Semen quality assessments and their significance in reproductive technology (original) (raw)
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Semen evaluation: methodological advancements in sperm quality-specific fertility assessment
Animal Bioscience, 2021
Assessment of male fertility is based on the evaluation of sperm. Semen evaluation measures various sperm quality parameters as fertility indicators. However, semen evaluation has limitations, and it requires the advancement and application of strict quality control methods to interpret the results. This article reviews the recent advances in evaluating various sperm-specific quality characteristics and methodologies, with the help of different assays to assess sperm-fertility status. Sperm evaluation methods that include conventional microscopic methods, computer-assisted sperm analyzers (CASA), and flow cytometric analysis, provide precise information related to sperm morphology and function. Moreover, profiling fertility-related biomarkers in sperm or seminal plasma can be helpful in predicting fertility. Identification of different sperm proteins and diagnosis of DNA damage has positively contributed to the existing pool of knowledge about sperm physiology and molecular anomalies associated with different infertility issues in males. Advances in methods and sperm-specific evaluation has subsequently resulted in a better understanding of sperm biology that has improved the diagnosis and clinical management of male factor infertility. Accurate sperm evaluation is of paramount importance in the application of artificial insemination and assisted reproductive technology. However, no single test can precisely determine fertility; the selection of an appropriate test or a set of tests and parameters is required to accurately determine the fertility of specific animal species. Therefore, a need to further calibrate the CASA and advance the gene expression tests is recommended for faster and field-level applications.
Semen evaluation techniques and their relationship with fertility
Animal reproduction, 2013
This review summarizes those methodsestablished and emerging- of semen assessment whose outcome intents revealing its potential fertility and, as a carry-over concept, that of the sire whose semen we examined. The review does not, however, focus on the wide display of current techniques designed to explore specific or multiple sets of sperm attributes essential for fertilization but on two basic concerns present: the heterogeneity of the sperm suspension and the multitude of attributes required for each spermatozoon to be fertile; concepts that shadow our diagnostic capabilities. The review points out advancements in the exploration of the genome, the transcriptome, and the proteome of both spermatozoa and the seminal plasma which unveil how spermatozoa modulate their own survival and signal to the environment when displaying degenerative changes. Specific seminal plasma components, both among individuals and portions of the ejaculate, not only relate to survival but also signal dif...
Application of biochemical markers for identification of biological properties of animal semen
2000
The use of biochemical markers for identification of biological properties of semen will help to develop new criteria that are accurate and objective in predicting and improving male fertility. Understanding and controlling the mechanisms involved in fertility is a key challenge, which is of fundamental importance in successful animal reproductive performance. Moreover, unraveling the unique molecular mechanism associated with sperm function might have considerable diagnostic value in the evaluation of male infertility. This review offered insights into some recent achievements and provided perspectives for possible applications of the biochemical markers of semen.
Biomarkers of in vivo fertility in sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions
Theriogenology, 2010
The global proteome of sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions was investigated to determine whether associations with relative in vivo fertility exist. Seven stallions at stud in a commercial breeding station were collected throughout the breeding season and bred to a total of 164 mares to determine conception rates. On three occasions during the breeding season, raw semen was obtained from a regular collection for proteomic analysis using two-dimensional electrophoresis and also assessed for routine semen quality end points. First cycle conception rate was negatively related to ejaculate volume (r ϭ Ϫ0.43, P ϭ 0.05) and total IGF1 content (ng) per ejaculate (r ϭ Ϫ0.58, P ϭ 0.006), whereas overall pregnancy rate was positively related to sperm concentration (r ϭ 0.56, P ϭ 0.01). The abundance of three proteins known to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism in sperm was positively related to fertility. Furthermore, the abundance of four seminal plasma proteins were identified as being negatively related to fertility; these were identified as kallikrein-1E2 (KLK2), clusterin, and seminal plasma proteins 1 (SP1) and 2 (SP2). Abundance of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP3) was positively related to first cycle conception rate (r ϭ 0.495, P ϭ 0.027) and may provide a good marker of fertility. Based on stepwise regression analysis, clusterin and SP1 in seminal plasma together with sperm citrate synthase were predictive of fertility (r ϭ 0.77, P Ͻ 0.0001). This study identified proteins within sperm and seminal plasma that could serve as biomarkers of semen quality and fertility in stallions. Theriogenology 74 (2010) 956 -967 www.theriojournal.com 0093-691X/$ -see front matter
Different approaches for assessing sperm function
Animal Reproduction
Different approaches can be used to assess sperm function in different conditions, i.e. sperm storage, freezing-thawing or activation by induction of capacitation and acrosome reaction.
Journal of Andrology, 2009
Assessing semen quality is crucially important for the exploitation of genetically superior sires in an artificial insemination (AI) program. In this study, we compare modern and conventional techniques to estimate bovine sperm concentration and membrane integrity. First, the NucleoCounter SP-100 was validated for sperm concentration and provided statistically reliable and repeatable estimates among aliquots and replicates of 25 fresh ejaculates. Sperm concentrations in 78 ejaculates were then determined with hemacytometer, flow cytometer, and NucleoCounter SP-100 and were significantly correlated (P , .001), with regression coefficients among these 3 techniques close to 1 (P , .01). However, the sperm concentration determined by hemacytometer was lower (P , .01) than by flow cytometer and NucleoCounter SP-100. Forty frozenthawed semen samples were then assessed for sperm concentration and membrane integrity with hemacytometer, flow cytometer and NucleoCounter SP-100. Significant relationships were found for sperm concentration determined by hemacytometer and Nucleo-Counter SP-100 and for sperm membrane integrity determined by flow cytometer and NucleoCounter SP-100 (P , .01). Finally, the standard curves of sperm concentrations in 6 spectrophotometers, comparing optical density against counts drawn by hemacytometer and NucleoCounter SP-100 (n 5 94 fresh ejaculates) showed different (P , .01) intercepts and regression coefficients (linear, quadratic, cubic). It was calculated that a breeding station can improve its production potential by 13% with the use of Nucleo-Counter SP-100 instead of hemacytometer for calibration of spectrophotometers. Flow cytometer and NucleoCounter SP-100 can be used with equal confidence to estimate sperm concentration and membrane integrity in domestic animals and human semen.
IMPORTANT FUNCTIONAL PARAMETERS OF SPERMATOZOA: A REVIEW
Selection of good quality semen is done usually based on conventional semen parameters. However, selection of good bulls requires tests more than the conventional tests. Various functional parameters, viz. reactive oxygen species generation, ATP concentration, Ca 2+ ion signaling, mitochondrial membrane potential, leptin secretion and matrix metalloproteinase activity qualify the spermatozoa and influence its fertility potential. Present review discusses these important functional parameters of spermatozoa and stresses that these tests can be performed along with conventional tests to judge the semen quality of a bull.