Showing papers on "Semen published in 1992"
TL;DR: There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years, and as male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility.
Abstract: OBJECTIVE--To investigate whether semen quality has changed during the past 50 years. DESIGN--Review of publications on semen quality in men without a history of infertility selected by means of Cumulated Index Medicus and Current List (1930-1965) and MEDLINE Silver Platter database (1966-August 1991). SUBJECTS--14,947 men included in a total of 61 papers published between 1938 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mean sperm density and mean seminal volume. RESULTS--Linear regression of data weighted by number of men in each study showed a significant decrease in mean sperm count from 113 x 10(6)/ml in 1940 to 66 x 10(6)/ml in 1990 (p < 0.0001) and in seminal volume from 3.40 ml to 2.75 ml (p = 0.027), indicating an even more pronounced decrease in sperm production than expressed by the decline in sperm density. CONCLUSIONS--There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years. As male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility. The biological significance of these changes is emphasised by a concomitant increase in the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities such as testicular cancer and possibly also cryptorchidism and hypospadias, suggesting a growing impact of factors with serious effects on male gonadal function.
2,481 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the incidence of reactive oxygen species formation in whole semen and in washed spermatozoa was studied and the effect of the type of sperm washing was also investigated.
593 citations
TL;DR: It is speculated that PSA may serve to modulate IGF function within the reproductive system or in prostate cancer by altering IGF-IGFBP-3 interactions.
Abstract: Insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3), the major serum carrier protein for the IGFs, is absent from Western ligand blots of seminal plasma, but is detectable by RIA. IGFBP-3 protease activity has recently been described in pregnancy serum. We investigated the possibility that seminal plasma contains an IGFBP-3 protease, by incubating seminal plasma with 125I-labeled human IGFBP-3. Seminal plasma was found to have potent IGFBP-3 protease activity with a cleavage pattern different from that of pregnancy serum. Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a serine protease found in semen. Autoradiographs measuring IGFBP-3 protease activity demonstrated that purified PSA cleaved IGFBP-3, yielding a cleavage pattern identical to that of seminal plasma. IGFBP-2 and -4 in seminal plasma were not degraded by PSA. Cleavage of IGFBP-3 by PSA resulted in a marked reduction in the binding affinity of the fragments to IGF-I, but not IGF-II. We speculate that PSA may serve to modulate IGF function within the rep...
510 citations
TL;DR: Results of in vitro fertilization can be used to evaluate tests of human sperm function and Logistic regression analysis is a powerful method for determining which groups of sperm characteristics are independently related to fertilization rates.
208 citations
TL;DR: It is demonstrated by performing extraction experiments with antibody-coated magnetic beads that, within this unselected population of patients, leucocytes were the major source of ROS in the low-density Percoll fraction.
Abstract: Summary. Peroxidative damage induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been proposed as one of the major causes of defective sperm function. In previous studies of the production of ROS in semen, the contribution of contaminating leucocytes was not assessed. We determined the levels of ROS in 60 semen samples from men attending our infertility clinic and demonstrated by performing extraction experiments with antibody-coated magnetic beads that, within this unselected population of patients, leucocytes were the major source of ROS in the low-density Percoll fraction. Of the sperm motion parameters examined using computerized semen analysis, beat-cross frequency was the only one significantly affected by the ROS in semen.
192 citations
TL;DR: HIV-1 is more commonly found in semen from men with advanced HIV-1 infection and seminal leukocytosis but can also be cultured from semen of men with neither of these conditions, and zidovudine therapy may decrease the prevalence and/or titer of seminalAIDS.
