Showing papers on "Semen published in 1979"
TL;DR: Although no change was noted in semen quality standards, the authors concur with earlier suggestions that the minimal standards recommended by the American Fertility Society be modified.
214 citations
TL;DR: Angus bulls exhibited stable to slight increases in testes size, semen volume and semen quality, suggesting that this breed had reached its most rapid stage of development by 16 months of age, while Hereford bulls showed a decline in testicular size and semenquality suggesting that Hereford Bulls suffered from the environmental stresses of the semitropical summer in Florida.
Abstract: A total of 218 yearling Hereford, Angus, Santa Gertrudis and Brahman bulls was evaluated for semen traits and testieular volume at average ages of 16 and 20 months in April and August, respectively, during 2 successive years. Brahman bulls reached puberty at a later age than bulls of the Santa Gertrudis, Hereford and Angus breeds. Santa Gertrudis bulls had the largest testes with the Brahman having the smallest during this time span. During the summer months, when the bulls were 16 to 20 months of age, testes size, sperm motil i ty and sperm cell concentration of the ejaculate increased markedly in Brahman and Santa Gertrudis bulls. Angus bulls exhibited stable to slight increases in testes size, semen volume and semen quality, suggesting that this breed had reached its most rapid stage of development by 16 months of age. During this same period Hereford bulls showed a decline in testicular size and semen quality suggesting that Hereford bulls suffered from the environmental stresses of the semitropical summer in Florida. Within the Hereford breed, bulls from the lines of Montana origin exhibited a greater decline than those from the line originating in Florida. (
158 citations
TL;DR: In three patients when no medical contraindication existed, discontinuation of the drug resulted in a dramatic improvement in the semen quality, and all three reported pregnancies within the ensuing 3 months.
123 citations
TL;DR: Semen samples were collected from 35 men and the levels of prolactin in semen and seminal plasma were measured and there was no significant difference between the two fluids.
Abstract: Semen samples were collected from 35 men and the levels of prolactin in semen and seminal plasma were measured. There was no significant difference in prolactin concentrations between the two fluids (t = 0.333, P greater than 0.7). There was also no correlation between the prolactin concentration and the kinematic viscosity of the semen (r = 0.065, P greater than 0.7).
112 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The capacity to freeze sucessfully proved to be a specific characteristic of certain stallions and resulted in a 20% drop in blastocyst recovery when the same mares were used for insemination of raw and frozen--thawed semen.
Abstract: The sperm-rich fraction of stallion semen was collected in an AV and, after dilution in an extender, was cooled to 2--5 degrees C before placing in aluminium tubes for freezing in liquid nitrogen for several hours or months. The spermatozoa in about 200 ejaculates from 36 stallions were examined to compare their survival time, motility and velocity before and after thawing. According to the various indices used, 20% of stallions produced spermatozoa which were unaffected, 60% partly but not seriously affected and the remainder completely inactivated. The velocity of spermatozoa decreased from 51.4 micrometers/sec in the fresh semen to 36.8 micrometers/sec in the thawed semen. The fertilizing capacity of the spermatozoa of frozen--thawed semen of 5 stallions was examined in 14 mares. In all, 65 inseminations were made and the blastocysts were recovered non-surgically from the uterus 7--9 days after ovulation. A 20% drop in blastocyst recovery occurred as the result of freezing and thawing, when the same mares were used for insemination of raw and frozen--thawed semen. The capacity to freeze sucessfully proved to be a specific characteristic of certain stallions. Degenerate blastocysts were not recovered but those resulting from artificial insemination of frozen semen were much smaller in diameter than those following insemination of raw semen.
84 citations
TL;DR: The ratio of male to female conceptions in this small study parallels the ratio of Y to X sperm in the final specimen used for artificial homologous insemination.
83 citations
TL;DR: The results indicate that the physical presence of a varicicele is not always associated with an alteration in sperm cell concentration and that a reduction of semen characteristics is more likely in men with reduced sperm counts.
74 citations
TL;DR: The average non-return rate following insemination of semen from 5 of the bulls was 61.6% and higher than for the sixth bull, and more work is required to assess the relationship between structure and function of spermatozoa.
Abstract: Semen from 6 bulls was examined under the transmission electron microscope immediately after collection, after dilution and cooling to 5 degrees C and after freezing and thawing. Conception rates were determined following artificial insemination of the frozen and thawed semen. Dilution and cooling to 5 degrees C caused acrosomal swelling in about 50% of the spermatozoa. Subsequent freezing and thawing caused considerable ultrastructural changes to the acrosomes (disruption of the plasma and outer acrosomal membranes and dispersion of the acrosomal contents) and middle pieces (breakage of the plasma membrane and a reduction in the electron density of the mitochondrial matrix) of a high proportion of spermatozoa. The average non-return rate following insemination of semen from 5 of the bulls was 61.6% and higher (P greater than 0.001) than for the sixth bull (15%). Although this difference in semen viability was also demonstrated in the structural studies (acrosome, P greater than 0.05: middle piece, P greater than 0.001), more work is required to assess the relationship between structure and function of spermatozoa.
