Showing papers on "Semen published in 1981"
TL;DR: Initiation of the sperm acrosome reaction among mammals could be the first fusion process found to be physiologically modulated through the membrane bilayer cholesterol level.
Abstract: A survey of species differences in the duration of capacitation, T, has revealed that they closely correlate with sperm cholesterol/phospholipid mole ratios, R : T = 8R - 1 (r2 = 0.97, in which r is Pearson's correlation coefficient). Because uterine cells displayed low relative cholesterol concentrations, spermatozoa evidently experience a negative external cholesterol gradient (positive phospholipid gradient) during capacitation. A decrease in sperm R-value is suggested, therefore, to accompany capacitation. The idea received strong support from a kinetic analysis of capacitation intervals, based on the rate of cholesterol efflux from sperm cells in utero. Lipid-binding serum proteins in uterine fluid are attributed with removing a sterol barrier to the Ca2+-facilitated membrane fusion that initiates the acrosome reaction. Tight cell junctions prevent permeation of the male generative tract by these proteins (capacitation factors). Furthermore, seminal plasma contains a decapacitation factor, identified as a membrane vesicle (cholesterol donor) component of this fluid, that reverses capacitation. Initiation of the sperm acrosome reaction among mammals could be the first fusion process found to be physiologically modulated through the membrane bilayer cholesterol level.
306 citations
TL;DR: The usefulness of this simple method as a diagnostic aid in men with infertility and urogenital disease was illustrated by the analysis of two abnormal semen samples.
138 citations
TL;DR: The results support the idea that deficient sperm fertilizing capacity often is a characteristic of poor-quality semen, and the interspecies in vitro fertilization test might be useful as an additional tool in clinical investigations of the fertility of the male partners of childless couples.
123 citations
TL;DR: It was shown that fluid stirring by spermatozoa is an important mechanism of transfer of dissolved ions, molecules, and gases to and from the cell surface and activated hamster sperm stir substantially more fluid than do preactivatedHamster sperm, even though their power outputs are not significantly different.
Abstract: This study investigated the relationships of sperm body morphology and flagellar beat frequency and shape with the swimming velocity, power output, and stirring of nearby fluid by the spermatozoa of several mammals. Hamster spermatozoa were studied before and after the motility activation which is associated with capacitation and the acrosome reaction in that species. Human spermatozoa were assessed while swimming progressively in semen, and also while exhibiting the figure-of-eight beat pattern seen in cervical mucus and other media of high viscosity. Ram spermatozoa were studied while swimming in diluted semen. Data obtained from high-speed cinemicrography were applied to a computerized mathematical model of the hydrodynamics of sperm movement. The results demonstrate the relationships between sperm hydrodynamics and morphology, flagellar beat frequency, and shape. Many of these relationships are highly nonlinear, so that small differences in geometrical parameters of morphology and movement can produce large differences in hydrodynamic characteristics. Thus, hamster spermatozoa (preactivated) swim faster and expend more energy than ram spermatozoa which, in turn, exceed human spermatozoa in these measures. However, there is sufficient geometrical similarity in the morphologies and movement characteristics of these spermatozoa that appropriate grouping of various parameters results in dimensionless expressions with general applicability. Thus, the conclusions resulting from the present work can be used in studying the spermatozoa of other mammals as well. It was also shown that fluid stirring by spermatozoa, as opposed to smaller microorganisms, is an important mechanism of transfer of dissolved ions, molecules, and gases to and from the cell surface. In this regard, activated hamster sperm stir substantially more fluid than do preactivated hamster sperm, even though their power outputs are not significantly different.
119 citations
TL;DR: In the majority of instances spermatozoa lost their motility when mixed with fresh urine specimens and it is suggested that patients with retrograde ejaculation should adequately increase their fluid intake before recovery of sperm from their bladder for artificial insemination.
107 citations
TL;DR: Preoperative serum levels are highly predictive of ability to impregnate after reversal of vasectomy and sperm agglutinins emerging from the reopened part of the vas deferens are associated with their presence in the serum.
101 citations
TL;DR: It appears that the CMPT, an easy office test, allows greater discrimination of sperm function than semen analysis alone and is a useful tool for the diagnosis and management of infertility.
100 citations
TL;DR: Proteolytic events shown to occur during the liquefaction of semen that occurs early after collection indicate the importance of carefully controlled collection and preparation methods for clinical evaluation of seminal plasma.
