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Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals

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A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2022) | Viewed by 22155

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jordi Ribas-Maynou

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Guest Editor

Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
Interests: sperm; chromatin; gamete; reproduction; genetics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Albert Salas-Huetos

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Guest Editor

1. Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
2. Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
Interests: reproductive biology; semen evaluation; sperm fertility
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Isabel Barranco

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Guest Editor

Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
Interests: cryopreservation; semen evaluation; semen preservation; sperm fertility; sperm biology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Despite the great advances by breeders to select the best animals, which lead to an improvement of reproduction in livestock species, a subgroup of subfertile individuals are still impairing production in farms. Sperm quality in terms of motility or morphology is one of the causes of this impairment, leading to reduced fertility outcomes. However, these parameters might not explain the affected fertility rates of some individuals, and thus, new biomarkers are needed to define subfertile individuals’ profile in comparison to fertile males.

This Special Issue, entitled “Sperm Quality and Fertility in Livestock Animals” is set to focus on the effects of sperm quality and functionality on the efficiency of livestock animals’ reproduction. We thus invite novel research that points out new biomarkers, or new methods for sperm selection, focusing on their reproductive effects, measured either through in vitro fertilization or in vivo fertility outcomes.

Research works from a variety of livestock species will be welcome to this Special Issue.

Dr. Jordi Ribas-Maynou
Dr. Albert Salas-Huetos
Dr. Isabel Barranco
Guest Editors

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Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

reproduction
gametes
sperm quality
intrauterine insemination
in vitro fertilization

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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3 pages, 193 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals

by Jordi Ribas-Maynou, Isabel Barranco and Albert Salas-Huetos

Animals 2023, 13(4), 604; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13040604 - 09 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615

Abstract

Recent research has focused on the understanding of the causes of subfertility observed in livestock species, evidencing that different factors could underlie this condition [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

Research

Jump to: Editorial

0 pages, 4242 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Protein Identification of Seminal Plasma in Bali Bull (Bos javanicus)

by Hikmayani Iskandar, Göran Andersson, Herry Sonjaya, Raden Iis Arifiantini, Syahruddin Said, Hasbi Hasbi, Tulus Maulana and Abdullah Baharun

Animals 2023, 13(3), 514; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13030514 - 01 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2148

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify seminal plasma proteins in Bali bull and their potential as biomarkers of fertility. Semen was collected from 10 bulls aged 5–10 years using an artificial vagina. Fresh semen was then centrifuged (3000× g for 30 min). The supernatant was put into straws and stored in liquid nitrogen. The semen plasma protein concentration was determined using the Bradford method, and the protein was characterized using 1D-SDS-PAGE. Coomassie Brilliant Blue (CBB) was used to color the gel, and the molecular weight of the protein was determined using PM2700. A total of 94 proteins were identified in the seminal plasma of Bali bulls analyzed using LC-MS/MS (liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry). Proteins spermadhesin 1 (SPADH1), C-type natriuretic peptide (NPPC), clusterin (CLU), apoliprotein A-II (APOA2), inositol-3-phosphate synthase 1 (ISYNA1), and sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) were identified as important for fertility in Bos javanicus. These proteins may prove to be important biomarkers of fertility in Bali bulls. These proteins are important for reproductive function, which includes spermatozoa motility, capacitation, and acrosome reactions. This study provides new information about the protein content in seminal plasma in Bali bulls. The LC-MS/MS-based proteome approach that we applied in this study obtained 94 proteins. The identification of these seminal plasma proteins of Bali bulls and their potential as fertility biomarkers may have an impact on the success of future artificial insemination (AI). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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11 pages, 1627 KiB

Open AccessArticle

ProAKAP4 Concentration Is Related to Sperm Motility and Motile Sperm Subpopulations in Frozen–Thawed Horse Semen

by Marta Dordas-Perpinyà, Ivan Yanez-Ortiz, Nicolas Sergeant, Vincent Mevel, Jean-François Bruyas, Jaime Catalán, Maryse Delehedde, Lamia Briand-Amirat and Jordi Miró

Animals 2022, 12(23), 3417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12233417 - 04 Dec 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2091