65 citations
TL;DR: In men with congenital bilateral absence of the vasa and seminal vesicles, zinc was elevated, fructose was absent, and prolactin was markedly depressed.
61 citations
TL;DR: Treatment of patients referred for infertility evaluation who demonstrated low seminal plasma zinc and decreased sperm motility with oral zinc sulfate results in improved sperm motilty.
59 citations
TL;DR: An objective method of assessing the motility of spermatozoa in undiluted or diluted semen from a wide variety of species including cattle, horse, pig, rabbit, rat and sheep is shown to be well correlated with other methods of assessing motility and with the non-return rate obtained with frozen cattle semen.
Abstract: A simple slide is described in which the base is a permeable membrane so that a suspension of spermatozoa (or other cells) may be examined under controlled conditions with a microscope. An objective method of assessing the motility of spermatozoa in undiluted or diluted semen from a wide variety of species including cattle, horse, pig, rabbit, rat and sheep is described. It is shown to be well correlated with other methods of assessing motility and also with the non-return rate obtained with frozen cattle semen.
TL;DR: The effect was studied of photoperiod on semen quality of five adult Ile-de-France rams reared for a period of 1 year in a pen exposed to an artificial regime which reproduced the natural variations of daylength, which induced large fluctuations in both cell morphology and in the fertilizing power of ejucalates.
TL;DR: Separated specimens were free of seminal debris, had significantly improved motility and progressive drive, and had a decreased percentage of abnormal forms, and the total sperm count was also significantly decreased after separation, especially with the two-layer technique.
TL;DR: No apparent spermagglutination and restored fertility may be due to the interaction of ascorbic acid with cations found in semen, but significant increases in levels in semen following therapy could not be attributed to ascorBic acid alone, nor, similarly, the improved physical parameters of each subject's semen following Therapy.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors collected five ejaculates at hourly intervals from 32 sexually rested stallions and found that the first, first 2, first 3 and first 4 ejaculates represented 50, 74, 86 and 93% of the total numbers of spermatozoa contained in the 5 ejaculates.
Abstract: Five ejaculates were collected at hourly intervals from 32 sexually rested stallions Gel volume, total seminal volume, sperm concentration and spermatozoa per ejaculate declined (P less than 001) from the first to the second or third ejaculate Gel-free seminal volume or percentage of motile spermatozoa did not vary (P less than 005) among ejaculates Ejaculates from 2- to 3-year-old stallions contained less volume and fewer spermatozoa than those from 9- to 16-year-old stallions Regardless of the stallion's age the first, first 2, first 3 and first 4 ejaculates represented 50, 74, 86 and 93% of the total numbers of spermatozoa contained in the 5 ejaculates In addition, the number of spermatozoa that might be obtained in 5 ejaculates can be predicted by multiplying the total number of spermatozoa in two successive ejaculates by 135 +/- 003 Although some fifth ejaculates contained as few as 002 X 10(9) motile spermatozoa, the mean number of motile spermatozoa in fifth ejaculates from sexually rested stallions was 052 X 10(9) spermatozoa; presumably enough to impregnate a mare during natural service
TL;DR: It is concluded that there is no correlation between the content of either total carnitine or the carn itine acyltransferases and the respiratory capacity of spermatozoa.
Abstract: The concentration of total carnitine (i.e. carnitine plus acetylcarnitine) was measured in seminal plasma and spermatozoa of men and rams. In ram semen, there was a close correlation between the concentration of spermatozoa and that of total carnitine in the seminal plasma, indicating that the epididymal secretion was the sole source of seminal carnitine. The percentage of total carnitine present as acetylcarnitine was 40% in seminal plasma and 70-80% in spermatozoa. The acetylation state of carnitine in seminal plasma was apparently not influenced by the metabolic activity of spermatozoa in ejaculated ram semen as no change was found in the plasma concentration of carnitine or acetylcarnitine up to 45 min after ejaculation. In spermatozoa, the activity of carnitine acetyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.7) was approximately equivalent to that of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.21); and the activity of these enzymes was similar in ram and human spermatozoa but greater in rat spermatozoa. It is concluded that there is no correlation between the content of either total carnitine or the carnitine acyltransferases and the respiratory capacity of spermatozoa.
TL;DR: The difference between conception and lambing rates suggests an increase in early embryonic mortality when breeding with frozen semen and confirms the need for improved frozen semen technology.