Abstract: Objective. —To determine the prevalence and temporal expression of infectious human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in the semen of HIV-1 seropositive men and to determine whether the detection of HIV-1 in semen is associated with disease stage, zidovudine treatment status, or other clinical factors. Design. —A microculture technique was used to detect infectious HIV-1 in semen from a cohort of 95 seropositive men. In addition, semen cultures were performed monthly for at least 6 months for 14 of the men. Information was obtained by interview and extracted from medical records to identify clinical variables associated with HIV-1 in semen. Patients. —Sixty HIV-1 seropositive homosexual men participating in clinical studies at the Fenway Community Health Center, Boston, Mass, and 35 HIV seropositive bisexual or heterosexual men participating in the California Partner Study of the University of California, San Francisco. Main Outcome Measures. —Semen HIV-1 culture results, seminal leukocyte counts, Centers for Disease Control (CDC) disease stage, peripheral CD4 + cell counts, zidovudine therapy, HIV risk category. Results. —In the cross-sectional study, HIV-1 was cultured from the semen of nine (9%) of 95 men. Factors associated with detection of HIV-1 in semen were peripheral CD4 + cell counts of 0.20× 10 9 /L (200/μL) or less (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 23.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.89 to 175.63); symptomatic (CDC class IV) disease (adjusted OR, 6.56; 95% CI, 1.02 to 66.76); and seminal leukocytosis (>1 ×10 9 white blood cells per liter of semen) (adjusted OR, 7.02; 95% CI, 1.28 to 39.29). Zidovudine therapy was associated with decreased detection of HIV-1 in semen (adjusted OR, 0.04; 95% CI, 0.00 to 0.63). In the longitudinal study of 14 men who had neither peripheral CD4 + cells counts of 0.20 × 10 9 /L or less nor seminal leukocytosis, seminal HIV-1 was detected in at least one sample from six men (43%). Conclusion. —HIV-1 is more commonly found in semen from men with advanced HIV-1 infection and seminal leukocytosis but can also be cultured from semen of men with neither of these conditions. Zidovudine therapy may decrease the prevalence and/or titer of seminal HIV-1. However, all HIV-1—infected persons should continue to assume that they are potentially infectious through sexual contact. ( JAMA . 1992;267:2769-2774)
174 citations
TL;DR: Existing criteria for pretherapy semen cryobanking should be revised in view of successful pregnancies even with the use of semen with low spermatozoal densities and motilities, as well as other realized clinical efficacies of ART.
173 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors investigated whether activated polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) can affect sperm motility and assessed the capacity of seminal plasma and of scavengers of reactive oxygen species to prevent any loss of motility.
172 citations
TL;DR: Data from semen analysis, along with repeated observation of spermatozoa or sperm fragments within phagocytic cells, support the hypothesis that leukocytes have a role in the removal of abnormal spermatozosa from the ejaculate.
Abstract: A preliminary investigation was undertaken further to determine the function of the leukocytic cells found in semen. We performed semen analysis and quantified leukocyte subsets using immunocytochemical staining techniques in ejaculates of 351 patients. Leukocyte profiles were examined in relation to sperm morphological data for evidence of a sperm removal/selection process. Three types of seminal phagocytic cell were found to contain spermatozoa: small polymorphonuclear leukocytes (approximately 10-12 microns), monocytes of similar size and much larger (30-40 microns) macrophages capable of engulfing multiple sperm heads. The total leukocyte count (P less than 0.01), the numbers of phagocytic cells i.e. polymorphonuclear leukocytes (P less than 0.05), monocyte/macrophages (P less than 0.01) and HLA-DR positive cells (P less than 0.01), were significantly higher in those samples with greater than 50% ideal sperm forms. Significantly fewer of these same cell types were observed in samples with greater than 50% head defects. There was no difference in the number of tail or midpiece defects between leukocytospermic (greater than 10(6)/ml) and non-leukocytospermic semen samples. Oligozoospermic samples contained significantly fewer leukocytes (P less than 0.005), although above a concentration of 5 x 10(6)/ml, the sperm number was not correlated with leukocyte number. These data, along with repeated observation of spermatozoa or sperm fragments within phagocytic cells, support the hypothesis that leukocytes have a role in the removal of abnormal spermatozoa from the ejaculate.
166 citations
TL;DR: In males with varicocele(s), normal semen parameters should not routinely be expected to remain normal over time, and Statistically significant deterioration was noted from normal to abnormal.
157 citations
TL;DR: Gel filtration and immunoblotting findings indicated that the inhibitor in seminal plasma is present in a high molecular mass complex or cleaved to its modified form, suggesting the inhibitor to have a complex or multiple function in the male reproductive system.