Abstract: The proteins in human seminal plasma were mapped by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis (ISO-DALT and BASO-DALT systems). When analyzed under dissociating conditions, samples from normal fertile males revealed a pattern of over 200 proteins, ranging in mass from 10 000 to 100 000 daltons. Comparison of the mapped proteins from these males and those who had undergone vasectomy allowed us to identify one series of glycoproteins as missing from the semen from vasectomized individuals. Glycoproteins isolated by affinity chromatography with use of concanavalin A were also mapped. Some of the protein spots were identified either by co-electrophoresis with purified proteins or by the electrophoretic transfer of proteins to nitrocellulose sheets and subsequent detection by immunological procedures. The proteins identified include a number of serum proteins as well as prostatic acid phosphatase and creatine kinase. Proteolytic events shown to occur during the liquefaction of semen that occurs early after collection indicate the importance of carefully controlled collection and preparation methods for clinical evaluation of seminal plasma. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride inhibit this proteolysis.
95 citations
TL;DR: Frozen semen used for artificial insemination under practical circumstances can be expected to result in a farrowing rate about 30 percentage points lower and a litter size about three pigs smaller than does fresh semen.
Abstract: A field trial was conducted on 36 farms in the Netherlands to compare the fertilizing capacity of fresh and frozen-thawed boar spermatozoa. Four-hundred and fifty-one sows were artificially inseminated with semen than that had been frozen and thawed according to the Beltsville Method or diluted in Kiev extender and inseminated on the day of collection. Twelve boars of the Dutch Landrace and Dutch Large White breeds were used. Farrowing rates, total number of pigs per litter and number of live pigs per litter were higher (P less than .0001) for sows inseminated with fresh semen than for sows inseminated with frozen-thawed semen (79.1%, 10.6 and 9.9 vs 47.0%, 7.4 and 7.1, respectively). Farrowing rates for sows inseminated with frozen-thawed semen were higher when semen from Dutch Large White boars was used than when semen from Dutch Landrace boars was used (58.6 vs 40.9%); the pattern reversed for insemination with fresh semen (76.5 vs 81%). Boar differences based on farrowing rate ranged from 62 to 92% for fresh semen and from 29 to 72% from frozen semen. There was no inseminator effect or farm effect on farrowing rate. On the basis of these results, frozen semen used for artificial insemination under practical circumstances can be expected to result in a farrowing rate about 30 percentage points lower and a litter size about three pigs smaller than does fresh semen.
86 citations
TL;DR: The alteration in the composition of the sperm population appeared to result from exclusion by the mucus of most classes of abnormal sperm.
TL;DR: An insemination programme to produce high fertility and hatchability with semen which had been deep frozen for 2 months was devised and chicks were produced by every hen that was inseminated and from every male whose semen was frozen and stored.
Abstract: 1. A method of freezing semen of individual males was adapted for use under farm conditions using an automated freezing apparatus. 2. An insemination programme to produce high fertility and hatchability with semen which had been deep frozen for 2 months was devised. 3. Over 90% fertile eggs with a 90% hatch of all eggs set was obtained with frozen and thawed semen over a period from the 2nd to the 12th day after the first of four inseminations. The persistency of fertility was also tested and 93, 86.6 and 30.7% of the eggs were fertile during days 2 to 6, 2 to 8 and 9 to 15 after the last insemination. 4. Corresponding with the high fertility rate, chicks were produced by every hen that was inseminated and from every male whose semen was frozen and stored. The implications for future breeding practices of this successful result are discussed.
TL;DR: Improvement of the percentage of motility alone did not give a significant improvement in conception rates when compared with accepted cycles with the placebo, and the motile fraction was used for AIH treatment of 20 couples.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: It is concluded that routine fecal cultures at bull studs will reveal infected bulls before they become genitally infected and shed M paratuberculosis in semen.
Abstract: Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the cause of Johne's disease, was isolated from the feces of a donor bull in an artificial insemination stud. During isolation and observation for 21 months, the organism was recovered from all of 26 fecal samples and from 8 of 31 semen samples. At necropsy, it was isolated from the intestine and adjacent lymph nodes, lung, spleen, seminal vesicles, and prostate gland but not from the testicles. We concluded that routine fecal cultures at bull studs will reveal infected bulls before they become genitally infected and shed M paratuberculosis in semen.