Abstract

ProAKAP4 is the precursor of AKAP4 (A-kinase Anchor protein 4), the main structural protein of the fibrous sheath of sperm. The amount of proAKAP4 reflects the ability of spermatozoa to maintain the flagellum activity and functionality up to the site of fertilization and is positively correlated with progressive motility in several mammalian species. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between proAKAP4 concentration with horse sperm motility descriptors and spermatic motile subpopulations. For this purpose, a total of 48 ejaculates from 13 different stallions were analyzed. Spermatic motility descriptors were obtained by the CASA system, and four motile subpopulations (SP) with specific motility patterns were statistically identified. ProAKAP4 concentrations were evaluated by ELISA. The relationship between motility descriptors of sperm subpopulations and proAKAP4 concentrations was evaluated. Following a hierarchical cluster statistical analysis, ejaculates were divided into two groups according to their proAKAP4 concentrations, either having low proAKAP4 concentrations (5.06–35.61 ng/10M spz; n = 23) or high (39.92–82.23 ng/10M spz; n = 25) proAKAP4 concentrations (p < 0.001). ProAKAP4 concentrations were positively correlated (p < 0.05) with total and progressive motility, as well as with parameters of velocity. ProAKAP4 amount also showed a negative correlation (p < 0.05) with sperm motile subpopulation number 3, which was the subpopulation with the lowest velocity parameters. In conclusion, proAKAP4 concentration in stallion semen positively reflects sperm progressive motility with the functional velocity kinematic descriptors. Concentrations of proAKAP4 higher than 37.77 ng/10M spz were correlated with a very good quality frozen/thawed stallion semen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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12 pages, 420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) on Cryopreserved Piedmontese Bull Semen Characteristics

by Ahmed R. Alkhawagah, Alessandro Ricci, Penelope Banchi, Nicola A. Martino, Mariagrazia Lucia Poletto, Gian Guido Donato, Tiziana Nervo and Leila Vincenti

Animals 2022, 12(22), 3179; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12223179 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1389

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect on fresh and post-thaw beef bull semen quality of the supplementation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the semen extender at various concentrations (0-control, 50, 100, 200, and 400 ng/mL). For 8 weeks, sperm was collected from four fertile bulls, yielding a total of 32 ejaculates. Semen samples were pooled, diluted with Bullxcell^® extender, and then cooled, equilibrated, and frozen. After thawing, semen was tested for motility and velocity parameters. Furthermore, semen was evaluated for vitality, integrity, mitochondrial and antioxidant (SOD) activities, mucus penetration distance, and in vitro fertilizing capability. The supplementation with EGF prior to cryopreservation improved the total sperm motility at various concentrations over long incubation periods (from 1 to 4 h). Interestingly, EGF addition improved both progressive and rapid motility, particularly at 50, 200, and 400 ng/mL. In addition, EGF, primarily at 200 and 400 ng/mL, significantly increased several velocity parameters after different incubation periods. We can conclude that adding EGF to bull sperm extender before cryopreservation has a positive stimulatory effect on sperm motility without affecting vitality, integrity, or in vitro fertilizing capability. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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9 pages, 960 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Compensability of Enhanced Cytoplasmic Droplet Rates in Boar Semen: Insights of a Retrospective Field Study

by Martin Schulze and Dagmar Waberski

Animals 2022, 12(20), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12202892 - 21 Oct 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1386

Abstract

Retained cytoplasmic droplets (CD) provide the most abundant sperm abnormality in boar and reduce fertility. It is still unclear as to whether high CD rates in semen portions are compensable. The aim was to explore the impact of CD in relation to quantitative and qualitative sperm traits on fertility performance of sows. Retrospective data analysis of 1497 inseminations was performed. Ejaculates (n = 260) were assigned to three groups with low (<10%), medium (≥10% to <15%), and high (≥15%) CD rates. Average sperm numbers were lowest in the high CD group (2.08 × 10⁹/mL). Membrane integrity and mitochondrial activity did not differ between the groups. Breakpoint analysis indicated a shift towards lower litter sizes when the CD rate exceeded 11%. Group comparisons revealed no difference in litter size (p = 0.205), together with a slightly higher farrowing rate in the high CD group (p < 0.001), which coincided with higher resistance against temperature stress in the stored semen samples (p < 0.001) and a higher sperm motility (p < 0.001). In conclusion, an increased prevalence of CD in boar semen is compensable by high tolerance against temperature stress, whereas sperm numbers per dose are less relevant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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16 pages, 918 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Environmental Factors Affecting the Reproductive Efficiency of Italian Simmental Young Bulls

