Showing papers on "Semen published in 1976"

Human semen and fertility regulation in men

Abstract: Human semen and fertility regulation in men , Human semen and fertility regulation in men , مرکز فناوری اطلاعات و اطلاع رسانی کشاورزی

Influence of elevated ambient temperature on reproductive performance of boars.

Abstract: SUMMARY Twelve Yorkshire boars were randomly as- signed to one of two temperature controlled chambers to determine the influence of ele- vated ambient temperature on reproductive performance. Heat stressed boars were exposed to 34.5 -+ 1.0 C for 8 hr and 31.0 + 1.0 C for 16 hr daily for 90 days. Control boars were maintained at 23.0 -+ 1.0 C throughout the experimental period. Semen was collected twice weekly to determine sperm output and quality. Semen volume and gel weigh per ejaculum were not altered during elevated ambient tempera- ture. However, sperm motility and percent normal cells with non-aged acros'omes decreased and the percentage of abnormal cells and cells with aged acrosomes increased by the second week of treatment. Sperm output was reduced in stressed boars during weeks two through six of treatment. Only 28.6% of 77 gilts bred with semen from stressed boars conceived compared to 41.2% of 88 gilts bred with control semen. At day 30 + 3 of pregnancy, embryonic survival was 71.2 + 3.7% in gilts bred with semen from control boars and 48.5 + 5.2% for gilts bred with semen from stressed boars. (Key Words: Boar, Heat Stress, Semen, Sperm Morphology, Swine Reproduction.) 2Journal Article No. 3009 of the Agricultural Experiment Station, Oklahoma State University, Still- water, Oklahoma. This research was conducted in cooperation with the U.S.D.A., Agricultural Research Service, Southern Region. UAppreciation is expressed to Dr. R. K. Johnson and L. D. Young for assistance with the statistical analyses. 3Department of Animal Sciences and Industry, Oklahoma State University, StiUwater 74074. *Present address: Department of Animal Science,

Structural and functional abnormalities in the sex organs of male offspring of mothers treated with diethylstilbestrol (DES).

Abstract: At the Chicago Lying-In Hospital in the early 1950s gradually increasing doses of diethylstilbestrol (DES) were administered to 840 women beginning during the 10th-20th week of gestation with 5 mg/day and increasing by 5 mg every 2nd week to a maximum daily dose of 150 mg by the 34th week. Placebos were given to 806 women. There were 134 DES-esposed and 110 placebo-exposed male offspring who have been traced and evaluated. Of these now 21-23 year old men 89% were Causasians 10% Negro and 1% Oriental. The DES-exosed men had a significantly (p less than .05) higher incidence of epididymal and testicualr abnormalities than the unexposed controls. In 17 DES-exosed patients cystic masses in the area of the superior epididymis were aspirated. A straw-colored fluid without spermatozoa was found in 6 cases and a milky fluid containing sperm was found in 3. A cyst excised and studied histologically was lined with columnar epithelium without secretory cells or spermatozoa. Aspriation of similar masses in 2 control patients revealed spermatozoa in only 1. Cytologic examination of urine specimens and prostate fluids were similar in the 2 groups. Age of puberty and sexual functions were comparable. Circulating blood hormones assayed were the same. 1 DES-exposed patinet had bilateral hypotrophic testes azoospermia decreased plasma testosterone elevated plasma ICSH elevated follicle stimulating hormone and ennuchoid body habitus. Semen analyses showed a sperm density and fewer mobile spermatozoa in the DES-exposed cases. Sever pathologic blood changes were observed in 29% of 28 DES-exposed males and none in 18 control males. Genital abnormalities were found in 15 of 28 (53%) of the DES-ex posed group and 5 of 18 (25%) in the control group. Results show that transplacental effects of DES on the human male do occur. There may be considerable effect on spermatogensis and possibly on sperm maturation. Malignant cells were not found in any tissue or fluid.

Postpuberal changes in semen production of Charolais bulls ejaculated at high frequency and the relation between testicular measurements and sperm output.

Abstract: Twelve Charolais bulls were ejaculated once weekly (1• and 10 bulls six times weekly (6• from puberty to 2 years of age to determine the effect of age and ejaculation frequency on semen characteristics, sperm output and testes growth; 6• weekly sperm output at 2 and 3 years of age was determined for each of the 22 bulls. Significant increases as bulls aged were found in sperm concentration, sperm motility, weekly total sperm and total motile sperm output, scrotal circumference and width (P<.01) and ejaculate volume (P<.05). From 1 to 2 years of age, average weekly sperm output for 6• bulls increased 2.4 times from 14.0 • 109 at 53 to 56 weeks to 33.6 • 109 at 101 to 104 weeks of age and for 1• bulls increased 2.2 times from 5.0 • 109 to 11.2 • 109 at the same ages. For 6• as compared to 1• bulls, ejaculate volume was smaller (P<.O1) but total sperm and total motile sperm per week were greater (P<.O1); differences for sperm motility, sperm concentration and scrotal circumference and width were not significant. Scrotal circumference and width each increased by 32% from puberty (41 -+ 1 weeks) to 2 years of age with slightly over three-fourths of the increase occurring between puberty and

19-Hydroxyprostaglandin E1 as a major component of the semen of primates.

