Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jacqueline Koch, Laura Patricia Weber, Maike Heppelmann, Fritjof Freise, Malte Klingelmann, Lisa Bachmann
Summary: Recommendations for thawing methods of frozen bovine semen vary, and clear data evaluating their influence on fertility are contradictory. This study aimed to investigate the influence of different thawing methods of frozen bull semen in artificial insemination (AI) of dairy cows on conception rate (CR) under practical conditions and to determine further possible influencing factors on the success of AI in order to provide recommendations for practical use. The results showed no significant difference in CR between the thawing methods, but lactation number, month of insemination, and AI method were found to have effects on CR. Based on the data, no clear recommendation for semen thawing method in dairy reproduction can be made. The study suggests that the reproductive performance of dairy cows is mainly influenced by factors such as natural heat insemination, lactation number, and season of insemination, highlighting the importance of focusing on cow conditions.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Madison L. Butler, Ashley R. Hartman, Jennifer M. Bormann, Robert L. Weaber, David M. Grieger, Megan M. Rolf
Summary: Improving beef bull fertility is an important aspect of optimizing cattle production efficiency. This study analyzed data from bull semen collection facilities to determine fixed effects for modeling beef bull fertility and estimate variance components, heritabilities, repeatabilities, and correlations between beef bull semen attributes. Low to moderate heritability estimates were found for beef bull semen quality traits, indicating potential for genetic improvement in this area.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jabulani Nkululeko Ngcobo, Fhulufhelo Vincent Ramukhithi, Khathutshelo Agree Nephawe, Takalani Judas Mpofu, Tlou Caswell Chokoe, Tshimangadzo Lucky Nedambale
Summary: This paper discusses the use of flaxseed oil as an alternative source of omega n-3 fatty acids to improve semen quality. The over-exploitation of fish oil resources makes alternative sources necessary.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
John Peter Ebenezer Samuel King, Manish Kumar Sinha, Arumugam Kumaresan, Pradeep Nag, Mohua Das Gupta, Mani Arul Prakash, Thirumala Rao Talluri, Tirtha Kumar Datta
Summary: The fertility of cryopreserved bull semen is lower than that of fresh semen, and cryopreservation alters the transcriptomic composition of spermatozoa, affecting fertility-related functions and pathways.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Steve X. Yang, Gregg P. Adams, Eric M. Zwiefelhofer, Kosala Rajapaksha, Muhammad Anzar
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the suitability of a cholesterol-cyclodextrin semen extender without egg yolk for cryopreservation of bull semen. Results showed that different concentrations of cholesterol-cyclodextrin complex in Tris-glycerol extender had an impact on sperm characteristics and pregnancy rates.
ANIMAL REPRODUCTION SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Reproductive Biology
Simon K. Walker, Jennifer M. Kelly, Michelle L. Hebart, Alyce M. S. Swinbourne, Alice C. Weaver, David O. Kleemann
Summary: This study examines the effects of intra-vaginal progesterone treatment on luteolysis, ovulatory follicle emergence, timing of estrus, and fertility in ewes. The results show that the timing of luteal regression is related to the emergence of ovulatory follicles, which in turn affects the timing of estrus. The relationship between the day of follicle emergence and luteal regression is influenced by treatment and cycling status. The study suggests two strategies to improve artificial insemination success: timed treatment with PGF2a and early treatment with eCG. Evaluation: 6 out of 10.
Article
Reproductive Biology
P. Taaffe, C. M. O'Meara, M. Stiavnicka, C. J. Byrne, B. Eivers, P. Lonergan, S. Fair
Summary: This study aimed to assess the effect of ejaculate collection frequency on semen output, sperm quality, and field fertility in young bulls. The results showed that collecting ejaculates more frequently significantly reduced the number of days required to obtain 1000 straws, increased semen quality in terms of lower superoxide production, and improved field fertility.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabio Pertille, Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez, Arthur Nery da Silva, Isabel Barranco, Jordi Roca, Carlos Guerrero-Bosagna, Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
Summary: A combined GBS and MeDIP protocol was used to identify genetic and epigenetic differences in the genome of spermatozoa from porcine animal models. The study found that breeding boars with different fertility levels exhibited significant differences in their genetic and epigenetic profiles, with potential applications in sire selection and diagnosis of reproductive system diseases in males. This suggests that methylome analyses can be used to discern fertility levels in breeding males.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
M. H. C. Pereira, F. R. Lopes Jr, A. K. Munhoz, K. G. Pohler, R. V. O. Filho, B. Cappellozza, J. L. M. Vasconcelos
Summary: This study aimed to compare the effects of different lengths of ovulation synchronization protocols on ovarian dynamics and pregnancy outcomes in lactating dairy cows, with the 10-day protocol showing higher pregnancy per artificial insemination rates in non-heat-stressed conditions compared to the 9-day protocol.
