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Showing papers on "Semen published in 1971"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is postulated that the effect of caffeine on spermatozoan motility and respiration is mediated by one of thecyclic nucleotides, which results in a somewhat unique effect, because sperm activity and sperm life, as judged by motility, are both increased withcaffeineaddition.
Abstract: on ejaculates from bullsdemonstratedthatspermatozoa in the presence of caffeine (6 mM) maintained the initial percentage of motility for at least 4 hr at 37C, whereas in the untreated sperm samples, 50% of sperm that were motile initially became immotile during 4 hr storage. Comparison of bulls yielding semen of original low motility with bulls yielding originally high motilityspermatozoa indicatedthatan immediate stimulation of sperm motilityby caffeine occurred inthelow motilityspecimens (32.2-49.3% motile) but not inthoseofhighmotility. Itispostulated that the effect of caffeine on spermatozoan motility and respiration is mediatedby one ofthecyclic nucleotides. This results in a somewhat unique effect, because sperm activity and sperm life, asjudgedby motility, areboth increasedwithcaffeineaddition.

123 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The addition of sodium succinate to whole semen did not significantly increase the oxygen consumption of the sperm while the respiratory activity of washed spermatozoa was increased 2 to 3 times by the succinate.

59 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The present report on frequent phagocytosis of abnormal spermatozoa in the efferent ductules of a bull adds material to the discussion on sperm elimination in the male genital ducts.
Abstract: Sperm counts from different levels of the male ducts have suggested a selective removal of abnormal spermatozoa in the epididymis (Orgebin-Crist, 1964; LeRoy-Gilette, 1966; Roussel, Stallcup & Austin, 1967). Phagocytosis of spermatozoa by epithelial cells, however, has rarely been reported (Nicander, 1963) except in cases of epididymal obstruction (cf. Orgebin-Crist, 1969). The present report on frequent phagocytosis of abnormal spermatozoa in the efferent ductules of a bull adds material to the discussion on sperm elimination in the male genital ducts. The bull was of the Swedish Red and White Breed, 15 months old and purchased as normal. It had served a few times and produced offspring. During 2 months' stay at the clinic, its semen picture was within the normal limits given by Lagerl\l=o"\f(1934), though the percentage of pathological heads was close to the upper limit (Table 1). After death, material for light and electron microscopy and for chemical investigation (Crabo, 1965) was obtained from testes and epididymides. Sperm morphology was studied quantitatively after fixation in formol saline (Hancock, 1957). Other methods which were used are shown in the tables and legends, and microscope findings in Plate 1. Table 2 shows that the sample from the rete testis contained a high percentage of detached sperm heads, most of which had disappeared before the proximal part of the epididymal duct was reached. Electron microscopy of the efferent ductules produced ample evidence of epithelial phagocytosis of broken spermatozoa. Sperm heads and tails in different stages of disintegration were common in the cytoplasm of some nonciliated cells. The possibility that some intact spermatozoa were also phagocytosed could not be excluded. Abnormal sperm heads were numerous in the rete testis and caput epididymidis (see Rao, 1971). Their number decreased in the corpus epididymidis, but selective epithelial phagocytosis of such sperma¬ tozoa could not be demonstrated. A decrease in the percentage ofabnormal sperm heads in the efferent ductules and epididymal ducts ofbulls was also observed by Rao (1971). The numbers ofdetached heads in the rete testis of the present bull

