Effect of butylated hydroxytoluene on cryopreservation of Boer goat semen in Tris egg yolk extender.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a lipid-soluble anti-oxidant added in different concentrations to the Tris egg yolk extenders on semen cytological parameters pre freezing and post thawing (motility, morphology, viability, acrosome integrity and membrane integrity) of Boer goat spermatozoa. A total of 40 ejaculates from four Boer goat bucks were collected using an artificial vagina. Ten replicates of the ejaculates were diluted with a Tris egg yolk based extender which contained various concentrations (0.5mM, 1.0mM, 2.0mM and 3.0mM) of butylated hydroxytoluene while one sample was processed without supplementation of antioxidant and served as control. The diluted semen was cooled at 4°C and loaded into the straw and then stored in liquid nitrogen. It was evident that supplementation of BHT produces positive effect in terms of motility, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity in comparison with the control group in cooled and frozen Boer goat semen. Results showed significant differences in motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and viability of cooled and frozen Boer goat spermatozoa at different concentrations. Motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and viability was significantly higher in all treated groups than the control group (P0.05) in morphology trait between all group in cooled semen. However, improvement (P<0.05) was observed only in terms of the membrane integrity and acrosome integrity compared to the control and other treated groups in frozen semen. In conclusion, BHT can be used in cryopreservation of Boer goat semen in order to reduce the oxidative stress on spermatozoa

Effect of antioxidants on post thaw microscopic, oxidative stress parameter and fertility of Boer goat spermatozoa in Tris egg yolk glycerol extender.

This study was conducted to determine the effect of antioxidants on standard semen parameters, lipid peroxidation and fertility of Boer goat semen after cryopreservation. Ejaculates from four bucks were collected, evaluated and pooled at 37. °C. The pooled semen was diluted with Tris citric acid fructose for washing. Semen samples, which were diluted with a Tris-based extender containing the antioxidant ascorbic acid (8.5. mg/ml), butylated hydroxytoluene (2. mM), cysteine (5. mM) and hypotaurine (10. mM) and an extender without antioxidant supplementation were cooled to 4. °C and frozen in 0.25 straws with programmable freezer and finally stored in liquid nitrogen. Data (10 replicates) were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance. Mean (±SEM) progressive motility was significantly higher in ascorbic acid than other supplement groups and control samples (P> 0.05). Best values were observed in ascorbic acid followed by BHT, cysteine, and hypotaurine. Antioxidant supplementation in extender showed significant (P< 0.05) better values than the control group for sperm membrane integrity, acrosome integrity and viability. The ability of antioxidants to reduce the lipid peroxidation (LPO) after freeze thawing was measured by the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA) using the thiobarbituric acid method. Results showed that addition of antioxidants significantly reduced the rate of LPO in comparison to control (P< 0.05). Ascorbic acid exhibited better values (1.27 ± 0.28), than butylated hydroxytoluene, cysteine and hypotaurine 1.32 ± 0.42, 2.27 ± 0.16 and 2.38 ± 0.17 respectively, which are significantly better than control (3.52 ± 0.54). Higher pregnancy rate was observed with ascorbic acid followed by butylated hydroxtolune, hypotaurine and cysteine. However, differences in the fertility rate were non-significant with hypotaurine, cysteine and control group

Effect of hypotaurine and cysteine on sperm cytological parameters of cooled and post thaw boer goat semen.

