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Showing papers on "Semen published in 1980"


01 Jan 1980
TL;DR: This laboratory manual consists of 2 sections which describe methods of examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction in order to standardize procedures and facilitate evaluation and comparison of research reports.
Abstract: This laboratory manual consists of 2 sections which describe methods of examination of human semen and semen-cervical mucus interaction in order to standardize procedures and facilitate evaluation and comparison of research reports The section on semen collection and examination discusses and makes recommendations for sample collection and delivery; initial examination; motility assessment estimation of sperm density; examination of particulate debris; agglutination; sperm viability; counting the spermatozoa; and analysis of morphological characteristics of germinal cells including preparation of seminal fluid smears staining method and classification and quantification of germinal cells and leucocytes Photomicrographs are provided to demonstrate morphological characteristics of normal and abnormal mature sperm immature germinal cells and leucocytes and epithelial cells Appendices provide information on frequency of various sperm forms in a normal ejaculate Papanicolaou staining procedure for sperm and the Bryan/Leishman stain for seminal fluid morphology smears A sample record for sperm analysis is also included The section on sperm-cervical mucus interaction describes the composition and characteristics of the mucus the collection procedure storage and preservation and evaluation including pH Methods of evaluating sperm-cervical mucus interaction are then described The timing and techniques of the post-coital test vaginal pool sample exocervical and low cervical samples and endocervical samples and their interpretation are discussed Instructions are provided for in vitro studies including the capillary tube test and the slide technique

2,141 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A comprehensive study of biochemical and morphological features of semen, plus culture for microorganisms, was performed in patients who were assessed for infertility during a four year period to define diagnostic criteria for male adnexitis.
Abstract: The diagnosis of male adnexitis is difficult and the influence of this condition on fertility is still a matter of debate. With the intention to define diagnostic criteria a comprehensive study of biochemical and morphological features of semen, plus culture for microorganisms, was performed in patients who were assessed for infertility during a four year period. The following parameters were considered of diagnostic value: a) history of urogenital infection and/or abnormal rectal palpation. b) significant alterations in the expressed prostatic fluid and/or urinary sediment after prostatic massage. c) 1. Uniform growth of more than 10(3) pathogenic bacteria, or more than 10(4) non-pathogenic bacteria per ml, in culture of diluted seminal plasma. c) 2. Presence of more than 10(6) (peroxidase positive) leucocytes per ml of ejaculate. c) 3. Signs of disturbed secretory function of the prostate or seminal vesicles. The diagnosis of infection is accepted if either of the following combinations if found: a + b, a + c (1 or 2 or 3), b + c (1 or 2 or 3), c1 + c2, c1 + c3, c2 + c3.

188 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The presence of superoxide dismutase in spermatozoa, either intracellularly or extracellularly, did not inhibit ascorbate/Fe2+-catalysed lipid-peroxidation reactions, suggesting that superoxides are not essential intermediates in this system.
Abstract: 1. The distribution and properties of superoxide dismutase were examined in mammalian semen, and the enzyme was used to investigate the role of superoxides in metal-ion-catalysed lipid-peroxidation reactions in spermatozoa. 2. Superoxide dismutase activity was detected in seminal plasma and spermatozoa from all species studied, exceptionally high activity being found in donkey semen. The enzyme is easily solubilized from spermatozoa, as 85-90% of the total activity is released by cold shock, a relatively mild form of cellular damage. 3. Purification and characterization of the enzyme from supernatant fractions prepared from cold-shocked boar spermatozoa showed it to be cyanide-sensitive, to have a mol.wt. of 31 000, a pI of 5.9 and to contain 1.85 g-atoms of copper and 1.91 g-atoms of zinc per mol of protein. However, extensive sonication of spermatozoa released a small amount of a cyanide-insensitive enzyme, presumably a mangano superoxide dismutase, from the mitochondrial matrix. 4. The presence of superoxide dismutase in spermatozoa, either intracellularly or extracellularly, did not inhibit ascorbate/Fe2+-catalysed lipid-peroxidation reactions, suggesting that superoxides are not essential intermediates in this system.