42 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: X-irradiation and fluorochrome conjugation were utilized to show possible mechanisms of selective fertilization with reference to sperm transport and viability in the female rabbits reproductive tract and suggest preferential removal of one sperm population by phagocytosis in the oestrous uterus.
Abstract: X-irradiation and fluorochrome conjugation were utilized to show possible mechanisms of selective fertilization with reference to sperm transport and viability in the female rabbits reproductive tract. Aliquots of semen from 3 Albino and 1 Dutch belted bucks were treated either with 6000R at 500R/min or were conjugated with FITC (fluorescein isothiocynate). Each buck contributed both treated and untreated semen to a single experiment. Equal proportions of treated and untreated semen were inseminated intravaginally into 36 does intratubally into 12 does and some sperm samples (12 does) were incubated in the uteri of other does prior to insemination. Ovulation was assumed to occur following intravenous injection of 25 I.U. of human gonadotropin at the time of intratubal or intravaginal insemination or 13 hours before the intratubal insemination of uterine-incubated sperm. Eggs recovered from 4 does inseminated with X-irradiated sperm showed arrest in development at 2 cleavage divisions. FITC treatment did not appear to decrease motility greater than that caused by handling. Intravaginal insemination of irradiated sperm showed its inferiority in fertilizing eggs compared with controls. Eggs from intravaginal FITC spermatozoa showed consistently higher penetration by untreated sperm although FITC sperm always penetrated at least 1 egg. In the experiments sperm from 1 buck proved consistently inferior. Intratubal insemination did not raise the level of fertilization achieved by the inferior buck (irradiated or conjugated sperm). Mixed litters did not result when his sperm was paired with a superior buck. A higher motility especially by 13 hours after insemination for the inferior buck is suggested both in the uterus and in the oviduct. Possible preferential removal of one sperm population by phagocytosis in the oestrous uterus is suggested. An advantage in the rate of penetration of the granulosa cell investmentthe zona pellucida and/or vitelline membrane is suggested for the superior buck.

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Commercial insemination of chickens with liquid semen has been widely practiced for a number of years, but its commercial application has been hindered by the fact that chicken spermatozoa do not retain their fertilizing capacity when stored in vitro for any appreciable length of time.

40 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Rabbit semen was extended in a tris-yolk-12\m=.\5% DMSO extender and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapour or on a 'dry ice' block after glycerol had been added to study the fertility of frozen rabbit semen.
Abstract: Summary. Rabbit semen was extended in a tris-yolk-12\m=.\5% DMSO extender and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapour or on a 'dry ice' block after glycerol had been added. No differences (P>0\m=.\10)were found between inseminations with liquid semen and semen frozen in pellets with regard to the number of young born or the pregnancy rate. Other methods produced significantly (P<0\m=.\05) fewer young. Significantly (P<0\m=.\05) more young were born to does inseminated 5 hr after they received the ovulating hormone. Rabbit semen has been frozen with differing results (Smith & Polge, 1950; Fox, 1961; Fox & Burdick, 1963; Sawada & Chang, 1964; Wales & O'Shea, 1968; O'Shea & Wales, 1969). The fertility of frozen rabbit semen in the earlier reports was low. Since the ovulation time in the rabbit is known, it is a good laboratory animal in which to study the handling of spermatozoa in vitro. Two ejaculates were collected within 20 min once weekly from fourteeen White Vienna male rabbits, using an artificial vagina. Semen volume and motility per ejaculate were recorded and those having 50 % or more progressive motility were pooled. The pooled semen was diluted 1:4 with a tris-yolk dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) extender. The diluter was a slight modification of the tris-yolk extender reported by Steinbach & Foote (1967), having the

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The total number of spermatozoa recovered from the vagina was significantly increased (p less than .001) with ligation and the recovery of intact spermutozoa from vaginae was significantly decreased in ewes whose estrous cycles were regulated.
Abstract: At the Beltsville Agricultrue Center in Maryland an experiment was carried out to determine if drainage is a major cause of sperm cell loss in ewes and how the use of progestogen-impregnated sponges affects sperm cell loss. Parous ewes 8 years of age were employed in the study. In the experimental group sponges impregnated with 60 mg of medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP) were left in the vaginae for the interval Days 8-25 postestrus. 45 hours after removal of the sponges these ewes were inseminated with .25 ml of fresh ram semen. Control ewes were inseminated while in natural estrus. In 1/2 of each group to prevent the loss of sperm cells by drainage the reproductive tract was ligated at the vulvovaginal junction at the time of insemination. Sacrifice in both groups was 1 day after insemination. The total number of spermatozoa recovered from the vagina was significantly increased (p less than .001) with ligation. The recovery of intact spermatozoa from vaginae was significantly decreased in ewes whose estrous cycles were regulated (p less than .005 for ewes with open tracts p less than .01 for those with closed tracts). The ratio of tailless to intact spermatozoa in vaginae was generally higher in regulated than in cyclic ewes (p less than .001 with closed tracts p equals .10 with open tracts).

