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Showing papers on "Semen published in 1989"


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The phenotypic sex ratio at birth was accurately predicted from the flow-cytometrically measured proportion of X- and Y-bearing sperm used for insemination.
Abstract: Intact, viable X and Y chromosome-bearing sperm populations of the rabbit were separated according to DNA content with a flow cytometer/cell sorter. Reanalysis for DNA of an aliquot from each sorted population showed purities of 86% for X-bearing sperm and 81% for Y-bearing sperm populations. Sorted sperm were surgically inseminated into the uterus of rabbits. From does inseminated with sorted X-bearing sperm, 94% of the offspring born were females. From does inseminated with sorted Y-bearing sperm from the same ejaculates, 81% of the offspring were males. The probability of the phenotypic sex ratios differing from 50:50 were p less than 0.0003 for X-sorted sperm and p less than 0.004 for Y-sorted sperm. Thus, the phenotypic sex ratio at birth was accurately predicted from the flow-cytometrically measured proportion of X- and Y-bearing sperm used for insemination.

435 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
C Jeulin, J. C. Soufir1, P Weber1, D Laval-Martin1, R Calvayrac1 
TL;DR: The data suggest a multiglandular function secreted by this organ, and the catalase activities measured in seminal samples from asthenozoospermic, infertile men were found lower than those from normozoos permic subjects.
Abstract: Catalase activity was determined in human semen by measuring the oxygen burst with a Clark electrode, after H2O2 addition. Significant catalase activities (mean +/- SD) were found in migrated, motile spermatozoa (44 +/- 17 nmoles O2/min/10(8) cells) and in seminal plasma of normozoospermic men (129 +/- 59 nmoles O2/min/ml). It has been demonstrated that seminal catalase originated from prostate; however, its activity was not correlated with the usual prostatic markers (such as citric acid and zinc). Our data suggest a multiglandular function secreted by this organ. The catalase activities measured in seminal samples from asthenozoospermic, infertile men were found lower than those from normozoospermic subjects. The understanding of the relative contribution of the different enzyme systems against O2 toxicity (superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase) seem to be a priority area of research to understand disturbances of sperm function.

248 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Assessment of the relationship between sperm binding to the hemizona and in vitro fertilization (IVF) success enhanced confidence that the HZA is diagnostic for identification of patients at high risk of failing to achieve fertilization in vitro.
Abstract: The hemizona assay (HZA) was developed to assess human sperm fertilizing potential. This blinded study investigated the relationship between sperm binding to the hemizona and in vitro fertilization (IVF) success (36 patients). Nonliving human oocytes were recovered from excised ovaries and stored. Each zona pellucida was cut into equal hemispheres by micromanipulation. For the HZA, one droplet exposed a hemizona to abnormal spermatozoa, while the control droplet contained the matching hemizona and spermatozoa from normal semen. After 4 hr, the number of tightly bound spermatozoa was counted. Binding to the hemizona was significantly higher for those having IVF success (mean of 36.1±7, versus 10.4±4 from the failure group;P<0.05). Fewer sperm from the failure group had a strictly normal morphology (3,2 versus 12.7%;P<0.05, Kruger method). Tight zona binding was significantly correlated with the percentage motile sperm, percentage normal morphology, and seminal sperm concentration. These results enhanced our confidence that the HZA is diagnostic for identification of patients at high risk of failing to achieve fertilization in vitro.