TL;DR: The spermatozoa were capable of fusing with zona-free hamster eggs only after preincubation for 2 h, suggesting the need for sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction before fertilization in this species.
Abstract: Semen from a male dolphin in captivity was collected by electro-ejaculation and frozen to -176 degrees C. Sperm motility was excellent after thawing 10 days later. Electron microscopy showed 14-16 parallel ridges in the post-acrosomal region and two types of mitochondria in the mid-piece. The spermatozoa were capable of fusing with zona-free hamster eggs only after preincubation for 2 h, suggesting the need for sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction before fertilization in this species.
01 Jan 1981
TL;DR: Spermatozoa, unlike other body cells, are endowed with two clearly discernible biological properties, namely the capacity to move fast and to fertilize, a remarkable combination of attributes, each inherent in a different constituent structure of the sperm cell.
Abstract: Some of the fascination which Bonnet so marvellously expressed in his letter to Spallanzani, we surely share to this day; to a great extent it arises from the fact that spermatozoa, unlike other body cells, are endowed with two clearly discernible biological properties (of which at last we begin to know rather more than our illustrious predecessors), namely the capacity to move fast and to fertilize, a remarkable combination of attributes, each inherent in a different constituent structure of the sperm cell
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The semen backflow collected during mating and during the subsequent two hours contained a mean number of 23 billion spermatozoa, which decreased significantly during the first 12 hours after mating and did not vary significantly with the time factor.
Abstract: Twelve gifts were naturally inseminated by one of two fertile boars. The semen backflow collected during mating and during the subsequent two hours contained a mean number of 23 billion spermatozoa. The gilts were slaughtered at 2, 6 and 12 hours after mating. The numbers of spermatozoa were counted in the uterus, uterotubal junction and in four equally long segments of the oviduct. The numbers of spermatozoa recovered in the uterus diminished significantly during the first 12 hours after mating. The numbers of spermatozoa recovered in the UTJ did not vary significantly with the time factor. No relationship was found between ovarian activity and numbers of spermatozoa recovered from the ipsilateral uterine horn. The statistical comparison of the numbers of spermatozoa within oviductal segments in respect to time revealed no significant differences.
TL;DR: In this article, the influence of fertility and timing of insemination on the success of AID with either fresh or cryopreserved semen was investigated, and the results indicated that frozen semen is less efficacious than fresh semen, a difference that is compounded by the presence of ovulatory dysfunction in the recipient.
TL;DR: The feasibility of a simple, inexpensive technique of short-term preservation of human spermatozoa in TEST-yolk buffer is demonstrated and results obtained in this study are in agreement with similar studies performed on domestic animals.
TL;DR: With increasing durations of abstinence from ejaculation before the tests there were significant increases in semen volume and sperm concentration, and significant changes in results accompanied repeated testing, notably rises in sperm concentration and motility.
Abstract: UNLABELLED Infertile men who had 3 or more semen analyses performed in one laboratory were placed in 2 groups (I) oligozoospermic group (n = 106), mean sperm concentration between 1 and 20 million/ml (II) asthenozoospermic group (n = 71), mean sperm concentration greater than 20 million/ml, and mean motility less than 60%. With increasing durations of abstinence from ejaculation before the tests there were significant increases in semen volume and sperm concentration. Semen volume increased over the first 4 days to a similar extent in both groups. Sperm concentrations increased over 15 days, but the effect of abstinence was much greater in the asthenozoospermic group than in the oligozoospermic group (14% compared with 1.4% of the within subject variation). Significant changes in results accompanied repeated testing, notably rises in sperm concentration and motility. Sperm motility was lower in winter and higher in summer in both groups and also, but to a lesser extent, in artificial insemination donors who collected semen in the laboratory. CONCLUSIONS duration of abstinence, the elapse of time and seasonal temperature changes affect semen analysis results, and therefore controls for these variables must be incorporated in any therapeutic trial for male infertility. On the other hand, they only account for a small proportion of the total variability and thus routine correction of results would not greatly improve the value of semen analysis in the prediction of fertility. Furthermore because differences in the duration of abstinence have only a small effect on sperm concentration in oligozoospermic men, restricting sexual intercourse to the time of ovulation may not enhance fertility.