Abstract: The reproductive performance of crossbred sheep maintained in total confinement was compared after artificial insemination with fresh or frozen semen. Estrus was synchronized with progestagen-impregnated vaginal sponges and pregnant mares’ serum gonadotropin. Inseminations were performed 54 and 60 h after sponge removal. The fertility of ewes inseminated with fresh semen was significantly higher than of ewes inseminated with frozen semen. Conception rates, lambing rates and litter size were 83%, 78% and 2.2 using fresh semen and 65%, 43% and 1.8 using frozen semen. In a group of similar ewes bred by natural service, the lambing performance was comparable to that obtained with fresh semen. The difference between conception and lambing rates suggests an increase in early embryonic mortality when breeding with frozen semen and confirms the need for improved frozen semen technology.
TL;DR: The acid phosphatase test is routinely used in many laboratories as a test for semen in cases involving sexual assault, and the detection of strong ACP activity is considered a fairly reliable indicator of semen.
Abstract: The acid phosphatase test is routinely used in many laboratories as a test for semen in cases involving sexual assault. The basis for this test is the fact that the level of acid phosphatase (ACP) activity is 500 to 1000 times higher in human semen than in other normal body fluids or secretions [1]; this ACP is secreted into semen by the prostate gland. It has been amply demonstrated that elevated levels of ACP activity persist in the vaginal pool after sexual intercourse and in semen stains [2–16]. Thus the detection of strong ACP activity is considered a fairly reliable indicator of semen.
TL;DR: A mixture of 60% semen, 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 30% saline was the most successful for storage and more spermatozoa moved to the spermatheca than after storage with 10% DMSO and 10% or 20% water.
Abstract: SummaryA method for storing honeybee spermatozoa in liquid nitrogen is described. A hydraulic syringe attached to a meter accurately measures collection, dilution, and delivery of semen, and a thermocouple inserted into the semen records the rates of freezing and thawing. From collection to insemination the storage process lost only 7% of the semen mixture.A mixture of 60% semen, 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) and 30% saline was the most successful for storage. Glycerol gave some protection as a cryoprotectant, but was inferior to DMSO. After semen was stored with 10% DMSO and 30% water, more spermatozoa moved to the spermatheca than after storage with 10% DMSO and 10% or 20% water.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The stallion spermatozoon has many features in common with that of other mammals but differs specifically in that it has an asymmetric head, an abaxial position of the tail and an acrosome of small volume.
Abstract: Semen samples were collected from 3 fertile stallions by means of an 'open' artificial vagina and examined under scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The stallion spermatozoon has many features in common with that of other mammals but differs specifically in that it has an asymmetric head, an abaxial position of the tail and an acrosome of small volume. The presence of microtubules in the neck is also a characteristic of stallion spermatozoa.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Investigation of the effect of caffeine and pancreatic kallikrein on post-thaw motility, fructose consumption, and cervical mucus penetration of cryo-preserved human spermatozoa indicates that both substances stimulate the motility of freshly ejaculated spermatozosa and also improve the Motility pattern of cryospecifics, thus offering a possible means of improving the quality of freeze- Preserved human semen.
Abstract: Preservation of human semen in liquid nitrogen causes a significant impairment of sperm motility. Ejaculated human spermatozoa show an increased motility in the presence of caffeine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, and pancreatic kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.8), a kinin-producing proteinase. Hence, the effect of both substances on post-thaw motility, fructose consumption, and cervical mucus penetration of cryo-preserved human spermatozoa was investigated. The results indicate that both substances stimulate the motility of freshly ejaculated spermatozoa and also improve the motility pattern of cryo-preserved human spermatozoa, thus offering a possible means of improving the quality of freeze-preserved human semen.
TL;DR: In five experiments, fertilization, early (18–19-day) pregnancy, and lambing were examined after insemination with semen stored at 5°C in tris-fructose-egg yolk diluent, and the lambing rate was better after double than single inseminations, but the slope of decline in fertility with age of semen was not affected by the sperm dose.
TL;DR: The amount of carnitine present in the spermatozoa probably provides a better index of epididymal function than the Carnival in the seminal plasma as the latter in influenced by af variable contribution from the other accessory sex organs.
Abstract: Total carnitine, acetylcarnitine and carnitine acetyl transferase (E.C. 2.3.1.7) were measured in the plasma and spermatozoa fractions of 41 samples of human semen and the correlation with sperm motility and sperm density examined.