124 citations


Journal Article
TL;DR: There was a tendency for bitches treated with antibiotics at the time of mating or during early pregnancy to have a higher pregnancy rate and a larger litter size, and for breed differences in pregnancy rate, although not significant.
Abstract: In this study 470 bitches were inseminated; 405 with fresh semen into the cranial vagina and 65 with frozen semen transcervically into the uterus. The pregnancy rate was 65.7% with fresh semen and 41.5% with frozen. When corrected for stage of oestrus at the time of insemination and for semen quality the pregnancy rate was 83.8% with fresh semen and 69.3% with frozen semen. The pregnancy rate improved with an increase in the number of inseminations. Inseminations with fresh semen before the time of ovulation (less than 17.3 nmol progesterone/l) were often successful. With frozen semen the peripheral plasma level of progesterone at the time of insemination was greater than 30 nmol/l in all but 1 of the bitches that became pregnant. This difference is assumed to be attributable to a longer survival time of several days for fresh semen than for frozen-thawed semen. Cytological scoring was a satisfactory method for determining the stage of oestrus when using fresh semen, but more precise methods are needed when using frozen semen. Semen quality was difficult to correlate with fertility. Pregnancies were obtained with fresh semen of inferior quality, although the litter size was smaller. With frozen semen no pregnancies resulted when the semen quality was poor. Litter size was estimated to be 21.5% smaller in bitches inseminated with fresh semen compared with naturally mated bitches. Litter size in bitches inseminated with frozen semen was 23.3% smaller than in bitches inseminated with fresh semen. Puppy deaths occurred in 35.5% of the litters in this study. The overall puppy death rate during the first 3 weeks of life was 11.9%. Although not statistically significant, there was a tendency for bitches treated with antibiotics at the time of mating or during early pregnancy to have a higher pregnancy rate and a larger litter size. There was also a tendency for breed differences in pregnancy rate, although not significant.

120 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Assessing the ability of capacitated sperm to acrosome react may have clinical significance in predicting whether such sperm are capable of fertilizing an ovum, and in this cohort under study, semen characteristics of AR(+) and AR(-) patients were similar.

109 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Treatment of spermatozoa with PAF in severely asthenozoospermic males may be of therapeutic value, and the effects of synthetic PAF on the motility of human spermutozoa were evaluated.

96 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The sperm-zona pellucida binding ratio was the most significant factor related to IVF rates by logistic regression analysis, but the proportions of sperm with normal morphology and intact acrosomes in semen also were significant.

96 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is suggested that rivals' semen is flushed out of the female?s sperm storage organ by the semen of the last male during post‐copulatory oro‐genital grooming.
Abstract: . A novel combination of adaptations resulting from sperm competition is demonstrated for the tree cricket Truljalia hibinonis (Matsumura) (Podoscirtinae: Gryllidae: Orthoptera). 87.5% of the semen of previous males is displaced onto the penis of the copulating male and is removed at the end of copulation. Semen thus removed is ingested during post-copulatory oro-genital grooming. No overt morphological adaptations for sperm removal were observed and, on the basis of anatomical evidence, it is suggested that rivals' semen is flushed out of the female?s sperm storage organ by the semen of the last male.

86 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: There may be an effect of 2EE on sperm count among men exposed to 2EE used as a binder slurry in a metal castings process, although the possibility that other factors may be affecting the semen quality in both exposed and unexposed men in this population cannot be excluded.
Abstract: To evaluate whether long term exposure to 2-ethoxyethanol (2EE) may affect semen quality, a cross sectional study was conducted among men exposed to 2EE used as a binder slurry in a metal castings process. Full shift breathing zone exposures to 2EE ranged from non-detectable to 24 ppm (geometric mean 6.6 ppm). Because of the potential for substantial absorption of 2EE through skin exposure, urine measurements of the metabolite of 2EE, 2-ethoxyacetic acid (2EAA) were conducted, showing levels of 2EAA ranging from non-detectable to 163 mg 2EAA/g creatinine. Only 37 exposed men (50% participation) and 39 non-exposed comparison (26% participation) from elsewhere in the plant provided a sperm sample. A questionnaire to determine personal habits, and medical and work histories, and a physical examination of the urogenital tract were also administered. The average sperm count per ejaculate among the workers exposed to 2EE was significantly lower than that of the unexposed group (113 v 154 million sperm per ejaculate respectively; p = 0.05) after consideration of abstinence, sample age, subjects' age, tobacco, alcohol and caffeine use, urogenital disorders, fever, and other illnesses. The mean sperm concentrations of the exposed and unexposed groups did not significantly differ from each other (44 and 53 million/ml respectively). No effect of exposure to 2EE on semen volume, sperm viability, motility, velocity, and normal morphology or testicular volume was detected, although some differences in the proportion of abnormal sperm shapes were observed. These data suggest that there may be an effect of 2EE on sperm count among these workers, although the possibility that other factors may be affecting the semen quality in both exposed and unexposed men in this population or that the results reflect bias introduced by the low participation rates cannot be excluded.