TL;DR: The results of free L(-)-carnitine determinations in split ejaculates and the absence of a correlation between L(--carnItine and fructose concentrations in semen from normal subjects indicate that the seminal vesicles make only a minor contribution to L (-)-c Carnitine in the seminal plasma.
Abstract: It has often been suggested that determination of free L(-)-carnitine in seminal plasma may provide a good indication of epididymal function. However there has been disagreement regarding the origin of L(-)-carnitine (epididymis and seminal vesicles) and its concentration in human seminal plasma. In this study free L(-)-carnitine was determined after deproteinization with an enzymatic spectrophotometric method. In 29 semen samples from fathers and with normal spermiograms (semen volume between 2 and 6 ml sperm count over 20.10 /ml more than 50% motile spermatozoa) the total free L(-)-carnitine in the seminal plasma was 1010 nmoles (SD: +or- 480) in 16 samples from vasectomized men it was 131 nmoles (SD: +or- 77) and in 5 from men with agensis of the vas deferens and seminal vesicles it was 21 nmoles (SD: +or- 25). These results suggest that free L(-)-carnitine in the seminal fluid is predominantly of epididymal origin. The results of free L(-)-carnitine determinations in split ejaculates and the absence of a correlation between L(-)-carnitine and fructose concentrations in semen from normal subjects indicate that the seminal vesicles make only a minor contribution to L(-)-carnitine in the seminal plasma. (authors)
TL;DR: Two categories of fertile men were investigated: semen donor candidates for artificial insemination and pre-vasectomy subjects, and the group studied seemed to be as representative and as well defined as possible.
Abstract: The semen characteristics studied were the sperm count, semen volume, morphology and pre-freeze and post-thaw motility. Two categories of fertile men were investigated: semen donor candidates for artificial insemination and pre-vasectomy subjects. Since mean values for each variable in the two series were similar, they could be considered as a single group of 484 fertile men. Only those subjects whose ejaculates were obtained after an abstinence of 5 days or less were retained. The distribution, mean and percentiles were determined for each variable. The 10th and 90th percentiles for sperm count, percentage of motile forms and percentage of normal cells were respectively 25 and 180 million per ml, 60% and 80% and 50% ad 75%. The three variables, sperm count, semen volume and total number of spermatozoa which were dependent on abstinence were analysed in the same manner for 3 days of abstinence. The group studied seemed to be as representative and as well defined as possible.
TL;DR: Videotapes were analyzed to assess sperm motility and morphology in the semen of 5 fertile donors and 20 infertile patients and values obtained for abnormal morphology more often were immotile or weakly motile than were the normal sperm in the same ejaculates.
TL;DR: An in vitro penetration assay utilizing human sperm and zona-free hamster eggs was employed to evaluate human sperm fertilizing capacity for 36 patients from the infertility clinic and 9 donors of proven fertility; however, penetration test results did not correlate positively with the survival index (sperm survival at the end of insemination).
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The study of morphologic forms of spermatozoal acrosomes proved useful for assessing the cryoprotective property of semen diluents in the blesbok and dorcas gazelle.
Abstract: Semen collected by electroejaculation from selected captive wild ungulates was used to evaluate the cryoprotective ability of 4 semen diluents. Three species of ungulates were used: blesbok (Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi), dorcas gazelle (Gazella dorcas), and onager (Equus hemionus onager). Fresh semen was immediately evaluated for the percentage of motility and the progressive motility, and an aliquot was fixed for evaluation of the acrosomal integrity of spermatozoa. The remaining volume of ejaculate was divided into equal aliquots and either frozen raw on dry ice or extended with each of the 4 diluents. Samples were concurrently equilibrated at 5 C, frozen on dry ice, and stored in liquid nitrogen. Aliquots were thawed for evaluation of motility traits and spermatozoal acrosomes. Each diluent provided cryoprotection in each species. However, spermatozoa varied in ability to survive cryopreservation, and postthaw viability was influenced by the semen diluent used. Although ineffective in the onager, the study of morphologic forms of spermatozoal acrosomes proved useful for assessing the cryoprotective property of semen diluents in the blesbok and dorcas gazelle.
TL;DR: Comparison of the semen characteristics of both groups indicated that infection in the semen did not significantly affect the count, motility or volume of the specimen.
