Extracellular presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in fresh and frozen-thawed canine semen and their effects on some semen parameters.

The objective of this study was to determine the presence of reactive oxygen species (ROS), especially superoxide anion (O2-), in fresh and frozen-thawed canine semen, its effect on other seminal parameters and whether the freezing-thawing process influences the O2- production rate. A total of 56 mature male domestic dogs were used in this study. Their semen was examined before and after freezing-thawing process. Sperm motility, hypo-osmotic swelling, sperm morphology and O2- extracellular production were measured. The dogs were divided in two groups, with the criterion of the absence or presence of O2- in fresh semen (groups A and B, respectively). Values of group A were compared with the respective values of group B. A significant decrease in motility and percentage of swollen spermatozoa and an increase in morphological abnormalities and O2- production in group B were found in comparison with group A after freezing-thawing process (p < 0.05). It seems that the freezing-thawing process leads to an increase of the O2- production. However, it remains to be documented if the increased concentrations of O2- in canine semen are responsible for the alterations in the seminal parameters observed in this study.

[Effects of captopril on the male reproductive organs and various semen parameters of rabbits]. / Uber den Einfluss von Captopril auf die männlichen Geschlechtsorgane und verschiedene Samenparameter von Kaninchen.

The effect of the administration of captopril on the concentrations of Zn, Cu, Mg and Ca into different organs, on their histological structure and several semen parameters of male rabbits was studied. For 9 weeks 6.5 mgs captopril/kg b.w. were administered daily to 7 months old White New Zealand rabbits p.o. Semen samples were collected at the beginning of the experiment and after 4 and 9 weeks. The animals were sacrificed 9 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and organ samples were collected for histological examination and for the determination of the Zn, Cu, Mg and Ca concentrations in several tissues and the semen samples. The absolute and relative weight of the right and left testes of the test animals revealed a tendency for increase. Absolute and relative weight of the right epididymis and the relative weight of the left epididymis were significantly increased. The concentration of Zn in the blood, of Cu and Ca in the epididymis and of Mg in the testes of the test animals were significantly decreased. A significant increase was observed of the Cu and Mg concentrations in the adrenals. In the semen Cu concentration was significantly increased 9 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Mg concentration was significantly decreased 9 weeks as compared with 4 weeks after the beginning of the experiment. Histological examination of tissue specimens of brain, liver, kidney, adrenal glands, testes, epididymis, ductus deferens and seminal vesicles from all experimental animals didn't reveal any remarkable lesion under the light microscope. The other semen parameters like volume, motility, sperm number and morphology had not changed. As the values of alcalic and acid phosphatase and ASAT in the semen samples showed many variations, statistical analysis could not be performed.