by Francesca Corte Pause, Martina Crociati, Susy Urli, Maurizio Monaci, Lorenzo Degano and Giuseppe Stradaioli

Animals 2022, 12(18), 2476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182476 - 19 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1736

Abstract

The objectives of the study aimed to evaluate the effect of weather conditions and scrotal circumference (SC) on standard semen characteristics of Italian Simmental young bulls (n = 577), all raised in the same performance station and sampled by the artificial vagina (AV) method. Considering the increasing SC, the results showed a significant increase in quantitative semen parameters (p < 0.05 and p < 0.0001, for sperm concentration and total number of spermatozoa, respectively); for every extra centimeter of SC, 17.5 × 10⁶ spermatozoa/mL and 0.102 × 10⁹ of total spermatozoa were produced. The age of the animal at semen collection (395 and 465 days) had similar positive effects. The effect of the average temperature humidity index (THI limits ≤ 40 and ≥70) in the previous 60, 30, and 10 days before the semen collection was also considered. Sixty days before the semen collection, the increasing THI increased both primary (p < 0.0001) and secondary (p < 0.0001) abnormalities while the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa decreased (p < 0.0001). Thirty and ten days before collection, the same effect on morphological traits was maintained, but total and progressive motility was also influenced (p < 0.01) with an unexpected increasing pattern. Thus, environmental conditions can influence semen quality during the entire spermatogenesis and results can guide future research on this breed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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17 pages, 3619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Different Thawing Methods for Frozen Bull Semen and Additional Factors on the Conception Rate of Dairy Cows in Artificial Insemination

by Jacqueline Koch, Laura Patricia Weber, Maike Heppelmann, Fritjof Freise, Malte Klingelmann and Lisa Bachmann

Animals 2022, 12(18), 2330; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12182330 - 07 Sep 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3299

Abstract

Recommendations for thawing methods of frozen bovine semen vary and clear data evaluating their influence on fertility are contradictory. In this respect, the aim of this study was 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. From 2017 to 2019, 3393 AI were performed in a dairy farm in eastern Germany, distributed randomly into three groups of thawing methods: group A: n = 426 (11 s, 38 °C water bath); group B: n = 348 (35 s, 38 °C water bath); group C: n = 385 (30 s, “in the cow”). We observed no significant difference in CR from the general linear mixed model between the thawing methods (method A/B/C, 28.5%/26.6%/24.7%), but data analysis revealed effects of lactation number, month of insemination and AI method (natural heat vs. OvSynch) on CR. Based on our data, no clear recommendation for semen thawing method in dairy reproduction can be made. Our findings suggest that the main factors of influencing reproductive performance in the field are represented by the cow-side of fertility, e.g., insemination in natural heat, lactation number and season of insemination. Therefore, dairy farmers should focus more on cow conditions to further improve reproductive performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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14 pages, 3827 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dominant Components of the Giant Panda Seminal Plasma Metabolome, Characterized by ¹H-NMR Spectroscopy

by Chenglin Zhu, Lei Jin, Bo Luo, Qiang Zhou, Li Dong, Xiaoyan Li, Hemin Zhang, Yan Huang, Caiwu Li, Likou Zou and Luca Laghi

Animals 2022, 12(12), 1536; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12121536 - 14 Jun 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1966