Abstract: Microbiological analysis has been performed on semen from 174 males, 83 with a normal semen analysis and 91 from infertile married men with oligospermia and/or asthenospermia. Using the diagnostic criteria published by WHO (1979), 15% of the fertile male and 36% of the subfertile males were found to have infection present in the semen (P < 0.05). Comparison of the semen characteristics of both groups indicated that infection in the semen did not significantly affect the count, motility or volume of the specimen.
TL;DR: Sperm concentration, sperm output and glycerylphosphorylcholine concentrations of the second fraction showed evidence of a seasonal variation with highest values recorded in the months of March, April, May and June.
Abstract: Semen (collected by digital manipulation) and peripheral blood samples were obtained twice weekly from five fully grown Beagle dogs for a twelve month period from 1st August to 31st July. Sperm concentration, sperm output and glycerylphosphorylcholine concentrations of the second fraction showed evidence of a seasonal variation with highest values recorded in the months of March, April, May and June. The libido of the dogs, volume of ejaculate, percentage dead and abnormal spermatozoa, sperm motility and plasma testosterone concentration showed no evidence of seasonal change.
TL;DR: Although concentrations of Se in serum, semen and reproductive tissues were much lower in control boars than in treated boars, no apparent impairment of sperm morphology or viability resulted from low Se status.
Abstract: A study was conducted with 24 crossbred boars (77.5 +/- 2.8 days of age) to determine the effects of low Se status on various spermatozoal characteristics and on Se concentration in semen, serum and primary and accessory reproductive tissues. All boars were fed a low Se diet (cornstarch and Torula yeast) ad libitum. Twelve boars were injected every 14 +/- 1 days with sodium selenite (.33 mg Se/kg body weight) and 12 served as saline-treated controls (low Se status). At 210 +/- 5 days of age, six boars in each group were slaughtered, and serum and various tissues were collected and assayed for Se. Treated boars had higher concentrations of Se in the serum (P less than .001), kidney (P less than .001), liver (P less than .001), heart (P less than .001), skeletal muscle (P less than .01), testis (P less than .01), epididymis (P less than .05), seminal vesicle (P less than .01), bulbourethral gland (P less than .001) and prostate (P less than .001) tissues. Starting at 230 +/- 4 days of age, semen samples were collected from the remaining boars at 4- to 6-day intervals until a total of four ejaculates had been obtained from all but two boars. There were no significant treatment differences in semen volume, percentage normal spermatozoa, percentage viability or spermatozoa concentration/milliliter; however, for combined semen Se data, treated boars had more Se than control boars in the whole semen (.165 vs .07 ppm, respectively), spermatozoa (.418 vs .199 micrograms/10(9) spermatozoa, respectively) and seminal plasma (.03 vs .007 ppm, respectively). The boars were castrated around 250 days of age, and no differences in testis length, diameter, weight and spermatozoal concentration were found between groups. Additionally, there were no apparent differences in daily gain, daily feed consumed and the feed to gain ratio between control and treated boars. Although concentrations of Se in serum, semen and reproductive tissues were much lower in control boars than in treated boars, no apparent impairment of sperm morphology or viability resulted from low Se status.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Semen isolations although not significantly higher in infertile males, were all made from ejaculates, with subnormal motility, low sperm counts and/or a high percentage of midpiece and tail abnormalities (bent or tightly coiled).
Abstract: The genital mycoplasma and ureaplasma flora was compared in 136 dogs with varied reproductive histories. Mycoplasmas were recovered from 88% of vulvovaginal swabs, 85% preputial swabs and 72% semen samples. Isolation rates were slightly higher from dogs that were infertile or had evidence of genital disease but the differences from those that were fertile or clinically normal were statistically significant only in the male. Ureaplasmas were recovered from half the females sampled. Higher, but not statistically significant isolation rates (75%) were made from infertile females with purulent vulvar discharge versus those that were clinically normal and fertile (40%). In the male dog there was a significantly higher incidence of ureaplasmas in the prepuce of infertile animals (69%) than those that were fertile (0%) (p less than or equal to 0.05). Semen isolations although not significantly higher in infertile males, were all made from ejaculates, with subnormal motility, low sperm counts and/or a high percentage of midpiece and tail abnormalities (bent or tightly coiled).
TL;DR: It is suggested that sperm storage glands fill and empty at the same rates early and late in a breeding cycle, but fewer glands contain spermatozoa in the latter part of the season, resulting in a decreased fertility.