Quercetin in semen extender improves frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in crossbred Kamori goats.

This study investigated the antioxidant effect of quercetin-treated semen on frozen-thawed spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in crossbred Kamori goats. In total, 32 ejaculates from four fertile bucks were diluted in Tris-based egg yolk extender with varying levels of quercetin (0, 1, 5, 10, and 15 µM). Qualified semen samples were pooled and frozen in French straws. The results revealed that the addition of quercetin in the semen extender increased (p < 0.05) frozen-thawed sperm total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), rapid velocity (RV), average path velocity (VAP), straight line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), and amplitude of lateral head (ALH) displacement in contrast to the control group. Quercetin supplementation had no effect on beat cross frequency (BCF), straightness (STR), and linearity (LIN) (p > 0.05). Quercetin showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) plasma membrane and acrosome integrity and viability (p < 0.05) of spermatozoa in contrast to the control group. Quercetin in the semen extender significantly increased (p < 0.05) superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels while reduced (p < 0.05) the contents of total oxidant status (TOS) and malondialdehyde (MDA), which were in contrast to the control group. Ultrasound results revealed that 24 out of 30 (80%) goats were found pregnant when semen was treated with 5 µM quercetin while the control group showed 18 out of 30 (60%) animals were pregnant. Thus, the study concluded that 5 µM quercetin-treated semen was found to be efficient, showed increased antioxidant status, and reduced oxidant production, leading to improved spermatozoa quality and in-vivo fertility in goats.

Bull Semen Obtained on Beef Farms by Electroejaculation: Sperm Quality in the First Two Hours of Storing with Different Extenders and Holding Temperatures.

Sperm quality decreases over time, so bull semen may need to be preserved after field collection. However, the effect of handling such semen samples from commercial farms and placing them in very short-term storage has not been elucidated. Therefore, ejaculate from 25 bulls from 1 dairy and 14 beef cattle farms were collected under farm conditions and evaluated for semen quality during the first two hours after collection. Two commercial extenders (AndroMed® and BIOXcell®) and two different storage temperatures (5 °C and room temperature) were used to evaluate the influence on semen quality and sperm kinetics in ejaculates grouped into three evaluation times, based on time since collection (Time 1: <75 min, n = 7; Time 2: 75-105 min, n = 11; and Time 3: 105-120 min, n = 7). Classical semen parameters, sperm motion kinetics by CASA and colony-forming units were assessed. The differences between both extenders in curvilinear and straight-line velocities (VCL and VSL) for the different time groups (Time 2 and Time 3) were statistically significant for p < 0.05. AndroMed® showed lower VSL, straightness and linearity in sperm compared to BIOXcell® (p < 0.05). In conclusion, AndroMed® induced more curvilinear movement, while BIOXcell® stimulated straighter motility.

Estructura testicular y calidad seminal en ratones seleccionados por peso / Testicular structure and semen quality in mice lines selected for weight

La capacidad reproductiva femenina se modificó como consecuencia de la selección de peso realizada en un par de líneas de selección divergente durante 50 generaciones (s: bajo peso; s': alto peso), originadas a partir de una población testigo (t) de ratones CF1 y criadas en la Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias (UNR). Se probó la existencia de diferencias reproductivas atribuibles al genotipo paterno observadas en el tamaño de camada al nacimiento y en los días transcurridos desde el ingreso a servicio hasta la parición. Con el propósito de explicar las diferencias se comparó la estructura testicular - peso testicular (PTEST), diámetro del túbulo seminífero (DTS), altura de su epitelio (AES) - y la calidad seminal - número de espermatozoides (NE), porcentaje de células anormales (AN), motilidad y desplazamiento de las células espermáticas (Parámetros CASA) -, en machos adultos de 10 a 14 semanas de edad. Se estimó el promedio del DTS y AES en 100 túbulos seminíferos por individuo. El semen se obtuvo de la porción caudal de los epidídimos y de los conductos deferentes. El recuento de espermatozoides se realizó en cámara de Neubauer hemocitométrica y el porcentaje de células anormales se calculó sobre 100 espermatozoides por extendido. Los parámetros de motilidad se determinaron con analizador computarizado de semen Ceros 12.1. La selección por peso diferenció significativamente a las líneas en el mismo sentido de la selección practicada para PTEST, AES y NE. Los machos de la línea más pesada (s') presentaron PTEST y AES mayores y tuvieron un mayor número de espermatozoides al compararlos con los de las líneas s y t (p<0,05). La calidad del semen, bajo las condiciones del setup utilizado, fue similar para los machos de las tres líneas. Por lo tanto, la calidad del semen no aportó a la explicación de las diferencias de fertilidad masculina entre las líneas.

Reproductive female capacity was affected by the genetic selection performed in a pair of lines of two-way selection of body weight for 50 generations (s: downward selection; s': upward selection). These lines were originated from a control CF1 mice population (t) at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences (UNR). The existence of reproductive differences attributed to the male genotype in the litter size and in the interval from the service beginning to first parturition was proven. With the aim of explaining them, the testicular structure - testicular weight (PTEST), vas deferens diameter (DTS), epithelium height (AES) - and the semen quality - spermatozoa number (NE), abnormal cell percentage (AN), motility and movement of spermatic cells (CASA parameters) were compared, in adult males between 10 and 14 weeks of age. The means of the DTS and AES were estimated for 100 seminiferous tubules per individual. Semen was obtained from the caudal portion of the epididymides and vasa deferentia. Sperm count was performed in Neubauer hemocytometer and abnormal cell percentage was estimated over 100 spermatozoa per sample. Motility parameters were determined with a Ceros 12.1 semen computerized analyzer. Body weight selection occasioned significant differences between lines in the same way of the selection performed for PTEST, AES and NE. Males of the heaviest line (s') show heavier testicles, higher seminiferous epithelium and, consequently, a higher number of spermatozoa when compared with s and t males (p<0,05). Semen quality under the employed setup conditions was similar for males of the three lines. Therefore, semen quality does not contribute to the explanation of the fertility differences between lines.