83 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
01 Nov 1989-BJUI
TL;DR: Pre-treatment cryopreservation of semen may be psychologically useful in patients with newly diagnosed testicular cancer, but its clinical significance is doubtful.
Abstract: Post-treatment fertility was evaluated in 147 patients with testicular cancer, All had pre-treatment sperm cell analysis following orchiectomy during the years 1979 to 1987. For only 17 patients was the question of future fertility of no importance. Pre-treatment semen cryopreservation was requested by 91 patients, but poor semen parameters made this procedure impossible in 38. Of 99 evaluable patients, 44 had a post-treatment sperm count greater than or equal to 10 x 10(6)/ml and 22 of these fathered a child after treatment. Post-treatment fertility was observed to the same degree in patients who had pre-treatment semen cryopreservation as in those in whom this procedure could not be performed. Four of 53 patients used their deep-frozen semen but only 1 pregnancy resulted. The intensity of treatment, especially the extent of retroperitoneal surgery, had a significant effect on post-treatment fertility in the individual patient. Pre-treatment cryopreservation of semen may be psychologically useful in patients with newly diagnosed testicular cancer, but its clinical significance is doubtful.

80 citations


Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the relationship between the length of involuntary infertility before investigation and the predictive value of semen parameters was examined, where the female partner had regular spontaneous ovulation, no pelvic pathology, and more than 48 months preceding infertility.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that CPG is useful, both in cases of poor semen quality and in tubal infertility, in which the clinical pregnancy rate increased significantly from 18.0 to 31.5%.
Abstract: Two techniques for the separation of spermatozoa were compared: swim-up migration (SUM) and centrifugation on a discontinuous Percoll gradient (CPG). Their respective effects on sperm motility were analysed by computer-assisted videomicrography in either normal or asthenozoospermic groups. In both groups, there was no difference in any of the motion parameters between the two treatments after 1-h incubation. However, a clear difference was observed after 24 h when excellent motility was retained only in the CPG-treated group. A total of 350 ejaculates were produced by the husbands of women undergoing oocyte retrieval in an IVF programme. Spermatozoa were treated by CPG when the infertility was due to poor quality spermatozoa (n = 91), when there was a known previous history of semen infection (n = 73) or when frozen semen, originating from a donor, was used (n = 36). In all other cases (n = 150), spermatozoa were treated by SUM. The cleavage rates obtained were 32.2, 70.1, 60.9 and 68.6% respectively in the four categories. The clinical pregnancy rates per oocyte retrieval were 19.8, 31.5, 22.2 and 18.0% respectively. Forty-eight births occurred in the CPG group: 28 boys and 20 girls, all normal. We conclude that CPG is useful, both in cases of poor semen quality and in tubal infertility, in which the clinical pregnancy rate increased significantly from 18.0 to 31.5%.