The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of antioxidant additives (hypotaurine and cysteine) in different concentrations to the cryopreserving media on the semen cytological parameters pre freezing and post thawing (motility, membrane integrity, morphology, acrosome integrity and viability).The experiment was done on 30 ejaculates collected by artificial vagina method from 5 boer goat bucks during April to May 2011. After collection, ejaculates qualifying standard criteria were pooled. Pooled ejaculates were washed for seminal plasma removal and then diluted in medium based on Tris in which antioxidants were added in various concentrations (hypotaurine 5, 10 and 20mM; cysteine 5, 10 and 20mM) or without antioxidants (control). The diluted semen was cooled at 4ºC, filled in 0.25ml French straws and then stored in liquid nitrogen. The results showed that semen quality did not differ (P < 0.05) in terms of morphology and acrosome integrity with antioxidants supplementation after cooling. Hypotaurine and cysteine significantly improved the characteristics of boer goat semen motility, membrane integrity, morphology, acrosome integrity and viability after cryopreservation. Addition of hypotaurine at 10mM and cysteine at 5mM concentration leads maximum improvement in liquid and frozen boer goat sperm cytological characteristics

Effect of ascorbic acid concentrations, methods of cooling and freezing on boer goat semen cryopreservation.

To improve the Boer goat semen quality during cryopreservation process, three experiments were carried out to investigate the effect of (i) different concentration of ascorbic acid supplementation (ii) rate of cooling with chilled semen characteristics and (iii) method of freezing on post-thaw Boer goat sperm using Tris-based extender. Ascorbic acid at 8.5mg/ml improved the sperm parameters (motility, integrity of membrane and acrosome, morphology and viability), compared to control in cooled samples (p<0.05). With regard to other concentrations and post-thawed parameters, ascorbic acid at 2.5-8.5mg/ml led to higher percentages of sperm motility and integrities of membrane and acrosome when compared to control (p<0.05). Slow cooling rises to higher percentages of sperm motility, acrosome integrity and viability, in comparison with fast cooling, in terms of cooled and frozen samples (p<0.05). Programmable freezing method produced the higher percentages of sperm motility, integrities of membrane and acrosome and viability when compared to the freezing method of polystyrene box during goat sperm freezing (p<0.05). In conclusion, chilled and post-thawed sperm quality of Boer goat was improved when a Tris-based extender supplemented with ascorbic acid was used at stages of different cooling rates and freezing methods. © 2012 Blackwell Verlag GmbH

Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study

PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.

PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

Improvement of the medium and processing protocol for cryopreservation of boer goat spermatozoa