Abstract: As their name implies, prostaglandins were first identified in secretions of the male reproductive tract. In the early 1930s several workers1–3 showed that human semen could stimulate various smooth muscle preparations, and this activity was ascribed to an unidentified component which von Euler named ‘prostaglandin’. von Euler4,5 then found that a watery alcoholic extract of rhesus monkey seminal vesicles markedly lowered the blood pressure in the rabbit but, unlike human seminal vesicle extracts, it had little or no action on the isolated intestine and the uterus of the rat and other laboratory animals. He therefore postulated the existence of another substance in the monkey which he named ‘vesiglandin’ and which he suggested could be a component of human seminal ‘prostaglandin’.

Fertility of deep frozen boar spermatozoa: influence of thawing diluents and of boars.

Abstract: In the present investigation the results of two insemination trials with deep frozen boar spermatozoa are presented. The aim of the trials was to study the effect of different thawing diluents and to compare the fertility of deep frozen spermatozoa from four boars. The trials utilized a total of 139 gilts. The thawing diluents used were boar seminal plasma, protein free seminal plasma, the thawing diluent OLEP and isotonic glucose solution. The composition of OLEP was based on physical and biochemical analyses of boar seminal plasma. The electrolyte levels, pH and osmotic pressure of OLEP are similar to those of boar seminal plasma. From the results it is evident that thawing in boar seminal plasma, protein free seminal plasma and OLEP yielded equal results. Thawing in isotonic glucose solution yielded significantly poorer results concerning percentage of fertilized ova 24–48 hrs. after insemination and almost significantly poorer fertility results four weeks after insemination. The possible effects of the thawing diluents are discussed. With the freezing procedure applied, electrolyte levels, pH and osmotic pressure seem to be factors of importance for the survival of the frozen and thawed spermatozoa and for the maintenance of their fertilizing capacity. Almost significant differences were found in fertility of spermatozoa from different boars. These differences were reflected in pregnancy rates as well as ratio of foetuses to c. 1. in pregnant gilts. The differences were found to be independent of thawing diluent. The variation seems to be caused by differences in resistance of the spermatozoa to the freezing and thawing procedure. The need for laboratory methods for selection of boars with spermatozoa of good freezability is stressed.

Estimation of Salmonid Sperm Concentration by Microhematocrit Technique

Abstract: Field-centrifuged, packed sperm volumes provide quick, reliable estimates of sperm concentrations in salmonid semen.

Investigations on adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate phosphodiesterase in ram semen and initial characterization of a sperm-specific isoenzyme.

Abstract: Phosphodiesterase is shown to occur in ram semen, and its activity to be higher in spermatozoa than in seminal plasma. Using similar substrate levels, the rate at which adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) is metabolized by phosphodiesterase in spermatozoa is about 100 times higher than that of cyclic AMP synthesis by adenylate cyclase. In spermatozoa, phosphodiesterase is present partly in a soluble form, and partly bound; both forms can be extracted by sonication. The soluble enzyme (pH optimum 8-0, Km = 1-5 muM, mol. wt 165,000) occurs as a single isoenzyme, as shown by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and anion-exchange chromatography; this isoenzyme appears to be specific for spermatozoa and its formation in the testis coincides with the appearance of spermatozoa. The bound sperm enzyme has been solubilized with Trion X-100; it is a single isoenzyme (pH optimum 8-0, mol. wt 165,000) which is electrophoretically different from the soluble form, but similar to the phosphodiesterase found in other tissues. Seminal plasma phosphodiesterase (pH optimum 8-8, mol. wt 165,000) is present in the form of three isoenzymes; all three are different from the two forms of sperm phosphodiesterase, but are similar to the isoenzymes found in certain male accessory organs.

Studies on the dilution of turkey semen.

Abstract: 1. A series of experiments were conducted to determine the effect of diluent, holding temperature and dilution rate on the viability of turkey semen. 2. No significant difference was observed in the fertility of the undiluted controls and semen diluted with Lake's solution to a final rate of 1:4 and maintained at 25 degrees C or 5 degrees C for 30 min. Under these conditions as few as 25 million sperm per weekly insemination were needed for optimum fertility. 3. Turkey semen exhibited the typical "dilution effect", increased respiration with a corresponding decline in fertilising capacity, when diluted at rates of 1 : 8 and 1 : 12.