JOURNAL OF DAIRY SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Andrology
Chihiro Kanno, Kentaro Q. Sakamoto, Sung-Sik Kang, Yojiro Yanagawa, Seiji Katagiri, Masashi Nagano
Summary: We used cluster analysis and discriminant analysis to investigate the motility characteristics of sperm from sex-sorted bull semen as a model for low-quality sperm compared to that of sperm from non-sorted semen. The results showed that sex-sorted semen contained a subpopulation of sperm with hyperactivation-like motility immediately after thawing, which decreased after incubation. The main subpopulation in the non-sorted semen had progressive motility that was maintained during incubation. Conventional comparison of mean values could not differentiate the samples. Discriminant analysis using data from a cluster analysis of motile sperm accurately described differences in the structures of sperm motility subpopulations between low and normal fertility semen.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Miriama Stiavnicka, Aurelie Chaulot-Talmon, Jean-Philippe Perrier, Petr Hosek, David A. Kenny, Patrick Lonergan, Helene Kiefer, Sean Fair
Summary: This study found that sperm DNA methylation status at specific CpG sites is related to bull fertility and identified seven differently methylated genes in the sperm of subfertile bulls that may lead to altered gene expression and potentially influence embryo development.
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Emma Hurri, Isabel Lima-Verde, Anders Johannisson, Hans Stalhammar, Theodoros Ntallaris, Jane M. Morrell
Summary: This study aimed to determine the age at which post-thaw sperm quality is acceptable for artificial insemination. Results showed that acceptable levels of sperm quality can be obtained even with lower sperm concentration.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Stergios Priskas, Georgios Valergakis, Ioannis Tsakmakidis, Sotiria Vouraki, Vasiliki Papanikolopoulou, Alexandros Theodoridis, Georgios Arsenos
Summary: Housing conditions have a significant impact on the success rates of artificial insemination (AI) in dairy ewes during the summer months. Factors such as temperature, Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), space availability, bedding renewal frequency, and outdoor access can negatively affect pregnancy rates.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Ilias Michos, Maria Tsantarliotou, Constantin M. Boscos, Georgios Tsousis, Athina Basioura, Eleni D. Tzika, Panagiotis D. Tassis, Aristotelis G. Lymberopoulos, Ioannis A. Tsakmakidis
Summary: The study evaluated the relationship between boar sperm characteristics and sperm/seminal plasma proteins with main parameters of field fertility in swine. It found that immotile sperm and sperm with biochemically active plasma membranes influenced the number of live-born piglets and litter size of >= 12 piglets. Specific proteins like osteopontin 70 and glutathione peroxidase 5 were also found to affect farrowing rate and fertility when combined with certain sperm characteristics. The evaluation of semen quality variables combined with specific sperm or seminal plasma proteins could provide useful information on in vivo fertilizing capacity of semen doses.
Article
Andrology
Laura Becerro-Rey, Francisco Eduardo Martin-Cano, Cristina Ortega Ferrusola, Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez, Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips, Eva da Silva-Alvarez, Antonio Silva-Rodriguez, Maria Cruz Gil, Fernando J. Pena
Summary: This study investigated the effect of adding pyruvate to glucose extender and storing the seminal doses at 22 degrees C instead of the usual 5 degrees C. The results showed that pyruvate-based media with the addition of itaconate at an appropriate concentration could maintain the motility of sperm samples after 96 hours of storage, which is important for commercialization.
Article
Reproductive Biology
Jiude Mao, Michal Zigo, Dalen Zuidema, Miriam Sutovsky, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: NEDL2 is present in mammalian gametes, zygotes, and preimplantation embryos, and may be involved in processes such as sperm DNA decondensation and male pronuclear formation.
BIOLOGY OF REPRODUCTION
(2021)
Article
Andrology
Peter Ahlering, Miriam Sutovsky, Douglas Gliedt, Kellie Branson, Antonio Miranda Vizuete, Peter Sutovsky
SYSTEMS BIOLOGY IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karl Kerns, Jennifer Jankovitz, Julie Robinson, Amanda Minton, Chris Kuster, Peter Sutovsky
Review
Cell Biology
Lucie Tumova, Michal Zigo, Peter Sutovsky, Marketa Sedmikova, Pavla Postlerova
Summary: The interaction between sperm and the zona pellucida (ZP) is crucial for successful fertilization in mammals, involving the binding of sperm surface ligands to complementary carbohydrates of ZP. Understanding the mechanisms of sperm-ZP interaction is critical for diagnosing infertility and improving assisted reproductive therapies/technologies.