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Inhibition of spermatozoal attachment to ova was caused also by oviductal secretions and concentrated media from culture of reproductive tissues from female rabbits isoimmunized with semen.
Abstract: The in vitro effects of different normal and immune sera rabbit oviductal fluid and culture media from incubations of female reproductive tissues on the adherence of rabbit spermatozoa to rabbit and rat ova is described. There were no apparent differences in results due to species of ova. Adherence of spermatozoa to ova was not affected by treatment with normal sera. Antisera against materials that contained spermatozoa such as semen epididymal spermatozoa and testis completely inhibited the spermatozoa from attaching to ova and caused considerable agglutination of sperm cells in the incubation slides. When the agglutinating and immobilizing activities of rabbit and goat antisera were removed by papain treatment the antiadherent effect of the antisera was unaffected. Oviductal secretions and concentrated media from the culture of reproductive tissue from female rabbits isoimmunized with semen inhibited adherence of sperm.

39 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The range of values for number and motility of sperm recovered from the oviducts overlapped between treated and control groups within experiments suggesting that these factors alone were not responsible for the observed inhibition of fertilization.
Abstract: The numbers of sperm and polymorphonuclear leukocytes and the motility and progression of the sperm were determined in flushings from the reproductive tract at 7 and 15 hr postinsemination of 28 rabbits in two experimental trials. In Trial 1, isoimmunization with semen as compared with seminal plasma resulted in a trend for fewer sperm to be recovered from the oviducts, significant decreases in motility of sperm from the oviduct, and in progression of sperm recovered from the uterus and a prevention of fertilization (0.0 vs 90%). Insemination of nonimmune rabbits in Trial 2 with semen treated with isoantiserum against semen in comparison to isoantiserum against seminal plasma caused significant decreases in sperm numbers recovered from the oviduct, uterus, and vagina; a decrease in sperm motility in vaginal flushings; a reduced progression of uterine sperm, and an inhibition of fertilization (12.5 vs 95.6%). Leukocyte numbers were influenced by treatment only in vaginal samples of both groups. The range of values for number and motility of sperm recovered from the oviducts overlapped between treated and control groups within experiments suggesting that these factors alone were not responsible for the observed inhibition of fertilization. Correlation coefficients were calculated among the variables in both experimental trials.

37 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is advised that for the insemination of progestagen-treated ewes in order to provide maximum chance of conception .1-.2 ml of undiluted semen be used or semen with dilution not exceeding 1: 1 (2 billion-spermatozoa/ml).
Abstract: The relative importance on the fertility of artificially inseminated ewes of 1) number and 2) concentration of spermatozoa in the inseminate was investigated in 800 5-year-old Merino ewes in which estrus was synchronized with progestagen-impregnated intravaginal sponges. An experiment of parallelogram design (5 x 4; n=40) was used in which 4 doses (numbers from 50-400 millions) of spermatozoa were inseminated in 5 concentrations (250000-4 billion sperm/ml) with volumes of inseminate ranging from .012-1.60 ml. All ewes were inseminated 48 hours after sponge withdrawal. Fertility ranged from 5.3 to 47.4% with the 20 treatment combinations. A significant (p<.001) linear increase in fertility was found with increasing numbers of spermatozoa in the inseminate over the whole range of numbers used. A significant (p<.001) linear and quadratic (p<.05) effect of concentration existed: increasing concentration up to 2 billion spermatozoa/ml was associated with increasing fertility with no further increase at 4 billion. Time to onset of estrus relative to that of insemination: 33.6% of ewes recorded in estrus before insemination lambed compared with 21.3% of those coming into estrus after insemination or failing to exhibit estrus. Insemination of .05 or .10 ml of undiluted semen was more effective than was the use of larger volumes of diluted semen containing the same numbers of spermatozoa. It is advised that for the insemination of progestagen-treated ewes in order to provide maximum chance of conception .1-.2 ml of undiluted semen be used or semen with dilution not exceeding 1: 1 (2 billion-spermatozoa/ml).(Authors modified)