Motility of spermatozoa.

Abstract: Factors affecting spermatozoa motility are reviewed beginning with development of motility in the seminiferous tubules (at which time the spermatozoon is incapable of self-propulsion) progressing through the chemical and clinical aspects of motility in the seminal plasma and concluding with a description of the interaction with cervical mucus. The threatening environment of the vagina leaves a high percentage of spermatozoa tailless prohibiting entry into the uterine cervix. Tables give: methods used to study motility patterns found in both fertile and infertile men and the velocity of human spermatozoa under varying conditions. ATP is the main energy source of this propulsion; the contractile proteins flactin and spermosin may interact with the associated ATPase to generate the contraction and relaxation needed to propel the sperm. Factors affecting motility are discussed including: semen quality time after ejaculation time between ejaculations temperature ionic composition of the various fluids encountered electromagnetic radiation sperm cell orientation viscosity of fluids encountered pH of the vaginal and uterine fluids osmotic pressure and the presence of spermagglutinins. Motility is a good measure of semen "quality" since there is little likelihood that feeble sperm cells can ascent into the cervical canal. However motility is no guarantee of fertility. Environmental pollutants especially copper zinc mercury and lead salts inhibit human sperm motility by their sulfhydryl blocking action. The situation may become most hazardous for workers in metallurgical industries manufacturers of batteries or large users of pesticides and herbicides. The effects of cyclic nucleotides and neurotropic agents are surveyed. Areas needing further investigation are listed.

Urogenital infection and seminal excretion after inoculation of bulls and rams with chlamydiae.

Abstract: Five mature rams and 4 bulls were inoculated parenterally with bovine or ovine chlamydial strains of type 1 and 2. One to 3 days later, all animals developed a chlamydemia lasting 4 to 8 days. Chlamydial agents were isolated from the semen near the end of the chlamydemic phase. All rams and 3 of 4 inoculated bulls excreted chlamydiae in the semen for 22 to 29 days. From 8 to 39 days after inoculation, selected rams or bulls were killed to test for chlamydial infection in the urogenital tract and other organs. Chlamydiae were isolated in developing chicken embryos from testis, epididymis, and accessory sex glands. Bulls examined 29 and 39 days after inoculation did not harbor chlamydiae. Chlamydiae were also not isolated from 3 control bulls which were from the same herd as the principal bulls. All inoculated bulls and rams had a group-specific chlamydial antibody response within 7 days. The titers reached maximal levels of 128 to 512 at 14 days after inoculation. Subsequently, the antibody titers decreased gradually. Seminal plasma collected at different times after animals were inoculated did not fix complement in the presence of chlamydial group antigen. The number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in the semen increased during the experiment. The semen was grossly purulent in 2 rams inoculated with the type 2 chlamydial strain of polyarthritis.

Fertility of deep frozen boar spermatozoa at various intervals between insemination and induced ovulation: influence of boars and thawing diluents.

Abstract: The fertilizing ability of deep frozen boar spermatozoa was assessed after artificial insemination at various intervals after human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG) induced ovulation in gilts. Boar seminal plasma and OLEP were used as thawing diluent agents. The fertilization rates were similar when insemination was performed 2 or 6 hours before the time of estimated ovulation (40 hours post-HCG administration). However fertility rates markedly declined when insemination was performed earlier than 6 hours before expected ovulation. In inseminations performed 2 hours before ovulation the fertility rate was higher with specimens treated with boar seminal plasma diluent than with OLEP. As the difference between the time of insemination and that of ovulation increased the difference in fertilizing ability of spermatozoa from the 2 boars used also increased. The results show that spermatozoa which have a low resistance to freezing-thawing also have a diminished fertile life in the female genital tract.

Characteristics of semen changes during Brucella ovis infection in rams

Abstract: The effect of brucellosis on semen quality in rams was studied by means of artificially infecting five rams with a strain of Brucella ovis isolated in Kenya. Infection resulted in reduced semen quality including reduced total sperm output, poor motility and a high percentage of morphological abnormalities. Variation in semen quality both between and within rams appeared to be related to progress of the disease in the epididymis as well as to the distribution and severity of lesions in the reproductive tract.

Prostatic Acid Phosphatase: Current Assessment in Vaginal Fluid of Alleged Rape Victims

Abstract: Although elevated prostatic acid phosphatase activity (ACP) in vaginal fluid is compatible with recent coitus, the finding of spermatozoa in vaginal fluid is usually considered the diagnostic indicator for semen. When 80 alleged rape cases during an 18-month period were reviewed and the results of cytologic examination for the presence of spermatozoa compared with quantitative ACP determinations, the latter appeared to be a more reliable and sensitive indicator of semen. The normal range of ACP in semen, as well as persistence of ACP in vaginal fluid, was also defined. It is concluded that vaginal fluid ACP is a reliable and sensitive method for identification of semen. Furthermore, the results confirm that quantitative ACP determination of vaginal fluid specimens may substantiate the allegation of rape with respect to time.