Abstract: An assay was developed for the measurement of human protein C inhibitor antigen (PCI) in blood plasma and other biological fluids. Both native PCI, modified inhibitor, and complexes of inhibitor with activated protein C or plasma kallikrein could be measured with the assay. Inhibitor antigen concentrations were found to be very high in seminal plasma (greater than 200 mg/liter), more than 40 times the concentration of PCI found in blood plasma. The inhibitor in seminal plasma was unable to form complexes with activated protein C. Gel filtration and immunoblotting findings indicated that the inhibitor in seminal plasma is present in a high molecular mass complex or cleaved to its modified form. As PCI antigen was absent from seminal plasma of patients with dysfunctional seminal vesicles, the seminal vesicle glands would appear to be the major source of seminal plasma PCI, a conclusion supported by immunohistochemical demonstration of the presence of PCI epitopes in the secretory epithelium of the seminal vesicles. Specific PCI immunoreactivity was also shown to be present in the testes, the epididymis glands, and the prostate, suggesting the inhibitor to have a complex or multiple function in the male reproductive system. Conclusive evidence of a local synthesis of PCI in the four male sex glands was provided by Northern blot analysis of RNA from these organs.
TL;DR: In this article, the effects of progesterone and its antagonist RU486 (mifepristone) on sperm hyperactivation (HA) and acrosome reaction were investigated in a study at a tertiary care center.
TL;DR: It is concluded that efforts to improve accessory sperm numbers per embryo or ovum failed and that high variation and skewness of accessory sperm toward 0 may make median values more meaningful than means.
Abstract: Accessory sperm number and its relationship to fertilization and embryo quality was evaluated in cattle after nonsurgical recovery of ova or embryos 6 d after insemination. Efforts to alter accessory sperm number per ovum included 1) blockage of retrograde sperm loss at insemination using a modified insemination device, 2) elevated sperm number per inseminate (40 x 10(6) vs 20 x 10(6], and 3) alteration in semen quality (percentage of viable and morphologically normal sperm in the inseminate). None of these efforts affected accessory sperm number per ovum or embryo. However, blockage of retrograde semen flow for 3 h or use of semen of below-average quality (decreased percentage of viable and morphologically normal sperm) resulted in significant decreases in number of viable embryos and increases in number of degenerate embryos and unfertilized ova compared with conventional insemination (P less than .03) and use of semen with an average percentage of viable and morphologically normal sperm (P less than .06). Number of accessory sperm per embryo or ovum was positively related to fertilization and embryo quality (P less than .05). Mean accessory sperm +/- SD and the median value (in parentheses) for unfertilized ova, degenerate embryos, and embryos classified fair to poor and excellent to good were, respectively, .3 +/- .8 (0), 5.4 +/- 8.9 (1.0), 15.8 +/- 28.6 (3.5), and 16.9 +/- 29.5 (5.0). We conclude that efforts to improve accessory sperm numbers per embryo or ovum failed and that high variation and skewness of accessory sperm toward 0 may make median values more meaningful than means.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
TL;DR: Logistic regression analysis showed that the diagnosis of tubal infertility and the rate of binding of spermatozoa with normal morphology to the ZP were positively related to fertilization rates in vitro while the rateof binding of semen quality-dependent spermatozoon head dimensions and the ratio of length to width in the insemination medium were positively correlated.