34 citations


Patent
22 Jan 1971
TL;DR: A semen container carrying an anchor assembly adapted to engage the reproductive tract wall of an animal to prevent expulsion therefrom after insertion therein and including means to urge semen from the container into the tract toward the ovary a predetermined time after insertion of the container as discussed by the authors.
Abstract: A semen container carrying an anchor assembly adapted to engage the reproductive tract wall of an animal to prevent expulsion therefrom after insertion therein and including means to urge semen from the container into the tract toward the ovary a predetermined time after insertion of the container. In order to properly time the release of semen, the semen urging means may be actuated in response to means for sensing ovulation precursive fluid secretions including a soluble sensing element. Also, semen release may be delayed independent of any sensing means to begin until after a predetermined time selected to allow some semen flow during ovulation. In the latter case, the semen is capable of releasing semen over an extended period of time. Multiple semen containers adapted to release semen in sequence increase the duration of semen release.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results indicated that human seminal plasma normally contains a factor that depresses sperm respiration, and was found in men and in a buffered Ringer solution.
Abstract: semen and in a buffered Ringer solution. Washing of the spermatozoa caused an average decrease of 13% in the number of live cells. The oxygen consumption of the spermatozoa was two to three times higher in the Ringer solution than in the whole semen (P<0\m=.\001). If the washed spermatozoa were returned to their own seminal plasma, the oxygen consumption also returned to the original level. These results indicated that human seminal plasma normally contains a factor that depresses sperm respiration.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that the low lambing percentages recorded following uterine insemination are not due to fertilization failure or abnormalities of fertilization, but to surgical interference with the tract resulting in expulsion or rapid transport of fertilized eggs.
Abstract: Summary. Two experiments are described in which were studied the morphological appearance and the subsequent development of sheep ova fertilized by uterine insemination. Ewes were naturally mated, or inseminated with freshly ejaculated semen, either whole or following removal of the seminal plasma, or with semen recovered from the uteri of naturally mated ewes ('uterine semen'). Fertilized eggs were collected after insemination or mating and were either stained and examined or transferred to recipient ewes. Uterine insemination with whole or fractionated semen gave very high rates of fertilization. 'Uterine semen' gave a low fertilization rate due to poor quality samples. The proportion of eggs fertilized by uterine insemination which developed into lambs or embryos was similar to that of eggs collected from ewes naturally mated. Treatment of semen before insemination had no effect upon subsequent development of fertilized eggs. More than 50 % of the fertilized eggs contained anucleate particles, but neither the method of mating (uterine insemination or natural mating) nor treatment of semen before insemination had any major effect upon the incidence of such eggs. The presence of anucleate particles did not preclude subsequent normal development. It is concluded that the low lambing percentages recorded following uterine insemination are not due to fertilization failure or abnormalities of fertilization, but to surgical interference with the tract resulting in expulsion or rapid transport of fertilized eggs.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effect of incubating sperm in different parts of the oviduct in vitro and in situ on their enzyme activity has been reported and it is reported that in vitro incubation at 41°C reduced the enzyme activity of sperm.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The maximum subcutaneous scrotal temperature appears the important factor involved in seminal degeneration following exposure to high temperature after heat treatment in rams.
Abstract: The effect on a number of semen characteristics of exposure to four periods (4, 6, 9, and 13.5 hr) of high temperature (41¦C) was studied in nine rams. Individual rams varied in their susceptibility to seminal degeneration, and repeatability within rains at successive heat treatments was low. There were significant linear effects of duration of heat treatment on volume, density, number of spermatozoa per ejaculate, percentage of abnormal spermatozoa, motility, fructose concentration, and reaction time. There was a significant effect of week of collection after treatment on all characteristics. The major component of this effect was quadratic, showing a degeneration and recovery pattern. Evidence of degeneration appeared at approximately the 12th day and reached its maximum at the 19th day, after which recovery was shown up to the 30th day. This pattern was observed in most of the characteristics studied. There was a significant negative correlation (r = -0.593 ; P < 0.01) between a mean semen composite score and the maximum subcutaneous scrotal temperature recorded during the corresponding heat treatment period. Correlations between mean semen composite score and the increase in scrotal temperature (r = -0.22) and the minimum difference between body and scrotal temperature (r = +0.33) were not significant. Thus, the maximum subcutaneous scrotal temperature appears the important factor involved in seminal degeneration following exposure to high temperature.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was evidence that the titres of antibodies in the genital tract resulted in part, at least, from local antibody production by the vaginal and uterine tissues.
Abstract: Antibodies to egg-yolk semen diluent antigens were isolated from the majority of samples from the vagina, uterus and serum of cows which had received repeated artificial inseminations with semen diluted in egg-yolk diluent. The vagina was the site from which antibodies were isolated most frequently. There was evidence that the titres of antibodies in the genital tract resulted in part, at least, from local antibody production by the vaginal and uterine tissues. Samples with titres to egg-yolk diluent antigens, when tested in vitro, caused mixed agglutination of homologous spermatozoa diluted in egg\\x=req-\\ yolk diluent, while non-specific head-to-head agglutination was seen when the spermatozoa had been diluted in saline. When the cows were inseminated with homologous semen diluted in egg-yolk diluent, the fertility of animals which had uterine titres was significantly lower (P\\m=ge\\ 0\\m=.\\05)than that of animals which had no titres. Antibodies to homologous bovine semen were detected in very few uterine samples from animals which had received repeated inseminations.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: One theory presented is that the antigenic components of semen are contributed by the accessory sex glands along with the seminal plasma.