Abstract

As an assisted breeding technique, artificial insemination has become the main effective practical approach in the captive breeding programs of giant panda worldwide. The composition of seminal plasma plays an important role in the success of breeding. The present work is the first attempt to characterize, by proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H-NMR), the metabolome of healthy giant panda seminal plasma. A total of 35 molecules were quantified, with the concentration of 2,3-butanediol being significantly different between individuals younger than 8 years and older than 13 years, and other distinct age-related trends were highlighted by a multivariate analysis. Isopropanol’s concentration was significantly linked to estrus stages. Besides, the variations in the metabolome’s profile during storage were also evaluated. This study may serve as a reference for further research wishing to shed light on the biological mechanisms affecting giant panda sperm’s overall quality and may ultimately lead to novel approaches to giant panda artificial insemination. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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9 pages, 904 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Semen Microbiome and Semen Parameters in Healthy Stallions

by Carlota Quiñones-Pérez, Amparo Martínez, Isabel Ortiz, Francisco Crespo and José Luis Vega-Pla

Animals 2022, 12(5), 534; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12050534 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3103

Abstract

Despite the advances in reproductive technology, there is still a considerable number of low sperm quality cases in stallions. Recent studies in humans have detected several seminal microflora–spermatozoa associations behind some idiopathic infertility cases. However, no studies are available on horses, and there is limited information on the microflora present in stallion ejaculates. Accordingly, the objective of this study was to examine associations to the presence of bacteria families with five sperm quality parameters: concentration, total number of spermatozoa, total and progressive motility, and DNA fragmentation. Samples were cryopreserved after their extraction. High-speed homogenization using grinding media was performed for cell disruption. Family identification was performed via 16S rRNA sequencing. Bacterial families were only considered if the relative abundance was higher than 1%. Only two families appeared to have a correlation with two sperm quality parameters. Peptoniphilaceae correlated positively with total sperm motility, whereas Clostridiales Incertae Sedis XI correlated negatively with progressive motility. No significant differences were found for the rest of the parameters. In conclusion, the seminal microbiome may affect spermatozoa activity. Our findings are based on statistical associations; thus, further studies are needed to understand the internal interactions between seminal flora and cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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14 pages, 1516 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Telomere Length in Pig Sperm Is Related to In Vitro Embryo Development Outcomes

by Jordi Ribas-Maynou, Yentel Mateo-Otero, Marina Sanchez-Quijada, Sandra Recuero, Ariadna Delgado-Bermúdez, Marc Llavanera and Marc Yeste

Animals 2022, 12(2), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani12020204 - 15 Jan 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2049

Abstract

Telomere length has attracted much interest as a topic of study in human reproduction; furthermore, the link between sperm telomere length and fertility outcomes has been investigated in other species. This biomarker, however, has not been much explored in other animals, such as pigs, and whether it is related to sperm quality and fertility outcomes remains unknown. The present work aimed to determine the absolute value of telomere length in pig sperm, as well as its relationship to sperm quality parameters and embryo development. Telomere length was determined through quantitative fluorescence in situ hybridization (qFISH) in 23 pig sperm samples and data were correlated to quality parameters (motility, morphology, and viability) and in vitro fertilization outcomes. We found that the mean telomere length in pig sperm was 22.1 ± 3.6 kb, which is longer than that previously described in humans. Whilst telomere length was not observed to be correlated to sperm quality variables (p > 0.05), a significant correlation between telomere length and the percentage of morulae 6 days after in vitro fertilization was observed (r_s = 0.559; 95% C.I. = (−0.007 to 0.854); p = 0.047). Interestingly, this correlation was not found when percentages of early blastocysts/blastocysts (r_s = 0.410; 95% C.I. = (−0.200 to 0.791); p = 0.164) and of hatching/hatched blastocysts (r_s = 0.356; 95% C.I. = (− 0.260 to 0.766); p = 0.233) were considered. Through the separation of the samples into two groups by the median value, statistically significant differences between samples with shorter telomeres than the median and samples with longer telomeres than the median were found regarding development to morula (11.5 ± 3.6 vs. 21.8 ± 6.9, respectively) and to early blastocyst/blastocysts (7.6 ± 1.4 vs. 17.9 ± 12.2, respectively) (p < 0.05). In the light of these results, sperm telomere length may be a useful biomarker for embryo development in pigs, as sperm with longer telomeres lead to higher rates of morulae and blastocysts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sperm Quality and Fertility of Livestock Animals)

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