Journal Article
TL;DR: This study indicates a decline in semen quality over the past decades, like studies from other industrialized countries.
Abstract: Semen parameters of 135 randomly selected men in 1966 were compared with semen analysis of 148 men in 1986 to assess whether semen characteristics had changed during the period. Both groups of men were of barren couples; median age was identical in the two groups (31 years). The semen analyses included volume, sperm density, and sperm morphology. Significant change over the time period was observed only for the percentage of normal morphology. This parameter deteriorated from 60% in 1966 to 41% in 1986 (median values; p less than .001). This study, like studies from other industrialized countries, indicates a decline in semen quality over the past decades.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Serum titers of antisperm antibodies were associated with decreased sperm counts, motility, forward progression, and normal forms (immobilizing antibodies) and multiple correlation analysis indicated significant independent effects of sperm concentration, motilities, forward progress, and antibodies on sperm-cervical mucus penetration scores of the men.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is indicated that seminal sperm morphology, coupled with computerassisted image analysis of movement characteristics of swim-up sperm, can help to predict the outcome of in vitro fertilization of human oocytes.
Abstract: One hundred fourteen semen samples from Chinese males were analyzed for routine semen parameters including the semen volume, sperm count, percentage motility, and percentage normal morphology. Of these 114 samples, 54 also had movement characteristics of seminal and swim-up sperm evaluated by the computer image analyzer system (Cellsoft; Cryo Resources Co., New York). All semen samples were subjected to the swim-up procedure to harvest the motile sperm before inseminations of human oocytes. Fertilization was considered to have occurred when at least one oocyte was observed with two or more pronuclei. Semen samples were classified as infertile (0% fertilization rate;N=32) or fertile (>0% fertilization rate;N=82) before statistical analyses. There was a significant difference (P<0.005) in percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm between the fertile (mean±SE; 67.3±1.2%) and the infertile (59.3±2.2%) samples. The percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm correlated (r=0.3049;P<0.002) with the fertilization rate and this parameter was selected by the multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis as the discriminator capable of predicting the fertilization rate with 57.9% accuracy. Statistical analyses of samples where sperm movement was also evaluated demonstrated that there was significant differences (P<0.01) between the fertile (N=38) and the infertile (N=16) samples in percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm (67.8±1.8% vs 56.2±2.6%) and curvilinear velocity of swim-up sperm (89.2±3.5 vs 68.2±7.2 μm/sec). The fertilization rates correlated with the percentage normal morphology of seminal sperm (r=0.3868;P<0.005) and velocity of swim-up sperm (r=0.3842;P<0.005). Multivariate stepwise discriminant analysis demonstrated that these two sperm parameters in combination were capable of predicting the fertilization rate with 74.1% accuracy. Our results indicate that seminal sperm morphology, coupled with computerassisted image analysis of movement characteristics of swim-up sperm, can help to predict the outcome of in vitro fertilization of human oocytes.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A breeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of in vitro storage time and temperature on fertilizing capacity of equine spermatozoa, finding that the reduction in all motility parameters tested was more dramatic in semen stored at 20°C than that stored at 5°C.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In the present study of 50 patients, it was determined that those with seminal deficiencies in masturbated samples showed greater improvement in semen parameters with I-SCD use than the nondeficient groups with which they were compared.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The power of several biochemical and physical markers was evaluated for their ability to discriminate between semen of infected and noninfected infertile men and the total output of citric acid had the strongest discriminating power.
Abstract: Infection of the male accessory sex glands may result in impaired secretory function and alteration of the composition of seminal plasma. Using receiver operating characteristic curves and accuracy tests, the power of several biochemical and physical markers was evaluated for their ability to discriminate between semen of infected and noninfected infertile men. The total output of citric acid had the strongest discriminating power, followed by acid phosphatase and gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. Measurement of the concentration of fructose was found to be nondiscriminatory.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is indicated that seminal vesicle-specific antigen, a group of predominant proteins in seminalvesicle fluid, is the structural component of seminal coagulum, and that prostate- specific antigen is the enzyme which digests seminal vedic antigen and liquifies semen coagula.
Abstract: Two-dimensional protein profiles of human semen, prostatic fluid, and seminal vesicle fluid were compared to demonstrate changes in the protein composition of human semen before and after liquefaction. Semen specimens were obtained from a volunteer. Prostatic fluid specimens were collected by rectal massage from patients visiting a urology clinic. Samples of seminal vesicle fluid were collected by needle aspiration from isolated seminal vesicles, which were removed at surgery. All specimens were prepared and processed according to the ISO-DALT system for separation of proteins in two-dimensional gels. Following electrophoresis, protein spots in the gels were visualized by silver staining. Prostatic fluid and seminal vesicle fluid showed their characteristic protein profiles. The protein profile of human semen contained specific proteins of both prostatic fluid and seminal vesicle fluid. One major group of proteins in seminal vesicle fluid (Mw 28,000-68,000 daltons), designated as seminal vesicle-specific antigen, was observed in freshly ejaculated human semen, but disappeared from the two-dimensional profile when the ejaculate was allowed to stand at room temperature for 30 min. When prostatic fluid or prostate-specific antigen was mixed with seminal vesicle fluid and incubated at 37C for 30 min, the seminal vesicle-specific antigen also disappeared from the two-dimensional profiles. The findings indicate that seminal vesicle-specific antigen, a group of predominant proteins in seminal vesicle fluid, is the structural component of seminal coagulum, and that prostate-specific antigen is the enzyme which digests seminal vesicle-specific antigen and liquifies semen coagulum.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In vitro findings suggest possible seminal plasma‐suppressive effects on female alloimmune responses after insemination, which are supported by improved implantation rates in controlled clinical trials using timed vaginal exposure to semen during in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer treatment cycles.
Abstract: Insemination confronts the female with paternally derived alloantigens and represents an immunological challenge preceding fertilization and implantation. Current evidence suggests a role for seminal plasma in regulating maternal immunity for insemination and pregnancy. In vitro seminal plasma has been shown to suppress T- and B-cell proliferation, neutrophil and macrophage phagocytic activity, as well as killer cell activity. Seminal plasma interacts with complement components C1 and C3 and contains factors that specifically bind the Fc region of IgG. These in vitro findings suggest possible seminal plasma-suppressive effects on female alloimmune responses after insemination. Seminal plasma also contains allotypic TLX antigens that could prime mothers prior to fertilization. Such priming effects for pregnancy acceptance are supported by improved implantation rates in controlled clinical trials using timed vaginal exposure to semen during in vitro fertilization or gamete intrafallopian transfer treatment cycles.