Abstract: The morphology of spermatozoa bound to the zona pellucida (ZP) of 264 oocytes that had failed to fertilize in 58 in vitro fertilization procedures was studied by light microscopy. The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology bound to the ZP (mean 77, range 8-100) was significantly higher than in the insemination medium (mean 42, range 2-80). The abnormal spermatozoa bound to the ZP had small oval (47%), pyriform (46%), amorphous (5%) and tapering (2%) heads. Other abnormalities of morphology were not observed in ZP-bound spermatozoa. The mean rates of binding to the ZP of spermatozoa with normal morphology (44, 95% confidence limits 42-46, number bound/ZP/10(5)/ml inseminated) were much higher than for abnormal spermatozoa with small oval 6.5 (5.5-7.6), pyriform 5.9 (4.8-7.3), amorphous 1.0 (0.5-2.0) and tapering 2.5 (1.2-5.3) heads. The morphologically abnormal forms not found on the ZP were infrequent in the insemination medium (tail defects, large oval, round, pin and duplicate heads and cytoplasmic droplets) but upper 95% confidence limits for standardized binding ratios of less than 60% indicated that these were unlikely to bind to the zona with rates approaching those of normal spermatozoa (standardized binding ratio 180%). A large number of uniformly normal spermatozoa bound to the ZP when the percentage normal morphology in the insemination medium was greater than 40%. The proportions of abnormal spermatozoa in the insemination medium. Spermatozoon head dimensions were measured with a micrometer in samples from 14 patients. While there were no consistent changes in all samples, the means for head width and area were significantly larger and the ratio of the length to width was smaller for spermatozoa on the ZP than for those in the insemination medium. The head length and ratio of length to width of spermatozoa in samples with good morphology were significantly less than in samples with poor morphology. The percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology, motility and the ratio of head length to width in the insemination medium were positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa with normal morphology bound to the ZP. Logistic regression analysis showed that the diagnosis of tubal infertility and the rate of binding of spermatozoa with normal morphology to the ZP were positively related to fertilization rates in vitro while the rate of binding of spermatozoa with pyriform heads was negatively related. In conclusion. human ZP are highly selective for spermatozoa with normal morphology. The frequency of binding of abnormal spermatozoa to the ZP was mainly dependent on semen quality.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
TL;DR: In this paper, the concentration of seminal plasma required for the preservation of sperm motility was determined, and the addition of egg yolk to a milk-based semen extender improved the maintenance of motility.
TL;DR: Sperm interaction with the immune system of the human cervix is poorly understood and the role of sperm-to-cervix interaction in women’s health is still poorly understood.
Abstract: PROBLEM: Sperm interaction with the immune system of the human cervix is poorly understood.
METHOD: The leukocytic response of the human cervix to sperm was examined in a closely monitored patient population (N = 10), using monoclonal antibody cell identification techniques. Baseline data were collected from both cervical mucus and smears sampled before treatment by donor insemination. Donor insemination was timed to coincide with ovulation by monitoring plasma LH concentrations twice daily. Following insemination the numbers of leukocytes were recorded in cervical mucus and smear samples taken over a 24-h period relative to the time of treatment. Controls treated with “pure sperm,” seminal plasma, cryopreservative, and cervical smearing alone were also included in the study.
RESULTS: Only those women treated with sperm cells exhibited substantial elevations in leukocyte numbers following inseminations. Additionally, serial cervical smearing induced an inflammatory response of the cervix. In all the women, the neutrophil was the predominant leukocyte of the cervix both during the baseline and treatment periods (median values ranged from 77 to 86%). Macrophages, T-helper lymphocytes, and T-suppressor lymphocytes were also detected, but only in low numbers (2–10.6%). Two patients and one control (“pure sperm”) became pregnant during their study cycle.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the leukocytic reaction is a physiological response of the cervix to sperm, the function of which remains to be established.
Journal Article•
TL;DR: Semen characteristics, including spermatozoal movement characteristics, and fertility were significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated for Thoroughbred and Standardbred stallions when analyzed individually and when data for both breeds were combined.
Abstract: Information pertaining to evaluation of single ejaculates of semen and records for 2 consecutive breeding seasons were obtained. In all, data for 99 individual breeding seasons (n = 43 Standardbreds and 56 Thoroughbreds) were evaluated. Included in each semen evaluation was examination of semen characteristics and computer-aided analysis of spermatozoal movement characteristics. On the basis of the analysis of breeding records for 4,175 mares (7,017 estrous cycles), a per-estrous cycle fertility rate was calculated from data for 96 of the breeding seasons. Stallions with lower fertility than the mean overall season fertility had significantly (P less than 0.01) lower mean values for subjective appraisal of the percentage of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa and for percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa. Lower mean values were obtained for computer-aided movement analysis of the percentage of motile and progressively motile spermatozoa, and for mean velocity of motile spermatozoa. Semen characteristics, including spermatozoal movement characteristics, and fertility were significantly (P less than 0.05) correlated for Thoroughbred and Standardbred stallions when analyzed individually and when data for both breeds were combined. Characteristics most highly correlated (P less than 0.01) with fertility data for both breeds combined were: subjective appraisal of the percentage of motile (r = 0.40) and progressively motile (r = 0.46) spermatozoa; percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (r = 0.36); and computer-aided analysis of percentage of motile spermatozoa (r = 0.34). However, on the basis of evaluation of a single ejaculate for each stallion, the variation in these characteristics only accounted for approximately 20% of the observed variation in fertility rate.
