Use of corticosteroid therapy on the modulation of uterine inflammatory response in mares after artificial insemination with frozen semen

In order to modulate uterine inflammatory response and evaluate the effect of corticosteroid therapy on fertility, 90 cycles of 45 mares were used for artificial insemination with frozen semen, using three different protocols: G1 - inseminated with frozen semen (800 x 10(6) viable spermatozoa pre-freezing) + 20 mL of seminal plasma; G2 - inseminated with frozen semen (800 x 10(6) viable spermatozoa pre-freezing) + corticosteroid therapy; G3 - inseminated with frozen semen (800 x 10(6) viable spermatozoa pre-freezing) + 20 mL of seminal plasma + corticosteroid therapy. Corticosteroid therapy consisted on one administration of prednisolone acetate (0.1 mg/Kg - Predef (R)) when mares presented 35mm follicles and uterine edema, concomitantly with the unique dose of hCG (human chorionic gonadotropin), then repeated each 12 hours until ovulation. on first fertility trial, with normal mares, there was no difference between control and treated groups (p>0.05), using seminal plasma associated with corticosteroid therapy (40 vs. 38%, respectively) or corticosteroid therapy alone (40 vs. 45% respectively). The second fertility trial, performed with mares with previous history of post-insemination endometritis, demonstrated a significant increase of pregnancy rate when mares were submitted to corticosteroid therapy (0.0 vs. 64.5%, respectively; p<0.05). Corticosteroid therapy was shown to be safe, with no physical or reproductive alterations on treated mares, demonstrating to be an adequate option to those animals with history of post-breeding or post-insemination endometritis. Further clinical research is necessary to confirm these results and contribute to the establishment of preventive therapy for cases of post-insemination endometritis.

Fixed-time insemination with frozen semen in mares: is it suitable for poorly fertile stallions?

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effectivity of Various β-Carotene Concentration on Quality of Frozen-Thawed Semen of Garut Rams

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the quality of frozen-thawed semen of Garut rams that cryopreserved with Tris extender containing the various β-carotene concentrations. Semen was collected from four mature Garut rams using artificial vagina once a week. Immediately after initial evaluation, semen was divided into four parts and diluted with Tris extender containing 5% glycerol + 0% (control), 0.001% (Kt0.001), 0.002% (Kt0.002), and 0.003% (Kt0.003) β-carotene, respectively. Semen was loaded in 0.25 ml mini straw with the concentration of 200 million motile sperm. Semen was equilibrated at 5ºC for three hours, then frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen container for 7 days. Quality of processed-semen including motility, live sperm, intact acrosomal cap (IAC), and intact plasma membrane (IPM) were evaluated after diluted, equilibrated, and thawed, respectively. Concentration of malondialdehide (MDA) semen after thawing were evaluated. Data were analyzed as completely randomized design with four treatments and nine replicates. Means values were compared by least significant difference test at 0.05 significant level. Results indicated that mean value of post thawing motility and live sperm for Kt0.002 (50.55% and 56.78%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than Kt0.001 (46.11% and 52.89%), Kt0.003 (46.67% and 53.33%) and control (46.67% and 52.33%). Mean value of post thawing IAC and IPM for Kt0.002 (51.00% and 53.78%) were significantly higher (P<0.05) than control ( 47.11% and 48.44%), but not significantly different with Kt0.001 (49.00% and 50.00%), and Kt0.003 (48.89% and 49.67%). MDA concentration of frozen-thawed semen for Kt0.001 (3.37 mg/kg), Kt0.002 (3.80 mg/kg), and Kt0.003 (4.61 mg/kg) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than control (5.24 mg/kg). in conclusion, concentration of 0.002% β-carotene in Tris extender is the optimal dose in improving frozen semen quality of garut rams. (Animal Production 7(1): 6-13 (2005) Key Words : β-carotene, frozen-thawed semen, intact plasma membrane, MDA, Garut Rams

Posibilidades económicas del semen congelado de jabalí en la producción de cruzas

p.281-284

Cryopreservation of human semen and prepared sperm: effects on motility parameters and DNA integrity

Objective: To investigate effects of cryopreservation on sperm motility and DNA integrity. Design: Pre-cryopreservation and post-cryopreservation analysis of motility and DNA integrity of semen and prepared sperm samples. Setting: A hospital andrology laboratory. Patient(s): Forty men attending the Regional Fertility Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland. Intervention(s): Each sample was divided, and an aliquot was frozen unprepared. Remaining aliquots were prepared by Percoll density centrifugation (95.0:47.5) or direct swim-up procedure and divided into aliquots to allow direct comparison of fresh and frozen semen and prepared sperm (frozen with or without the addition of seminal plasma) from the same ejaculate. Samples were frozen by static-phase vapor cooling and being plunged into liquid nitrogen. Thawing was carried out at room temperature. Main Outcome Measure(s): Sperm DNA integrity was determined using a modified alkaline single cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay, and motility was determined using computer-assisted semen analysis. Result(s): Sperm frozen unprepared in seminal fluid appeared more resistant to freezing damage than frozen prepared sperm. Further improvements can be achieved by selecting out the subpopulation of sperm with best motility and DNA integrity and freezing these sperm in seminal plasma, making this the optimal procedure. Conclusion(s): Freezing sperm in seminal plasma improves postthaw motility and DNA integrity.

Effect of sequence of insemination after simultaneous thawing of multiple semen straws on conception rate to timed AI in suckled multiparous Nelore cows

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)