroxyl, hydrogen peroxide, nitric oxide, peroxynitrile) endanger sperm motility, viability, and function by interaction with membrane lipids, proteins, and nuclear and mitochondrial DNA (Sikka 2004 J. Androl. 25, 5–18). ROS generation has a significant negative effect on the fertilization rate after IVF, and so measurement of ROS levels in semen specimens before IVF may be useful in predicting the IVF outcome (Agarwal et al. 2005 Fertil. Steril. 84, 228–231). Several compounds of the antioxidant systems have been identified in the epididymal environment, spermatozoa, and seminal plasma. The antioxidants carnosine, L-histidine (Ducci et al. 2006 Pol. J. Vet. Sci. 9, 159–163), and taurine (Van der Horst and Grooten 1966 Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 117, 495–497) have been detected in boar semen and added to the extender in freezing procedures in several species. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of carnosine, L-histidine, and taurine supplementation of the extender on boar sperm functionality as measured by sperm motility during computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) and by IVF ability using mature oocytes, as previously described (Selles et al. 2003 Reprod. Domest. Anim. 38, 66–72). The sperm-rich fraction from mature fertile boars was diluted with isothermal Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) extender. Diluted semen was placed at 15�C and centrifuged at 800g for 10 min. The semen pellet was resuspended with BTS supplemented by 5 mm of carnosine, L-histidine, or taurine or not supplemented (control) to provide 75 � 106 spermatozoa mL–1 and stored at 15�C for 24 h (IVF assay), or 48 or 120 h (for CASA assay). We observed that the motility parameters were affected by storage time and that the addition of taurine increased the motility at 48 h of storage. Alternately, the addition of L-histidine to the extender reduced significantly the motility parameters after 120 h. The results showed that the addition of L-histidine induced a significant (P ≤ 0.01) decrease of the penetration rate (L-histidine 75.8% v. control 89.9%) and the number of sperm per oocyte penetrated (L-histidine 3.1 v. control 4.1). The rate of male pronuclear formation was not affected by the addition of antioxidants to the extender (over 85% in all cases). The addition of carnosine and taurine had no effect on the IVF parameters. In conclusion the antioxidants carnosine, taurine, and L-histidine affect sperm functionality differently, and further studies are necessary to elucidate what changes in sperm function take place during storage and the mechanisms by which these antioxidants exert their effects. This work was supported by Italian-Spanish research project HI2005-0165 and AGL2006-03495.


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