TL;DR: In this article, the results of tests of sperm chromatin and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) normality are related to fertilization rates in vitro, and the relationship between sperm test results and fertility rates was analyzed by logistic regression.
TL;DR: Two methods of density gradient centrifugation, Percoll and mini-Percoll, were compared with the swim-up technique for preparing spermatozoa from each of 40 abnormal semen samples and it was concluded that P and MP are not superior to Swim-up.
Abstract: Two methods of density gradient centrifugation, Percoll (P) and mini-Percoll (MP), were compared with the swim-up technique for preparing spermatozoa from each of 40 abnormal semen samples. P and MP produced similar results with a mean recovery of spermatozoa with progressive motility which was significantly higher (18-19%) than that achieved with swim-up (5%). However, the swim-up method resulted in the recovery of spermatozoa with a higher mean motility (89 versus 58%), velocity (69 versus 56 microns/s), percentage with normal morphology (22 versus 16%) and intact acrosomes (61 versus 36%) than P and MP. The mean amplitude of lateral head displacement was the only characteristic of spermatozoa in semen which correlated with the recoveries of motile spermatozoa. Combining MP and swim-up methods for 10 samples produced a higher recovery (11 versus 6.9%) of spermatozoa with significantly better mean motility (94 versus 87%) than did swim-up alone. Although P and MP resulted in greater yields of motile spermatozoa than the swim-up preparation, the latter procedure selected higher proportions of spermatozoa with improved characteristics (velocity, intact acrosomes and normal morphology) which correlate with fertilization rates in vitro. It is concluded that P and MP are not superior to swim-up. However, sequential MP and swim-up preparation improves yields of high quality spermatozoa from some abnormal semen samples and therefore has potential for improving fertilization rates.
TL;DR: Sperm frozen in Human Sperm Preservation Medium had a significantly better recovery of all semen parameters (motility, velocity, and recovery) than either TEST-Yolk or glycerol alone and there was a relationship between motiles count after dilution with cryopreservative and post-thaw motile count.
Abstract: Human semen was cryopreserved using Human Sperm Preservation Medium, TEST-Yolk buffer, or glycerol alone. Sperm characteristics for each specimen were measured before and after freezing to determine which cryopreservative resulted in better cryosurvival and recovery of motile sperm. Sperm frozen in Human Sperm Preservation Medium had a sig- nificantly better recovery of all semen parameters (motility, ye- locity, and recovery) than either TEST-Yolk or glycerol alone. Statistical analyses also were done to examine the variability between and within donor semen specimens. Differences be- tween donors, between specimens, and measurements within donors all contributed to variability of sperm characteristics. Specimen-to-specimen variability for a given donor represented 12% to 47% of the total variability, whereas processing and mea- surementvariability represented 12% to 41%. Donors also varied in the ability of their sperm to tolerate freezing. There was a relationship between motile count after dilution with cryopreser- vative and post-thaw motile count. This relationship allows the prediction of poor-thaw survival before freezing a specimen.
TL;DR: In this paper, the sperm CK-MM ratios, a measure of normal sperm development, predict fertilizing potential independently from sperm concentrations, also detect unexplained male infertility (infertile men with normospermic semen), a diagnosis that until now could not be substantiated.
TL;DR: Higher concentrations of tauraine in the sperm of infertile men suggest that accelerated oxidation of hypotaurine to taurine may accompany the observed decline in other sperm parameters.