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Disc electrophoresis permits quantitative examination of the proteins released from spermatozoa into their media as a result of freeze-thaw damage, and total protein indicated a toxicity for DMSO with fast freeze- thaw.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results tend to support the existence of progressive layers of antigenic proteins covering the head neck and intermediate segment of sperm though the presence of intrinsic antigens cannot be discounted until more sophisticated experimental techniques are available.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Semen was collected from all the mature Reindeer bulls in the Glenmore herd, both normal and vasectomized, and the proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa was high and motility was low in comparison with other mammals.
Abstract: Semen was collected from all the mature Reindeer bulls (9) in the Glenmore herd, both normal and vasectomized. Nineteen samples of semen were obtained. Reindeer semen is a viscous fluid, generally amber in colour: after vasectomy its viscosity is much lower. The mean volume of the ejaculates was 0–5 ml. and mean sperm density 467 × 104 spermatozoa. Motility was low in comparison with other mammals and the proportion of eosinophilic spermatozoa was high (74.5%). Other determinations included measurements of the size of unstained spermatozoa, and of fructose and citric acid concentration in the semen.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The proportion of fertilized eggs recovered from does 1 day after tubal insemination of sperm was significantly depressed when uterine-capacitated spermatozoa were exposed to this substance at concentrations of 20-72 mug of protein/ml.
Abstract: A large (86S) glycoprotein isolated from rabbit seminal plasma acts on sperm cells to block fertilization. The proportion of fertilized eggs recovered from does 1 day after tubal insemination of sperm 5-6 hr before or 2-3 hr after ovulation was significantly depressed when uterine-capacitated spermatozoa were exposed to this substance at concentrations of 20-72 mug of protein/ml. Rabbit seminal plasma was estimated to have about 2 mg/ml of this factor. Another large glycoprotein ( approximately 138S) is also present in rabbit seminal plasma; the function of this molecule awaits elucidation.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: No significant correlation was found between the enzyme activity of the semen and the number or motilitity of the spermatozoa, but the highest activity of β-acetyl-glucosaminidase was found in the prostate.
Abstract: The enzymes al-fucosidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, β-acetylglucosaminidase, β-glucuronidase and L-mannosidase were studied in human semen and various components of the male genital tract.No significant correlation was found between the enzyme activity of the semen and the number or motilitity of the spermatozoa. The enzyme activity was confined mainly to the seminal plasma. The activity of a-fucosidase in the semen was significantly lower in 7 men with chronic prostatitis than in 10 men without.The activity of L-fucosidase, β-galactosidase, β-glucosidase, β-glucuronidase and a-mannosidase was higher in the epididymis than in the other genital organs. The highest activity of β-acetyl-glucosaminidase was found in the prostate. In one man, treated with oestrogens because of a prostatic cancer, the enzyme activity in the tissues was low.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was no significant change in free amino acids in semen after vesiculectomy, but there was a significant decrease in 16 amino acids studied after vasectomy.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that experimental autoimmune disease of the seminal vesicle has been induced in guinea pig vesicular fluid.
