Uysal O., M. N. Bucak: Effects of Oxidized Glutathione, Bovine Serum Albumin, Cysteine and Lycopene on the Quality of Frozen-Thawed Ram Semen. Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: 383-390. Free radicals are known to be involved in lipid peroxidation as well as DNA and sperm membrane damages that may lead to decreased sperm motility or cell death. The balance between free radical production and their detoxifi cation may be an important factor in sperm survival and function before, during and after cryopreservation. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the addition of the antioxidants of oxidized glutathione (GSSG), bovine serum albumin (BSA), cysteine and lycopene to freezing media on the post-thawing sperm characteristics, including motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, viability and membrane integrity. A total number of 42 ejaculates were collected using the artifi cial vagina from 4 Akkaraman rams and 10 replicates of the ejaculates were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing additives and no additives as control.GSSG (5 mM), BSA (20 mg/ml), cysteine (10 mM) and lycopene (800 μg) showed more positive effects than other concentrations of the supplements and controls in protecting sperm characteristics after the freezing-thawing process (P < 0.001).Many aspects of sperm protection, e.g. sperm motility, viability and membrane stabilisation of the sperm cells during relative cryopreservation, are the key factors in determining the preservation of sperm function. The results of this study provide a new approach to the cryopreservation of sperm from rams and related breeds, and thereby contribute to the improvement of these breeds for the world sheep industry. Antioxidants, ram semen, freezing, extender

We focussed on evaluating the protective effect of lycopene and resveratrol on post-thaw bull sperm and oxidative stress parameters. Nine ejaculates for each bull were used in the study. Each ejaculate, splitted into three equal aliquots and diluted at 37 °C with base extenders containing lycopene (1 × 10(-3)  g ml(-1) ) and resveratrol (1 mm), and no antioxidant (control), was cooled to 5 °C and then frozen. Frozen straws were thawed in a water bath for evaluation. The supplementation of the semen extender with lycopene and resveratrol increased the percentages of post-thawed computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) motility (55.8 ± 3.8 and 61.9 ± 4.0%) and progressive motility (38 ± 2.4 and 37 ± 8.8), compared with the controls (50.7 ± 2.65 and 33.3 ± 3.74%, respectively, P < 0.05). Resveratrol provided a higher ALH (4.3 ± 0.1), in comparison with the control (3.9 ± 0.3, P < 0.05). The supplementation of the semen extender with lycopene and resveratrol produced a higher mitochondrial activity (24.6 ± 2.9 and 30.1 ± 6.5% respectively), compared with that of the control (11.8 ± 9.5%, P < 0.05). It was determined that both antioxidants resulted in a lower percentage of sperm with damaged DNA than that of the control (P < 0.05). Sperm motion characteristics except for ALH, acrosome integrity, sperm viability and oxidative stress parameters were not affected by the adding of lycopene and resveratrol.

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Male reproductive parameters are often used for the functional examination and evaluation of predicted genetic values for future aspects. However, these traits are relatively reliable until the measurable effects are expressed on desired traits. Therefore, we aimed to associate the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype of the investigated characteristics and reproductive loci. A total of 46 male dogs are divided into three age groups (I ≤ 3 years, n = 19; II 4-6 years; n = 19, and III ≥7 years, n = 8). The testis, scrotum and body weight, libido sexualis and ejaculation time for each fraction were monitored as functional traits, while the pH, fractional semen volume, motility, concentration, and abnormal and dead spermatozoa rate were recorded as spermatological traits. The Affymetrix Canine 127 K SNP genotyping array v2 (Affymetrix Inc., California, USA) was used for SNP genotyping. In the primary results, the scrotal circumference was found to be higher in group II compared to other groups (p < 0.05) and the lowest total abnormal spermatozoa rate was found in group I (p < 0.05). The normal spermatozoa rate was found to be significantly above the threshold in relation to the SNP in chromosome 17. In conclusion, this study represents an exciting first step towards SNP association with dog semen spermatological parameters. Future studies might be undertaken to evaluate this SNP region for gene-knockout and expression analysis and for fine mapping to validate and/or discover the exact position of the effect region.

The study was conducted to determine the effect of 7-dehydrocholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (7-DHCLC) and cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on changes of bull sperm motility during short term storage (+4°C). Collected ejaculates were pooled and divided into 7 groups, as following one control (C); three 7-DHCLC and the other three CLC concentrations. Diluted semen samples were transferred and stored at +4°C and sperm motility was analysed in determined intervals during three days storage period with computer aided sperm analyse (CASA) system. Motility decreased in all groups; however, 7-DHCLC and CLC groups motility decreased in the next two days gradually. But, CLC 1.5 mg/120x10 6 group were identified as the best groups for protecting motility in short time preservation. In conclusion, adding different rates of 7-DHCLC and CLC to semen extender preserved motility for three days in bull semen stored at +4°C. Keywords: Bull sperm, Cholesterol, Motility, Short term storage, 7-dehydrocholesterol 7-dehidrokolesterol ve Kolesterol İle Doyurulmuş Siklodekstrinlerin Kısa Süreli Saklama Süresince Boğa Spermasının Motilitesine Etkisi ÖzetBu çalışma, kısa süreli saklama süresince (+4°C) 7-dehidrokolesterol doyurulmuş siklodekstrin (7-DHCLC) ve kolesterol ile doyurulmuş siklodekstrinin (CLC) boğa spermasının motilitesinin korunmasındaki etkisinin değerlendirilmesi için yürütülmüştür. Alınan ejekulatlar birleştirilerek 7 gruba ayrıldı, bu gruplardan biri control (C), üçü 7-DHCLC'nin diğer üçü ise CLC'nin farklı konsantrasyonlarını içeren sulandırıcılarla sulandırıldı. Sulandırılan sperma +4°C'ye transfer edildilerek saklandı ve sperma motilitesi üç gün boyunca bilgisayar destekli sperm analiz cihazında (CASA) değerlendirdi. Motilitenin tüm gruplarda azaldığı görüldü fakat, 7-DHCLC ve CLC gruplarında motilite azalmasının daha yavaş olduğu tespit edildi. Fakat, CLC 1.5 mg/120×10 6 grubunun spermanın kısa süreli saklanmasında motiliteyi koruyan en iyi grup olduğu belirlendi. Sonuç olarak, sperma sulandırıcısına değişik oranlarda 7DHCLC ve CLC'nin eklenmesi +4°C'de boğa sperma motilitesini üç gün boyunca koruduğu tespit edildi.