It was confirmed that the concentration of total carnitine as well as of acetylcarnitine was 2–25 times higher and the activity of carnitine acetyl transferase 20–15 fold higher in spermatozoa than in seminal plasma. Sperm motility correlated with the concentration of acetylcarnitine (r = 0.6, P < 0.01) and of total carnitine (r = 0.55, P < 0.01) but not with the concentration of free carnitine nor with the activity of carnitine acetyl transferase in the spermatozoa. No correlation was found between sperm motility and the concentrations of acetylcarnitine, free carnitine or total carnitine in the seminal plasma.
It is concluded that the amount of carnitine present in the spermatozoa probably provides a better index of epididymal function than the carnitine in the seminal plasma as the latter in influenced by af variable contribution from the other accessory sex organs.
TL;DR: Semen samples were collected from 50 prevasectomy patients and 43 infertility clinic patients, and a significant correlation was found between semen rPRL concentration and sperm count for both the prevasection patients and the clinic patients.
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors compared seminal fluid analysis (SFA) with the in vitro sperm penetration test (SP test) and found that sperm motility and morphology had a limited bearing upon the in-vivo penetration ability of spermatozoa.
TL;DR: The activity of lactate dehydrogenase isoen enzyme C4 was determined on 90 human semen samples and the correlation between the isoenzyme activity and sperm count and motility was good.
Abstract: Since sperm specific enzymes associated with metabolic processess unique to spermatozoa should be a direct and reliable index of sperm normality the activity of lactate dehydrogenase isoenzyme C4 (LDH C4) an enzyme exclusive to germ cells was determined in 90 human semen samples. Values of LDH C4 showed correlation with sperm count. When LDH C4 was correlated with number of spermatozoa ther values were .74 U/ml of semen and .64 U/mg of protein. Correlation of LDH C4 activity with number of motile sperm yielded r values of .57 U/ml of semen and .66 U/mg of protein. Tne enzyme activity measured in semen after lysis of spermatozoa by freezing and thawing gave a more accurate estimate of the amount of isoenzyme present in sperm than did determinations on separated sperm cells. The functional role of LDH C4 which is associated with metabolic processess providing energy to the germ cell could be useful for assessing sperm ability to promote conception. But because sperm counts are not dependable as an index of fertilizing capacity when sperm density is low further study is needed to show whether LDH C4 activity is a reliable index of fertility.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: 12% of cases with reestablished ductal passage showed elevated seminal plasma antibodies contributory to detrimental fertility, which would account for half of the cases of infertility in normospermic vasovasostomized men.
Abstract: 29 men aged 27-45 years were studied prospectively to determine the presence of sperm agglutinins and the mode of their agglutination in serum and seminal plasma before and after surgical reanastomosis for vasectomy reversal. Epididymal fluid was also available for analysis from 17 cases postoperatively. 6 cases showed sperm agglutinins in seminal plasma before vasovasostomy and these high titers remained as high postoperatively. 4 cases had positive epididymal fluid and freed ductal passage postoperatively and they all became positive in seminal plasma postoperatively indicating that the rise of antibodies in seminal plasma postoperatively was caused in part by tampering with the previously obstructed part of the genital tract. 12% of cases with reestablished ductal passage showed elevated seminal plasma antibodies contributory to detrimental fertility. The percentage found in this study would account for half of the cases of infertility in normospermic vasovasostomized men.
TL;DR: The SCMC test is more suited than the SPM test for studying the effect of antispermatozoal antibodies on the penetration and migration of spermatozoa into CM and the so called “shaking phenomenon” was expressed in the shaking percentage.
Abstract: The relation between presence of antispermatozoal antibodies in infertile men and the inhibition of the in vitro sperm penetration into cervical mucus (CM) was studied with the sperm cervical mucus contact (SCMC) test. The tests were performed with semen from infertile men and from semen donors. The CM used permitted good penetration of normal spermatozoa. The so called “shaking phenomenon”, the result of a specific interaction of spermatozoa and CM, was expressed in the shaking percentage (S%).
The S% did not change beyond the experimental error within 30 min after mixing semen and CM. The S% was 30 at the most in 194 out of 198 SCMC tests with normal donor semen and normal pre-ovulatory CM. Significant negative correlations (P < 0.005) were found between the readings of the sperm penetration meter (SPM) test on one hand and the S%, the sperm agglutination titer in the serum and the sperm agglutination titer in the seminal plasma (SP) on the other hand. Significant positive correlations (P < 0.005) were found between the S% and the sperm agglutination titer in the SP. The sperm agglutination titer in serum and in SP correlated significantly better (P < 0.02) with the S% in the SCMC test than with the readings of the SPM test.
It was concluded that: 1. A high S% is highly specific for the presence of antispermatozoal antibodies in infertile men, 2. The SCMC test is more suited than the SPM test for studying the effect of antispermatozoal antibodies on the penetration and migration of spermatozoa into CM,