Journal Article
TL;DR: Studies with fractions obtained by ion-exchange HPLC of desalted seminal plasma indicated that prostaglandins complexed with seminal proteins, and these too were immunosuppressive.
Abstract: In this paper we report studies undertaken to determine the contribution of seminal prostaglandins to some of the known immunosuppressive properties of human seminal plasma. Initial studies revealed that fractions of seminal plasma enriched in E series prostaglandins, obtained by reverse phase chromatography, had a pronounced inhibitory effect on the PHA-induced proliferation of peripheral blood lymphocytes and on the NK-cell-mediated lysis of K562 target cells. Additional investigations revealed that similar inhibitory effects could be achieved with purified PGE2 (10(-6) to 10(-9) M) and 19-OH PGE1 (10(-6) to 10(-7) M), both of which are present in uniquely high concentrations in human seminal plasma. In contrast, 19-OH PGF1 which is found in lower concentrations in semen was slightly stimulatory in proliferative assays and had no effect on NK-cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Removal of the seminal prostaglandins by absorption chromatography resulted in a dramatic decrease in immune suppressive activity. Further studies with fractions obtained by ion-exchange HPLC of desalted seminal plasma indicated that prostaglandins complexed with seminal proteins, and these too were immunosuppressive. The possible relevance of these results to sexually transmitted disease is discussed.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The number of sperm bound to the zona pellucida is an indicator for IVF success and low binding appears to be more frequently associated with sperm defects than oocyte defects.
Abstract: The number of sperm bound to the zona pellucida (ZP) were counted on 660 oocytes that failed to fertilize in vitro from 162 patients. Oocytes from clutches in which some fertilized had significantly more sperm bound to the ZP than did those from clutches in which all oocytes failed to fertilize. Oocytes from patients in whom all were not fertilized and no sperm bound to the ZP were able to bind normal fertile donor sperm after storage in ammonium sulphate solution. The number of sperm bound to the ZP was significantly related to the proportion of sperm with normal morphology and normal intact acrosomes in semen, sperm concentration inseminated, sperm motility and viability. The number of sperm bound to the ZP, sperm normal morphology, diagnosis of male infertility and sperm concentration in semen were significantly related to the fertilization rate by logistic regression analysis. Thus the number of sperm bound to the ZP is an indicator for IVF success and low binding appears to be more frequently associated with sperm defects than oocyte defects.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Sperm recovered at all times after insemination had the same pattern of response to follicular fluid, and sperm that migrated from cervical mucus had a similar increase in acrosome reactions after 6 h incubation, regardless of whether the acrosomes reaction agonist was follicular fluids or disaggregated human zona pellucida.
Abstract: Cervical mucus was coil ected from 35 women after ar:(flcial insemination. Mucus collections were performed at 1 h, 1 day, 2 days, or 3 days following insemination. Sperm viability was >80% at all recovery times as assessed by exclusion of the supravital dye Hoechst 33258. Virtually 100% of the viable sperm were acrosome-intact at all times as assessed with afluorescein isothiocyanase-conjugated pea lectin. Sperm were recovered from the mucus afer migration into the Biggers, Whittin, and Whittingham medium in vitro. Sperm did not undergo the acrosome reaction in response to hwnan foil icular fluid immediately after migration from the mucus but did respond to this agonist afEer 6 h of incubation in vitro. Sperm recovered a: all tunes after insemination had the same pattern of response tofollicularfluid. Sperm that penet rated a column of cervical mucus in vitro also responded tofollicular fluid with an increase in acrosome reactions after migrationfrom the mucus and incubasionfor 6 h in vitro. Unlike the sperm that migrated from cervical mucus, sperm that were separated from semen by Percoll density centrifu- gation did not undergo the acrosome reaction when challenged with fouicularfiuid after 6 h but did respond after 24 h incubation. Sperm that migratedfrom cervical mucus had a similar increase in acrosome reactions after 6 h incubation, regardless of whether the acrosome reaction agonist was follicular fluid or disaggregated human zona pellucida. The observations ofprolonged acrosomal integrity of cervical sperm in vivo and the uniformity of their response to acrosome reaction agonists after migration from cervical mucus suggest that there is conserva- tion of sperm function in the human cervix and support the hypothesis that this region may serve as a site of sperm storage in women.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: B antibodies in vbs reactive with FA-1 are relevant to infertility, causing an inhibition of fertilization and will have clinical relevance for diagnosis and treatment of infertility after successful vasovasostomy.