The distribution of calcium in bovine spermatozoa and seminal plasma in relation to cold shock.

Abstract: The cause of the higher total calcium level in bovine seminal plasma than in spermatozoa is due mainly to a much higher concentration of complexed calcium in seminal plasma than in spermatozoa. The concentration of protein-bound calcium was approximately the same in spermatozoa and seminal plasma; that of ionized calcium lower in seminal plasma than in spermatozoa. Sudden cooling (cold shock) of fresh bull semen, which irreversibly abolished motility, led to a significant increase in the concentration of total calcium in spermatozoa, and a corresponding decrease of total calcium in the seminal plasma; the effect was more marked when semen was rapidly cooled to 0 degrees C than to 5 degrees C. The cold-shock induced change in the distribution of calcium between spermatozoa and seminal plasma was reflected in a decreased content of ionized calcium in the seminal plasma and a simultaneously increased content of complexed and protein-bound calcium in spermatozoa. No increase of calcium in spermatozoa was observed following slow cooling under conditions when motility had not been lost irreversibly. Heat inactivation by itself had no marked effect on the calcium concentration ratio between spermatozoa and seminal plasma, but cold-shocking of spermatozoa that had first been irreversibly immobilized by heating produced an increase in the level of sperm calcium. The increase in the calcium level occurred irrespective of whether the spermatozoa had been initially motile. When spermatozoa were reversibly immobilized by treatment with formaldehyde at a low concentration, the calcium level remained unchanged, increasing significantly after cold shock, but not to the same level as in the formaldehyde-free control sample. Addition of EDTA or detergents to the semen prevented the accumulation of calcium by cold-shocked spermatozoa.

Seminal plasma proteins and the reaction of spermatozoa from intact boars and from boars without seminal vesicles to cooling.

Abstract: The experimental procedures followed to some extent those that take place during the freezing of boar semen for long-term preservation. However instead of casein or egg-yolk diluent a simple diluent was used so that the components involved in cold shock could be more readily studied. In this study spermatozoa from intact and from vesiculectomized boars were cooled to assess how detrimental vesicularr secretion is to the long-term preservation of semen. Also the activity of enzymes released from the cells was used to measure the membrane integrity and the membrane surface change of the spermatozoa. Glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase and lactic dehydrogenase activities were greater in the diluents that had contained spermatozoa from intact boars. The incubation of seminal plasma from an intact boar with spermatozoa from a vesiculectomized boar before cooling also increased the enzyme activity of the diluent. This effect was thought to be due to the basic protein fractions of the seminal plasma in particular those with hemagglutinating activity. Semen collections were made at weekly intervals. Spermatozoa were separated immediately by centrifugation. Seminal plasma was stored at -20 degrees C. Epididymal spermatozoa were obtained immediately after slaughter. Techniques of preparing ultrathin sections for examination with an electron microscope are given. Membrane structure and the amount of positively charged colloidal particles binding to sections of spermatozoa that had been incubated with Fe(OH)2+ were observed. Epididymal spermatozoa bound the positively charged particles more readily than did the ejaculated spermatozoa from the intact boars. This was thought to be due to the absence of membrane-bound protein. As a result of these studies the use of vesiculectomized boars to provide spermatozoa that can be readily protected against cold shock is now being tried.

Effect of frequent ejaculation on semen characteristics in rams.

Abstract: Sixteen Suffolk rams were ejaculated repeatedly for a period of eight hours during the month of November. Ejaculates were examined for semen characteristics. Volume density and number of sperm per ejaculate declined significantly in successive ejaculates. Motility and percentage abnormal sperm were not affected by frequent collection. It is concluded that the number of sperm per ejaculate, after the eighth ejaculate, could fall below that required for fertilisation to occur, particularly in progestagen treated ewes.

A sterilizing tail stump sperm defect in a Holstein-Friesian bull.

Abstract: A case of sterility in an 18-month-old bull of the Holstein-Friesian breed was investigated A semen sample sent to the laboratory showed a very low sperm concentration and abnormal sperm morphology On the preliminary examination, the major sperm defect (60-70%) seemed to be tailless heads When higher manification was used it was found that most of the defective heads had a short tail rudiment, a tail stump 2-3 mu long Loose sperm tails were seldom seen in the smears The defect has been described previously from Canada where it has occurred in different breeds, including Holstein-Friesians The dam of the Danish bull in question was inseminated with imported American semen, and the sire is one of the most demanded Holstein-Friesian bulls at present The possible heredity of the defect is discussed