141 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The rate and pattern of sperm removal seem to primarily depend on the quality of spermatozoa entering the excurrent duct, and is assumed to be associated with phagocytosis of spermutozoa mainly in the efferent ductules and proximal part of caput epididymis.

101 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A new experimental and theoretical procedure is described for characterizing the penetration of spermatozoa into cervical mucus in vitro, and clinical application of the method to human semen and cervical mucUS is described, and sample results are presented.

99 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Cryopreservation trials on rainbow trout sperm were carried out using two basic extenders: Mounib's medium and Ménézo's medium to which were added bovine serum albumin and tellurite egg yolk, which gave better results.
Abstract: Cryopreservation trials on rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri) sperm were carried out using two basic extenders: Mounib's medium (M) and Menezo's medium (Me) to which were added bovine serum albumin (BSA) and tellurite egg yolk (Institut Pasteur). After 10 p. 100 of DMSO was added to these different deep-freeze diluents (DD), they were mixed with the sperm and then deep-frozen into 100 microliter pellets on dry ice. The pellets were stored in liquid nitrogen for periods lasting from 3 days to 6 months. The intensity of sperm motility and fertilizing ability were measured before and after cryopreservation. After the sperm was diluted in Menezo's medium, slight spermatozoon motility was noticed, which probably caused their early exhaustion and would explain the lower fertilizing ability observed after thawing. Mounib's medium gave better results, especially after 10 p. 100 of egg yolk was added. The optimal deep-freeze conditions were: 1/3 dilution, no equilibration after dilution but immediate deep-freezing at a rate of 10 to 40 degrees C/min. Thawing had to be carried out rapidly in 10 sec. However, the spermatozoa were altered during the freezing-thawing process, and during insemination more frozen spermatozoa had to be used to equal the fertilization rate obtained with non-frozen sperm. However, the fertile spermatozoa gave normal embryogenesis and no abnormal development was seen up to the vesicle resorption stage. At the end of spermiation, sperm fitness for deep-freezing decreased, perhaps due to sperm senescence. Pooling the sperm of several males partially compensated for the loss of fertilizing ability seen at the end of the reproductive period.

91 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
22 Aug 1980-JAMA
TL;DR: It appears that young men with testicular carcinoma or lymphoma are significantly less likely to be candidates for serum cryopreservation than are healthy young men.
Abstract: Twenty-two young men with testicular carcinoma or lymphoma were referred for semen cryopreservation before therapy that was expected to render them infertile. Criteria for potential fertility in the semen analysis after thawing included a sperm density of 20×10 6 /mL, motility in at least 40% of the spermatozoa, and an average motility grade of 2+. Five of the patients (23%) had semen qualities meeting the criteria for potential fertility. In contrast, 30 of 50 normal men (60%) of similar age screened for participation in an artificial insemination by donor program had semen meeting the criteria. Although the mechanism is not certain, it appears that young men with testicular carcinoma or lymphoma are significantly less likely to be candidates for serum cryopreservation than are healthy young men. ( JAMA 244:789-790, 1980)

85 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Jun 1980-Urology
TL;DR: The results of this study suggest that cryopreservation may be an unrealistic solution to the infertility that may result from the treatment of testicular cancer.

66 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: Semen and spermine caused a dose-related decrease in the number of CI, using a standardized infectious dose of Chlamydia trachomatis, immunotype F, and Lysozyme in certain concentrations stimulated CI formation, whereas the cations Cu++ and Zn++ produced a cytopathogenic effect and adose-related reduction of the CI count.
Abstract: Our purpose was to determine the effect of semen and some of its components upon chlamydial inclusion (CI) count and cytopathogenic effect in cycloheximide-treated McCoy cells. Semen and spermine caused a dose-related decrease in the number of CI, using a standardized infectious dose of Chlamydia trachomatis, immunotype F. Lysozyme in certain concentrations stimulated CI formation, whereas the cations Cu++ and Zn++ produced a cytopathogenic effect and a dose-related reduction of the CI count, EDTA neutralized the effects of the cations and its addition to seminal fluid experimentally infected with C. trachomatis resulted in a greater number of CI than found in control cultures containing only semen.