Abstract: Sera (vbs, n = 25) and seminal plasma (vsp, n = 21) from vasectomized men (n = 25) were analyzed for cross-reaction with lithium diiodosalicylate (LIS)-solubilized human sperm extract, protamine, and fertilization antigen (FA-1) with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Among the vbs tested, 44% reacted with human sperm extract, 28% reacted with protamine, and 44% reacted with FA-1 for at least one class of antibodies (IgG, IgA, or IgM). In contrast to the sera, the seminal plasma showed minimal reactions. Neither the vbs nor vsp were found to contain immune complexes, indicating that the antibodies were present in free form. Vasectomized sera that reacted with FA-1 showed a significant (p less than 0.0001) inhibition of human sperm penetration of zona-free hamster ova. The immunoabsorption of FA-1-positive sera with purified FA-1 significantly increased the penetration rates. Affinity-purified human immunoglobulins reactive with FA-1 and not those reactive with protamine reduced sperm penetration rates. Thus, antibodies in vbs reactive with FA-1 are relevant to infertility, causing an inhibition of fertilization. These data will have clinical relevance for diagnosis and treatment of infertility after successful vasovasostomy.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Frozen semen experiments indicate that frozen-thawed tiger spermatozoa must be removed from the environment of the semen extender before capacitation can take place, and the freeze-thaw procedure results in a shortening of the required capacitation time.
Abstract: Electroejaculates from 5 tigers were split and half of each was assayed fresh while the remainder was frozen and thawed before being assayed. Preincubation time, temperature and removal of seminal plasma were evaluated for their effect on in-vitro capacitation. Ability of spermatozoa to penetrate oocytes, as measured by the zona-free hamster egg-sperm penetration assay (SPA), was used as verification of capacitation. Results of the experiments with fresh semen indicate that: (1) preincubation time affects the fertilizability of tiger spermatozoa with 2 h appearing optimal, (2) a preincubation temperature of 37 degrees C results in significantly higher penetration rates than does a 22 degrees C treatment, and (3) tiger seminal plasma does not appear to contain decapacitation factors, as has been reported for several other species. Frozen semen experiments indicate that (1) frozen-thawed tiger spermatozoa must be removed from the environment of the semen extender before capacitation can take place, and (2) the freeze-thaw procedure results in a shortening of the required capacitation time.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between measured sperm velocity and in-vivo fertility, using donor semen samples from an artificial insemination (AID) programme, and life-table analyses were used to calculate monthly conception rates on various sub-groups of the semen samples.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to evaluate relationships between measured sperm velocity and in-vivo fertility, using donor semen samples from an artificial insemination (AID) programme. Seventy-one frozen semen samples were examined; measurements of sperm velocity were made immediately after thawing, upon a motile 'swim-up' fraction, and finally after 3.5 h incubation at 37 degrees C in the freezing mixture. Zona-free hamster egg penetration assays were performed upon all samples. Two groups of samples were identified; seven donors (11 samples) had failed to produce any pregnancies through AID from a range of 3 to 14 cycles tested, whilst the remaining samples (from 25 donors) had achieved at least one pregnancy each. The mean sperm velocity (+/- SEM) for the latter 'fertile' group was significantly higher than the corresponding value for the 'infertile' group; (i) after thawing, 65.9 +/- 1.8 versus 50.4 +/- 3.2 microns/s (P less than 0.001) and (ii) after 3.5 h incubation, 42.1 +/- 2.1 versus 24.7 +/- 5.7 microns/s (P less than 0.002). Using the maintenance of sperm velocity during incubation as an indicator of survival, life-table analyses were used to calculate monthly conception rates on various sub-groups of the semen samples. Poor survival (greater than 40% decline in velocity over 3.5 h) was associated with a monthly pregnancy rate of only 11.58% (362 cycles), whilst better survival (less than 40% decline) was associated with the significantly higher (P = 0.024) pregnancy rate of 16.87% (480 cycles).