Abstract: Taurine and hypotaurine levels were measured in human sperm and seminal fluid. Sperm taurine ranged from 17 nmol/mg DNA to 348 nmol/mg DNA, and hypotaurine from 0 nmol/mg DNA to 251 nmol/mg DNA. Seminal fluid contained 319 mumol/L to 1590 mumol/L of taurine, but no detectable hypotaurine. The coefficient of variation in multiple ejaculates from a single man for these components ranged from 12% for hypotaurine to 24% for seminal fluid taurine, indicating a relative constancy in their concentrations. Sperm hypotaurine content was significantly correlated with sperm morphology, sperm relative forward progression, the percentage of motile sperm, and the total number of sperm in the ejaculate. By contrast, sperm taurine content was negatively correlated with these parameters. The mean hypotaurine content of sperm from 8 fertile men was 149 +/- 92 nmol/mg DNA, four times higher than that of sperm from 9 infertile men, which was 35 +/- 19 nmol/mg DNA (P = 0.011). In contrast, the mean sperm taurine content of the fertile men was lower than that of the infertile men (83 +/- 33 nmol/mg DNA versus 168 +/- 119 nmol/mg DNA, respectively; P = 0.07). Seminal fluid taurine concentrations, however, were similar for both groups. Hypotaurine, an antioxidant, may play an important role in protecting sperm from reactive oxygen species. Higher concentrations of taurine in the sperm of infertile men suggest that accelerated oxidation of hypotaurine to taurine may accompany the observed decline in other sperm parameters.
TL;DR: Significant correlations were observed between blood cadmium levels and volume of semen, midpiece defects, and immature forms of spermatozoa, which may have an effect on spermatogenesis.
Abstract: The study consisted of 35 male subjects attending an andrology clinic. The subjects all had poor sperm parameters that could not be attributed to any known medical cause. The objective was to evaluate the relation between various seminal characteristics (volume, total sperm count, sperm viability, proportion of progressively motile sperm, and different sperm morphology) and the blood concentrations of lead, cadmium, mercury, copper, and zinc. The mean blood concentrations of lead, mercury, copper, and zinc were within the normal values; cadmium concentration (1.35 μg/L) was much higher than the norms. Asthenozoospermic subjects had significantly (p < 025) higher blood cadmium levels than normozoospermic subjects. No significant differences were noted between the two groups for mean concentration of mercury, zinc, and copper in blood. Significant correlations were observed between blood cadmium levels and volume of semen, midpiece defects, and immature forms of spermatozoa. High blood cadmium levels may ha...
TL;DR: It is concluded that membrane rupture is not the sole cause of loss of motile spermatozoa during freezing and that the decrease in the proportion of motiles spermutozoa is caused, at least in part, by a separate process from that responsible for the decreases in the average swimming speed of spermatozosa.
Abstract: The motility characteristics of washed spermatozoa from 50 normal ejaculates were measured by time-lapse photography, before and after cryopreservation. Plasma membrane integrity was assessed by the hypo-osmotic swelling test and with the supravital fluorescent dye bisbenzimide (H33258). There was a marked decline in the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa after cryopreservation, the extent varying widely among donors. Results were, however, consistent between different ejaculates from the same individual. The ability of spermatozoa to survive cryopreservation could not be predicted from the properties of the semen beforehand. The mean velocity of the spermatozoa was significantly reduced after freezing, but the lateral head displacement was unaltered. There was a significant reduction in the proportion of spermatozoa with intact plasma membranes after cryopreservation and the results of the hypo-osmotic swelling test and H33258 tests correlated closely. There was no correlation between the declines in the percentage of motile spermatozoa, or intact spermatozoa and the sperm velocity. We conclude that membrane rupture is not the sole cause of loss of motile spermatozoa during freezing and that the decrease in the proportion of motile spermatozoa is caused, at least in part, by a separate process from that responsible for the decrease in the average swimming speed of spermatozoa.
TL;DR: In three of the four ongoing pregnancies, prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis indicated a normal karyotype, and there was no difference in the fertilization and cleavage rates between the two sperm treatment procedures.