Abstract: Guinea pig vesicular fluid was characterized both biochemically and immunologically. Biochemical analyses showed this fluid to be homogeneous by ultracentrifugal analyses, revealing a single boundary with a sedimentation coeflicient of 1.5 S. In contrast, electrophoretic separation methods revealed six components, of which three were major components, of approximately equal proportions. They were termed I, II, and III. One of these components (II) was shown to be strongly antigenic in heteroimmunization, whereas components I and III failed to show any antigenicity, even after diverse attempts. This antigen (component II) was found to be highly tissue specific and species specific. Through procedures of isoimmunization, component II was also found to be immunogenic, giving rise (in male animals) to autoantibodies, A high proportion of injected guinea pigs showed positive skin tests and many revealed tissue lesions when the seminal vesicles were examined histologically. It is therefore concluded that experimental autoimmune disease of the seminal vesicle has been induced.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Proteolytic activity, acid phosphatase activity and fructose concentration were measured in seminal plasma from 205 human semen samples, suggesting the prostate gland to be the origin of the enzymes.
Abstract: Proteolytic activity, acid phosphatase activity and fructose concentration were measured in seminal plasma from 205 human semen samples. Certain routine sperm characteristics were also determined. High fibrinolytic activity was found and TAME-esterase and proteinase activity was also present in all specimens. The activity of all the proteolytic enzymes correlated positively with the acid phosphatase activity suggesting the prostate gland to be the origin of the enzymes. TAME\x=req-\ esterase activity was inversely related to the seminal fructose content. No correlation was observed between sperm characteristics and the seminal proteolytic enzymes. The specimens with abnormal viscosity usually contained low proteinase activity.

Book ChapterDOI
B. G. Crabo1, R. E. Bower1, K. I. Brown1, E. F. Graham1, M. M. Pace1 
01 Jan 1971
TL;DR: Since bull semen was first frozen by Polge et al. (1949), efforts to develop frozen semen for these two species have been confounded by good sperm motility after freezing, but practically no offspring have resulted from insemination.
Abstract: Since bull semen was first frozen by Polge et al. (1949) sperm motility has been the major criterion for evaluation of the effectiveness of the freezing process. For bull semen motility is generally considered a fairly reliable indication of the fertilizing capabilities of fresh or frozen semen. However the reliability of motility as an index of semen fertility is swiftly eroded when we move to other economically important species, particularly swine and turkeys. Efforts to develop frozen semen for these two species have been confounded by good sperm motility after freezing, but practically no offspring have resulted from insemination.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Buckland et al. as mentioned in this paper reported that the fertility was correlated with the activity of fumarase and aconitase in chicken sperm and lactic dehydrogenase aldolase and aminopeptidase.