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is concluded that fertilization failure, a major problem in sheep embryo collection, can be eliminated through judicious use of GnRH treatment and properly timed intrauterine insemination.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The relative fertilizing potential of frozen-thawed semen from four black and four white boars was determined following heterospermic insemination and a high correlation indicated that the fertilization potential of the semen could be accurately predicted with four variables that appeared to measure different properties of the spermatozoa.

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: A major interaction between buck and time of insemination was due apparently to both differential sperm survival and probable capacitation time among bucks, and this major interaction should be considered in designing in vitro and in vivo fertility studies, and for selecting males for use in artificial Insemination.
Abstract: Some reports indicate that sperm from different males differ in capacitation time, and other reports suggest that freezing sperm may affect their capacitation time. These two variables were specifically studied in rabbits in a fertility trial with 96 does inseminated with approximately 1.6 million motile fresh or frozen sperm from three different bucks at 15, 10, 5, and 0 h before expected ovulation. Fresh semen averaged 84% live (unstained) sperm and 88% had normal acrosomes; corresponding values for frozen sperm were 44% and 54%. On the basis of does that became pregnant, average litter size with fresh semen was 5.5 and with frozen semen was 4.8 (p greater than 0.05), but overall, does bred with frozen semen produced fewer young (p less than 0.05). On the basis of total does and total semen, average litter size from insemination at 15, 10, 5, and 0 h was 2.8, 4.2, 3.8, and 1.7, and average litter size for the three bucks was 4.0, 1.8, and 3.6. There was no interaction of type of semen (fresh or frozen) with the other variables in the model (p greater than 0.05). Bucks and time of insemination affected both the proportion of does that were pregnant and litter size (p less than 0.01). A major interaction between buck and time of insemination (p less than 0.01) was due apparently to both differential sperm survival and probable capacitation time among bucks. This major interaction should be considered in designing in vitro and in vivo fertility studies, and for selecting males for use in artificial insemination.