Article
Developmental Biology
Momal Sharif, Karl Kerns, Peter Sutovsky, Nicolai Bovin, David J. Miller
Summary: Studies have shown that progesterone-induced sperm release requires active CatSper channels and proteasomal degradation, indicating that hyperactivation and proteolysis are vital parts of the mechanism for sperm movement.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lauren E. Hamilton, Morgan Lion, Luis Aguila, Joao Suzuki, Genevieve Acteau, Nicole Protopapas, Wei Xu, Peter Sutovsky, Mark Baker, Richard Oko
Summary: This study discovered the presence of core histones in the perinuclear theca (PT) of eutherian sperm, which are newly synthesized during spermiogenesis and play a role in chromatin remodeling of the male pronucleus post-fertilization. These histones are localized in specific sub-compartments of the PT and contribute to early embryonic development, highlighting their functional significance in reproductive processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Won-Hee Song, Dalen Zuidema, Young-Joo Yi, Michal Zigo, Zhibing Zhang, Miriam Sutovsky, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: The early events of post-fertilization sperm mitophagy observed in porcine zygote can be reconstituted in a cell-free system, providing a valuable tool for identifying additional molecules that regulate mitochondrial inheritance in mammals.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Dalen Zuidema, Karl Kerns, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: Artificial insemination technology plays a crucial role in livestock production worldwide, allowing for rapid genetic improvement. Over the past six decades, continuous improvements have been made in areas such as semen analysis, sperm selection, sexing technologies, and semen storage methods. Future work will focus on refining protocols and increasing pregnancy rates in all livestock species.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Mohammed S. Liman, Abubeker Hassen, Lyndy J. McGaw, Peter Sutovsky, Dietmar E. Holm
Summary: This review examined the impact of semen cryopreservation and tannins on sperm function, highlighting the role of tannins in combating reactive oxygen species and promoting successful fertilization. Additionally, the effects of tannin extract feed supplementation on male fertility were investigated, and the potential benefits of tannins as additives in semen extenders were explored.
Article
Biology
Michal Zigo, Karl Kerns, Sidharth Sen, Clement Essien, Richard Oko, Dong Xu, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: Zinc-interacting proteins in porcine sperm undergo changes during sperm maturation, particularly during sperm capacitation. These changes may be associated with Huntington's and Parkinson's disease pathways. The findings have implications for reproductive health, assisted reproductive therapy, and livestock breeding.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meghan Lawlor, Michal Zigo, Karl Kerns, In Ki Cho, Charles A. Easley, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: Huntington's Disease is a fatal neurodegenerative disease with motor dysfunction and cognitive deficits. It also leads to reduced fertility. Although there are pharmaceuticals to manage its symptoms, an effective treatment for the disease is yet to be approved. Identification of genes, diagnostic biomarkers, and therapeutic target pathways could help in early diagnosis and management of the disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Zigo, Karl Kerns, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: The present study focused on the role of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in sperm capacitation. High-resolution, quantitative LC-MS analysis revealed differentially expressed proteins associated with sperm capacitation, hyperactivation, metabolism, acrosomal exocytosis, and fertilization. Further investigation confirmed the involvement of specific proteins, such as CSE1L, PFDN4, and STK39, in sperm capacitation. This research provides insights into potential pharmacological mechanisms to modulate sperm fertilizing ability in animals and humans.
Article
Cell Biology
J. T. Soley, L. du Plessis, M. Sutovsky, P. Sutovsky
Summary: This paper provides the first detailed description of the spermiogenesis process in ostriches and one of the few in any avian species. The steps of spermiogenesis were observed and illustrated using light microscopy and supplemented with ultrastructural observations, PNA labeling, and immunocytochemical labeling. Eight steps were identified, showing similarities with non-passerine birds. However, fewer steps were observed during the development of round spermatids compared to other bird species. This research has implications for comparative reproduction, animal science, and evolutionary biology.
CELL AND TISSUE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Dalen Zuidema, Alexis Jones, Won-Hee Song, Michal Zigo, Peter Sutovsky
Summary: The degradation of sperm-borne mitochondria after fertilization, known as post-fertilization sperm mitophagy, ensures exclusive maternal inheritance of mitochondrial DNA. This process involves the ubiquitin-proteasome system and other autophagic cofactors. The study used mass spectrometry and a porcine cell-free system to identify proteins involved in post-fertilization sperm mitophagy. The findings confirm the involvement of known determinants and provide a list of candidate cofactors for future studies.
Review
Andrology
George Anifandis, Helen G. Tempest, Rafael Oliva, Grace M. Swanson, Mara Simopoulou, Charles A. Easley, Michael Primig, Christina Messini, Paul J. Turek, Peter Sutovsky, Steve J. Ory, Stephen A. Krawetz
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a global health emergency, impacting 188 countries. The unique features of rapid spread and high mortality rate have led to an unprecedented global health crisis. The virus primarily affects the lungs but can also target other vital organs, with potential impacts on reproductive organs still unclear. The halt in reproductive services has highlighted the importance of diagnostic tests and research in supporting public health policies.
SYSTEMS BIOLOGY IN REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE
(2021)