64 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The various results indicated that some factor(s) in the seminal plasma can preserve the nuclear chromatin stability of human spermatozoa and that this factor most likely is of prostatic origin.
Abstract: Nuclear chromatin decondensation (NCD) of human ejaculated spermatozoa exposed to sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) has been studied. A high proportion of NCD reacting spermatozoa was only found in semen samples with a relatively low activity of some prostatic factor(s) (i.e. zinc/fructose ratio below 0.18) in the seminal plasma. Exposure to SDS for one h was found sufficient to reveal the main proportion of spermatozoa undergoing NCD in such a solution. Addition of seminal plasma with an apparently normal composition to a sperm population with a high NCD reactivity restored the sperm SDS resistance to normal, i.e. blocked the NCD-response. Other results indicated that NCD reactivity was decreased or abolished upon prolonged storage of the spermatozoa in the seminal plasma. The various results indicated that some factor(s) in the seminal plasma can preserve the nuclear chromatin stability of human spermatozoa and that this factor most likely is of prostatic origin.,

61 citations



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was found that contact of seminal vesicle fluid with the other accessory sex gland secretions or spermatozoa does not seem to be essential for the formation of the coagulum, and that heparin and sodium citrate do not affect coagula formation, indicating a difference between the seminal coagulation process and that of the blood clot.
Abstract: The coagulation and liquefaction process of human semen was studied in some detail. It was found that contact of seminal vesicle fluid with the other accessory sex gland secretions or spermatozoa does not seem to be essential for the formation of the coagulum, and that heparin and sodium citrate do not affect coagulum formation, indicating a difference between the seminal coagulation process and that of the blood clot. Regarding the liquefaction process of the seminal coagulum, it was shown that 1) spermatozoa do not influence liquefaction; 2) that the seminal plasminogen activator, lysozyme, α-amylase, pepsin, and neuramini dase are not the primary liquefying factors; 3) that the liquefying agent is present in the first portion of a split ejaculate, is heat labile, is partially destroyed by freezing at −20 C but is stable to lyophilization, is precipitable with (NH4)2SO4, is not affected by serum or EDTA, and is inhibited by rabbit bile but not by the seminal plasma proteinase inhibitors, the Kunitz pancreatic trypsin inhibitor, or epsilon-aminocaproic acid (EACA). All of these prop erties are characteristics of the seminal en zyme, seminin. A partially purified preparation of this enzyme enhanced liquefaction, and two patients who had low seminin activity pos sessed poorly lysing coagula. These findings confirm that seminin is the agent primarily re sponsible for liquefaction of the seminal coagulum of man. The data further show that liquefaction of the seminal coagulum occurs by a different mechanism than that of the lysis of the blood clot.

