Exposing dairy bulls to high temperature-humidity index during spermatogenesis compromises subsequent embryo development in vitro

Luceño, Núria Llamas; Angrimani, Daniel de Souza Ramos; Bicudo, Luana de Cássia; Szymanska, Katarzyna; Poucke, Mario Van; Demeyere, Kristel; Meyer, Evelyne; Peelman, Luc; Mullaart, E.; Broekhuijse, Marleen L.W.J.; Soom, Ann Van

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.08.034

Cited by 33 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 64 publications

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“…Heat stress also affects bull reproductive efficiency by reducing sperm quality [ 188 , 189 ]; heat promotes the formation of reactive oxygen species that damage sperm DNA and heat can inhibit the production of antioxidants that usually protect sperm from oxidative attack [ 190 ]. THI > 60 may be associated with reduced semen volume, number of semen doses per ejaculate and sperm concentration, although whether this translates to lower fertilization rate and blastocysts viability is unclear [ 191 ]; THI 50–60 appears to be optimal for semen production [ 192 ]. Heat stress can be mitigated by avoiding reproductive strategies during times of higher THI; by installing cooling systems, shades, water vaporization and other tools of dairy husbandry; and by choosing bull breeds adapted to the climate area [ 190 ].…”

Section: Stress and Reproductive Efficiency Of The Beef Bullmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Fernández-Novo¹,

Pérez-Garnelo

Villagrá

et al. 2020

Animals

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Researchers have contributed by increasing our understanding of the factors affecting reproduction in beef, mainly physical health and nutrition aspects, which have been main concerns during decades. Animal welfare is of outmost relevance in all animal production systems and it is strongly associated to stress. Stress responses involve endocrine, paracrine and neural systems and the consequences of this stress on the reproductive efficiency of specifically, beef cattle and bulls, need to be highlighted. We, therefore, describe the fundamentals of stress and its quantification, focusing in beef herds, reviewing the highly valuable pieces of research, already implemented in this field. We examine major factors (stressors) contributing to stress in beef cattle and their effects on the animals, their reproductive performance and the success of reproductive biotechnologies. We include terms such as acclimatization, acclimation or temperament, very relevant in beef systems. We examine specifically the management stress due to handling, social environment and hierarchy or weaning effects; nutritional stress; and thermal stress (not only heat stress) and also review the influence of these stressors on reproductive performance and effectiveness of reproductive biotechnologies in beef herds. A final message on the attention that should be devoted to these factors is highlighted.

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Section: Stress and Reproductive Efficiency Of The Beef Bullmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Fernández-Novo¹,

Pérez-Garnelo

Villagrá

et al. 2020

Animals

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“…Moreover, Llamas Luceño et al. [ 17 ] showed that higher THI reduced sperm viability in Holstein bulls and led to a decreased subsequent blastocyst development. In comparison to other breeds, Belgian Blue bulls display impaired reproductive capacity, which seem to be associated with their double-muscled properties.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Likewise, Nuria-Llamas et al. [ 17 ] found that high THI during summer negatively altered head features and chromatin condensation of Holsteins bull spermatozoa. Similarly, an increase of morphologically abnormal, membrane damaged and DNA fragmented spermatozoa was observed 21 days after testicular insulation in rams [ 49 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bulls exposed to summer heat stress show an increase of respiratory rate and rectal temperature [ 12 ], reduction in testis weight, alteration in testosterone production [ 13 ], reduction in sperm concentration, motility, plasma membrane integrity, and increase the possibility of mutations in sperm DNA as well as morphologically abnormal spermatozoa [ 14 , 15 ]. These can adversely affect bovine embryo development, leading to low conception and fertility rates [ 16 , 17 ]. In several mammalian species, elevated temperatures can decrease sperm quality by increasing morphological abnormalities in semen of mice [ 18 ], ram [ 19 ], stallions [ 20 ] and bulls [ 21 ] leading to poor fertility results either in vitro or in vivo [ 17 , 22 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These can adversely affect bovine embryo development, leading to low conception and fertility rates [ 16 , 17 ]. In several mammalian species, elevated temperatures can decrease sperm quality by increasing morphological abnormalities in semen of mice [ 18 ], ram [ 19 ], stallions [ 20 ] and bulls [ 21 ] leading to poor fertility results either in vitro or in vivo [ 17 , 22 ]. During heat exposure, animals regulate their body temperature by a physiological adjustment which leads to increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) [ 14 , 18 ], being the first pathway affecting the quality of spermatozoa [ 19 , 23 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Influence of seasonal differences on semen quality and subsequent embryo development of Belgian Blue bulls

et al. 2020

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Belgian Blue bulls are more susceptible to high temperature and humidity index (THI) than most other cattle breeds. Here, we investigated whether high ambient temperature during summer affected semen quality and subsequent embryo development in Belgian Blue cattle. For this purpose, semen samples were collected from six healthy mature Belgian Blue bulls in March (Low THI group; THI between 30.6 and 56.4) and August 2016 (High THI group; maximum THI of 83.7 during meiotic and spermiogenic stages of spermatogenesis; 14–28 days prior to semen collection) respectively. Motility, morphology, acrosome integrity, chromatin condensation, viability, and reactive oxygen species production were assessed for frozen-thawed semen. Moreover, the efficiency of blastocyst production from the frozen-thawed semen samples of the two groups was determined in vitro . Blastocyst quality was determined by assessing inner cell mass ratio and apoptotic cell ratio. Fresh ejaculates showed a higher sperm concentration in low THI when compared to the high THI group ( P ≤ 0.05), whereas semen volume, subjective motility, and total sperm output were not affected ( P > 0.05). In frozen-thawed semen, total and progressive motility, viability, and straight-line velocity were lower in high THI compared to the low THI group ( P < 0.05), while H 2 O 2 concentration, aberrant chromatin condensation, and abnormal spermatozoa were higher in the high THI group ( P < 0.05). Blastocyst rates were significantly higher when low THI samples were used ( P < 0.05). Moreover, the total cell number and trophectoderm cells were significantly higher ( P < 0.05) in blastocysts derived from low THI samples, whereas the apoptotic cell ratio was significantly higher ( P < 0.01) in blastocysts derived from high THI spermatozoa. In summary, our data show that elevated ambient temperature and humidity during summer can decrease the quality of frozen-thawed spermatozoa in Belgian Blue bulls and also affect subsequent embryo development.

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Compromised Pregnancy Success Caused by Heat Stress

Hansen

2021

Bovine Reproduction

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Exposing dairy bulls to high temperature-humidity index during spermatogenesis compromises subsequent embryo development in vitro

Cited by 33 publications

References 64 publications

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

The Effect of Stress on Reproduction and Reproductive Technologies in Beef Cattle—A Review

Influence of seasonal differences on semen quality and subsequent embryo development of Belgian Blue bulls

Compromised Pregnancy Success Caused by Heat Stress

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