Abstract: Human spermatozoa were injected into the perivitelline space of oocytes from 43 couples (44 cycles) in whom fertilization had failed in conventional in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The spermatozoa were treated to enhance the percentage of acrosome-free spermatozoa either by incubation for 24 h in T6 medium with 50% follicular fluid (v/v) or by incubation for 24 h in T6 medium followed by electroporation and incubation for a few hours in T6 medium with 3.5 mM pentoxifylline. After these two procedures, the mean percentage of acrosome-free spermatozoa increased to 35.5 and 53.9% respectively. Up to three spermatozoa were injected into the perivitelline space of metaphase II oocytes; few oocytes were damaged during the injection procedure. The overall fertilization rate was 30.9% of the 433 oocytes that were intact after subzonal insemination. Only 3% of the injected oocytes had more than two pronuclei. The cleavage rate of the fertilized oocytes was 80%. There was no difference in the fertilization and cleavage rates between the two sperm treatment procedures. One, two or three embryos were replaced in 34 cycles and seven patients became pregnant. In three of the four ongoing pregnancies, prenatal diagnosis by amniocentesis indicated a normal karyotype.
TL;DR: It is demonstrated that testicular damage (changes in semen quality and/or endocrine parameters) occurs in the ipsilateral and contralateral testis following torsion, regardless of treatment modality, and with early intervention by detorsion and testicular salvage, subsequent semen quality is likely to remain within normal limits.
TL;DR: Results of the questionnaire showed that exposed individuals had a higher incidence of childlessness and of self-reported difficulty in conceiving than controls, and the overall evaluation of the sperm parameters indicated a higher prevalence of pathologic sperm profiles among the exposed compared to the controls.
TL;DR: It was concluded that, although few hyperactivated boar sperm could be recovered from the oviduct, Boar sperm are capable of undergoing hyperactivation.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to describe hyperactivated motility in boar sperm and to determine the incidence of hyperactivation among boar sperm flushed from the oviduct. Oviducts were surgically removed from 13 gilts 32 hours after mating them to fertile boars. The majority of the sperm flushed from the oviducts was immotile, weakly motile, or stuck to mucus or cellular debris. The mucus could not be penetrated by the sperm. The remaining 3% to 19% of the flushed sperm was free-swimming. Only five hyperactivated sperm were recovered, all from the ampulla of the oviduct. The remainder of the free-swimming sperm travelled in linear trajectories and possessed significantly higher flagellar curvature ratios (the flagella were less bent) than boar sperm measured in diluted semen. Hyperactivated motility was induced in washed ejaculated boar sperm, using a 1-minute pulse of 4 mumol/L calcium ionophore A23187. The ionophore-treated sperm had significantly lower straight-line velocities, linearities, and flagellar curvature ratios than controls, as would be expected for hyperactivated sperm. They were vigorous and swam in circles. It was concluded that, although few hyperactivated boar sperm could be recovered from the oviduct, boar sperm are capable of undergoing hyperactivation.
TL;DR: Semen of superior quality was collected in the latter half of summer and throughout the autumn, however, the magnitude of these seasonal effects was not sufficient to prevent the bucks being used for breeding throughout the year.
TL;DR: To properly interpret the fertility of a semen sample, a complete and thorough semen evaluation must be performed.
Abstract: This article outlines a basic method for conducting a stallion semen evaluation. After the removal of the gel fraction of the ejaculate, semen gel-free volume is determined, and any abnormality in appearance is noted. Concentration of sperm cells in semen can be determined with the use of either a hemacytometer or spectrophotometer after appropriate dilution of raw semen. The percentage of progressively motile sperm is evaluated promptly after collection of semen with the use of a phase-contrast microscope. The total numbers of sperm and progressively motile sperm in the ejaculate are calculated. The determination of seminal pH and the classification of sperm morphologic features are additional seminal characteristics evaluated during a semen evaluation. Sperm motion characteristics can be further evaluated with the use of computerized sperm image analysis systems and may add additional information concerning the quality of ejaculated sperm. Unfortunately, no single seminal characteristic has in itself been shown to be highly correlated with fertility, although various seminal characteristics are known to affect fertility. Therefore, to properly interpret the fertility of a semen sample, a complete and thorough semen evaluation must be performed.