Journal Article
TL;DR: Seemingly, equine spermatozoa are infertile until they enter the cauda epididymis and from ejaculated semen were evaluated for their resistance to cold shock, progressive motility, and structural stability.
Abstract: Spermatozoa from four regions of the epididymis and from ejaculated semen were evaluated for their resistance to cold shock, progressive motility, and structural stability. Spermatozoa were incubated at 38 C and their percentage of eosinophilia was compared with that of spermatozoa cooled to 0 C in 2 minutes, 10 C in 12 minutes, or 4 C in 22 minutes. Spermatozoa motility was estimated visually under phase-contrast microscopy and was recorded by cinematography. Structural stability of spermatozoa incubated in 0.05 M sodium borate buffer, 0.035 M sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), 0.002 M dithiothreitol (DTT), or SDS+DDT was evaluated by phase-contrast and electron microscopy. The percentage of eosinophilic spermatozoa did not differ among regions of the epididymis and was not increased by cold shock. Cooling ejaculated spermatozoa to 0 C in 2 minutes increased (P < 0.01) the occurrence of eosinophilia (32% vs 73%). Spermatozoa released from the caput or proximal corpus epididymidis into 0.154 M NaCl were not progressively motile; only 4% of the spermatozoa from the distal corpus were motile Cauda epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa exhibited similar motility (41% vs 47%). Stability of chromatin was greater in spermatozoa from the distal corpus than those from the caput epididymis. Chromatin of spermatozoa from the distal corpus was resistant to 7.5 minutes of SDS+DTT treatment, whereas virtually all spermatozoal nuclei from the caput were decondensed by SDS alone. Tail organelles of spermatozoa acquired stability between the proximal corpus and the cauda epididymidis. All tail organelles of spermatozoa from the proximal corpus were dissolved by 7.5 minutes of SDS treatment, whereas tail organelles of distal corpus epididymal spermatozoa had dissolved after 7.5 minutes of SDS+DTT treatment. Stability of tail organelles in cauda epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa was similar. Seemingly, equine spermatozoa are infertile until they enter the cauda epididymidis.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The effect of six metabolically active compounds, namely caffeine, kallikrein, cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate, prostaglandin E, triiodothyronine, and insulin on spermatozoal motility was investigated as discussed by the authors.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this paper, the secretions of Cowper's gland (male goat) or of the seminal vesicles (boar) were implicated in the depressive effect of the non-epidymal plasma fraction on the maintenance of sperm motility.
Abstract: In sperm cell populations kept in vitro, the profiles of motile cell number and motility are always influenced by the seminal plasma. The non-epididymal fraction of the seminal plasma first enhanced and then depressed bull, ram and goat sperm motility or immediately depressed that of horses and rabbits. The secretions of Cowper's gland (male goat) or of the seminal vesicles (boar) were implicated in the depressive effect of the non-epididymal plasma fraction on the maintenance of sperm motility. These secretions were responsible for variations in motility correlated with variations in sperm fertility. The level and significance of these correlations indicated that the seminal plasma might be involved in sperm fertility, perhaps owing to a type A lecithinase secreted by Cowper's gland (bull, ram and male goat) or by a protein of vesicular origin (boar).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A simple and fast method for collecting honeybee semen in large quantity is described, and there was a delay before oviposition by all the instrumentally inseminated queens, which was greatest for queens inSEminated with semen col...
Abstract: SummaryA simple and fast method for collecting honeybee semen in large quantity is described. Semen and mucus of many drones, everted and ejaculated by hand, were scraped into Kiev diluent in a semen-washing funnel and a collecting tube. The semen-mucus-diluent mixture was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 10 min to separate semen from mucus and the diluent. The collecting tube containing semen was incorporated into a special large-capacity syringe, and the semen was used to inseminate queen honeybees.No significant differences were found in the amount of brood produced between 31 queens instrumentally inseminated with semen collected by this method, queens inseminated with semen collected by the conventional Mackensen technique, and open-mated queens (P > 0·05 in all cases). However, significant differences were observed in the onset of oviposition (P < 0·05 in all cases). There was a delay before oviposition by all the instrumentally inseminated queens, which was greatest for queens inseminated with semen col...



Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There was no correlation between sperm recovery and the quality of the post‐insemination cervical mucus examination, and this test allows more accurate assessment of the ability of spermatozoa to reach the site of fertilization.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Observations indicate that components of the seminal plasma are important for efficient entry of human spermatozoa into cervical mucus.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Seminal plasma GSH-Px appeared highly sensitive to changes in Se status since enzyme levels tripled within 48 h following the 5 mg injection, and neither postcollection nor post-thaw semen quality was influenced by Se injections.
Abstract: A 9 month study was conducted to determine the influence of selenium (Se) injections on blood and semen Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSII-Px) levels in bulls that were moderately Se-deficient. The effects of Se injections on semen production and quality were also examined. Five Holstein bulls were assigned to either a Se or no Se treatment based on their pretreatment seminal production and quality characteristics. Three bulls were given i.m. injections of 5, 10, 20, or 40 mg Se as sodium selenite per 90 kg BW at 6, 16, 22, and 28 weeks, respectively, after initiation of the experiment. Two bulls received sham injections at the same times and served as controls. Blood samples were collected weekly from each bull and assayed for GSII-Px and selenium. Semen was collected 3 times weekly from each bull and assayed for GSII-Px activity in the seminal plasma. Thirteen weeks after initiation of the experiment, semen from each bull was analyzed for Se on a weekly basis. Ejaculates from each bull were evaluated for volume, concentration of spermatozoa, percentage of motile spermatozoa, percentage of intact acrosomes and spermatozoal morphology immediately postcollection. Post-thaw semen quality was determined from two ejaculates from each bull per week. Frozen semen was thawed, incubated for 4 h at 37#{176}C, and spermatozoa were evaluated for post-thaw percentage of motile spermatozoa and percentage of intact acrosomes. Selenium injections increased blood Se (P<0.05), blood GSII-Px (P

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A widely scattered range of sperm concentration was found among the fathered men which may indicate that the incidence of pregnancy is a multifactorial statistical probability which increases when the quality of the semen is high.
Abstract: Six hundred and twenty seven men, whose wives conceived within 6 month of their semen analysis, were included in this study. Attention was focused on 516 men where conception occurred within 3 months of semen analysis. The quality of the seminal plasma (volume pH, fructose and calcium concentrations) and the spermatozoal characterization (concentration, motility, vitality and morphology) are given in details. It was concluded that spermatozoal motility and morphology are the most crucial factors in determining its fertilizing capacity. Measurement of vitality is important only in hypokinetic specimens. Sperm density is a limiting factor only below 10 million/ml. A widely scattered range of sperm concentration was found among the fathered men which may indicate that the incidence of pregnancy is a multifactorial statistical probability which increases when the quality of the semen is high.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results of this study show how and to what degree efficacy in A.I.D. can be improved by a judicious choice of the semen to be utilized and the number of inseminations to be practiced.
Abstract: A comparison was made between successful (167) and unsuccessful (1322) insemination cycles in order to evaluate the role in conception of different semen characteristics. The most important semen variable was found to be post-thaw motility: the success rate per cycle increased from 7% when post-thaw motility was less than or equal to 40% to 17% when it was greater than or equal to 65%. Multiple inseminations in a cycle increased the success rate primarily when semen quality was poor. The results of this study show how and to what degree efficacy in A.I.D. can be improved by a judicious choice of the semen to be utilized and the number of inseminations to be practiced.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The numbers of spermatozoa recovered in the oviduct were at these times apparently related to the sperm depots in the uterotubal junction, and the sperm count in Segment I varied significantly with time, being hiigest 2 h after insemination.
Abstract: Twenty-four gilts were inseminated pair-wise with live or dead spermatozoa from the same ejaculate. The insemination dose was 100 ml undiluted semen containing, on average, 19×109 spermatozoa. The gilts were slaughtered 1, 2, 6 and 12 h after insemination. The numbers of spermatozoa were counted in the uterus, uterotubal junction and in four equally long segments of the oviduct, called I–IV, with a haemocytometer. IV was adjacent to the uterotubal junction. The numbers of spermatozoa recovered in the uterus diminished significantly during the first 12 h after insemination. From gilts inseminated with live spermatozoa more spermatozoa were recovered in the uterotubal junction than from gilts inseminated with dead spermatozoa. Two h after insemination spermatozoa were recovered in all oviducts. Significantly more live than dead spermatozoa were recovered in Segments III and IV of the oviduct, regardless of time. In gilts inseminated with live spermatozoa the sperm count in Segment I varied significantly with time, being hiigest 2 h after insemination. At 6 and 12 h there were no distinct differences in the distribution of live spermatozoa between the various oviduct segments. The numbers of spermatozoa recovered in the oviduct were at these times apparently related to the sperm depots in the uterotubal junction.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The quality of semen appeared to be of critical importance to sperm storage and the percentage of colonized crypts and sperm density were severly reduced in patients inseminated with abnormal semen.

Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 1980-Urology
TL;DR: In the laboratory, seminal zinc is measured as a marker of prostatic secretion to establish normal values and define the confidence limits for this assay.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Semen samples collected by rectal probe electroejaculation techniques from groups of adult male rhesus monkeys provided data that will aid investigators who are screening animals for studies involving reproductive potential.
Abstract: Semen samples were collected by rectal probe electroejaculation techniques from groups of adult male rhesus monkeys. Mean values for 249 ejaculates from 100 monkeys were a sperm concentration of 419.43 x 10(6)/cm3 with 53.9% of the sperm showing progressive movement. Sperm concentration showed a positive rank correlation coefficient with sperm motility. Significant motility and concentration differences were found among groups. Seasonal differences were noted but were not significant. The study provides data that will aid investigators who are screening animals for studies involving reproductive potential.

Journal Article
TL;DR: Lipid P levels were significantly higher in seminal plasma of azoospermic and vasectomized male subjects ( p < 0.001) than that of controls and a highly significant increase of Na was seen in the azoOSpermic group while Na levels in the seminal Plasma of both groups remained the same.
Abstract: This study attempts to analyze the levels of lipid P (phosphorus); Na (sodium); K (potassium) and Zn (zinc) in the seminal plasma of normal vasectomized and azoospermic males. Semen samples were obtained from normal healthy and vasectomized (6 months to 2 years) male volunteers by masturbation. P lipid levels were determined by the method of Youngberg as modified by Hawk et al. Na and K levels were measured by EEL flame photometer while Beckman-495 was used to measure Zn level. Lipid P levels were significantly higher in seminal plasma of azoospermic and vasectomized male subjects ( p < 0.001) than that of controls. A highly significant increase of Na was seen in the azoospermic group while Na levels in the seminal plasma of both groups remained the same. No effect on K levels were detected. Significantly lowered levels of Zn (p < 0.02) were seen in the seminal plasma of both groups (p < 0.02).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Selenium, (Se) content of selected tissues and semen and various spermatozoa parameters were evaluated in yearling Angus bulls given supplemental Se but had no apparent influence on sperm cell viability, number or Se concentration.
Abstract: Selenium, (Se) content of selected tissues and semen and various spermatozoa parameters were evaluated in yearling Angus bulls given supplemental Se. Twenty-four bulls were allotted to two treatment groups: control (n-12) and Se (n-12). Se bulls were given an initial 10ml IM injection containing 50 mg of Se, then injections of 30 mg Se at 21-day intervals for 150 days. Pooled Se concentration (ppm) in serum collected at 21-day intervals averaged .01 and .08 (P < .001) for control and Se bulls, respectively. After 5 months of supplementation, eight bulls in each group were electroejaculated, and semen was processed and frozen for subsequent examination. Bulls were slaughtered for collection of testes, epididymides, seminal vesicles, kidney and liver tissues. Se (ppm) in kidney, liver, seminal vesicle, testis, caput, corpus and cauda epididymis of control and Se-treated bulls was, respectively: .84 and 1.27 (P < .005); .1 and .37 (P < .001); .1 and .21 (P < .001); .35 and .42 (P < .005); .39 and .44; .31 and .34, and .71 and .78. Se (ppm) in extended whole semen, the supernatant fraction and sperm pellet fraction from control and Se-treated bulls was, respectively: .07 and .16 (P < .004); .04 and .13 (P < .001), and .03 and .03. Percentage viability of thawed spermatozoa for control and Se-treated bulls was 26.5 and 23.1, respectively. No differences were observed between control and Se-treated bulls with respect to sperm concentration in the testis and caput, corpus and cauda epididymis. Se treatment of yearling Angus bulls increased the Se concentration of various tissues but had no apparent influence on sperm cell viability, number or Se concentration.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The results suggested that defective sperm penetration as delineated by this study is an unlikely contributor to the explanation of the long-term infertility of couples.