Fertility rate is lower after AI in goats with cryopreserved semen. Low fertility with frozen semen is due to the procedures related with cryopreservation that leads to sperm damage, impairs its normal function and fertilizing potential. Therefore, improvements in the freezing media and processing protocols applied to the goat semen are needed to improve the quality of goat semen for AI. Nine Boer male goats were used in the study. Semen was collected twice a week with the aid of an artificial vagina. Ejaculates were evaluated for volume, colour, consistency, mass activity, sperm motility, sperm concentration and sperm morphology and ejaculates qualified the standard criteria were processed according to the needs of each experiment. Sperm cytological characteristics were evaluated before freezing and post thawing.The effects of different buffers, egg yolk concentrations and sperm dilution rates were analysed to improve extending media for chilled and post thawed Boer goat spermatozoa. Tris buffer demonstrated practical and beneficial effects on sperm cytological characteristics before and after freezing. Significant (P<0.05) improvement was observed with Tris buffer in terms of motility and acrosome integrity of post thawed spermatozoa. In the present study, significantly higher motility, membrane integrity and acrosome integrity were observed with the 18% egg yolk concentration compared to other egg yolk concentrations of 12% and 6%. A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of semen dilution rate on the characteristics of chilled and post thawed Boer goat semen. Results indicated that significant differences exist between low and high semen dilution rates. A significant improvement in the viability of pre and post thawed spermatozoa was observed with low dilution rate. Four antioxidants at different concentrations were tested to determine their effectiveness in the preservation of Boer goat semen. Antioxidants (BHT, hypotaurine, cysteine and ascorbic acid) have improved the quality of chilled and frozen thawed stored Boer goat spermatozoa in terms of motility, membrane integrity, morphology, acrosome integrity and viability. Individual concentrations of each antioxidant were established in Tris fructose egg yolk glycerol extender. Significantly (P<0.05) better results were obtained for chilled and frozen thawed Boer spermatozoa quality characteristics with 2 mM, 10 mM, 5 mM and 8.5 mg/ml concentrations of butylated hydroxytoluene, hypotaurine, cysteine and ascorbic acid, respectively.Effects of antioxidants at the time of semen collection, and in the washing solution were subsequently evaluated to find out the best time of antioxidant addition to reduce oxidative stress, and improve chilled and post thawed quality of sperm. The results of these studies showed that the addition of antioxidants to the washing solution significantly improved the motility of chilled spermatozoa. Furthermore it was observed that motility and acrosome integrity of post thawed spermatozoa was significantly improved when washing solution was supplemented with antioxidants. However, the addition of the extender supplemented with antioxidants in collection tubes of the artificial vagina did not improve the quality of chilled and frozen thawed spermatozoa. The results of the present study demonstrated that the rate of cooling significantly influenced the quality of chilled and frozen thawed Boer goat semen. Significantly (P<0.05) higher motility was observed with slow cooling rates and antioxidant supplementation. The use of a programmable freezer for freezing spermatozoa compared to a polystyrene box method of freezing in a medium supplemented with antioxidants was investigated. In this experiment, significantly higher results were observed in motility, membrane integrity, morphology, acrosome integrity and viability of post thawed Boer goat spermatozoa extended with antioxidant in the programmable freezer compared to the polystyrene box method.The ability of antioxidants to reduce lipid peroxidation (LPO) after freeze thawing was measured using the thiobarbituric acid method. Results showed that addition of antioxidants significantly reduced (P<0.05) the rate of LPO in comparison to control. Ascorbic acid exhibited significantly lower values (1.27±0.28 nmol/2x108 spermatozoa), than butylated hydroxytoluene (1.32±0.42 nmol/2x108 spermatozoa), cysteine (2.27±0.16 nmol/2x108 spermatozoa) and hypotaurine (2.38±0.17 nmol/2x108 spermatozoa) than control (3.52±0.54 nmol/2x108 spermatozoa). However, differences among the supplements were non-significant. The overall pregnancy rate (%) was 34.38 %. Significantly higher (P<0.05) pregnancy rate was observed with ascorbic acid (42.85%) and butylated hydroxytoluene (35.71%) compared to those of hypotaurine (33.33%), cysteine (33.33%) and control (26.38%). In summary, this study pointed to the magnitude of improvement made possible when processing protocol and cryopreservation medium are optimised for Boer goat semen

Determination of Quality Characteristics of Kundhi Buffalo Bull Semen

The objective of present study was to investigate the quality characteristics of semen collected from kundhi bulls. Semen was collected by an artificial vagina and transported into laboratory immediately for evaluation. Total of 96 (Twenty four from each bull) semen the samples were evaluated and found creamy white. The mean (±SEM) were mass activity (+++), volume (2.25 ± 0.01 ml), pH (6.10 ± 0.007), progressive motility (69 ± 0.34%,) sperm concentration (1542 ± 9.20x106/ml), morphology (79 ± 1.37%) and sperm membrane (55.56 ± 1.37%) respectively. Non-significant (P>0.05) difference between the bulls for the characteristics except percentages morphology and sperm membrane where a significant (

Determination of Quality Characteristics of Kundhi Buffalo Bull Semen

The objective of present study was to investigate the quality characteristics of semen collected from kundhi bulls. Semen was collected by an artificial vagina and transported into laboratory immediately for evaluation. Total of 96 (Twenty four from each bull) semen the samples were evaluated and found creamy white. The mean (±SEM) were mass activity (+++), volume (2.25 ± 0.01 ml), pH (6.10 ± 0.007), progressive motility (69 ± 0.34%,) sperm concentration (1542 ± 9.20x106/ml), morphology (79 ± 1.37%) and sperm membrane (55.56 ± 1.37%) respectively. Non-significant (P>0.05) difference between the bulls for the characteristics except percentages morphology and sperm membrane where a significant (