The use of infrared thermography to detect the stages of estrus cycle and ovulation time in anatolian shepherd dogs

Abstract Background The aim of the study is to evaluate the effectiveness of thermographic monitoring, using the temperature changes of perianal and perivulvar areas for the determination of estrus in Anatolian Shepherd bitches. Fifteen bitches were used in the study. Blood and vaginal smear samples were collected and thermographic monitoring of perianal and perivulvar areas were carried out starting from proestrus to early diestrus. Also, external signs of estrus were investigated. Smear samples were evaluated by light microscopy after Diff-Quik staining method and superficial and keratinized superficial cells were determined as percentage (S + KS%). Progesterone and luteinizing hormone measurements were done by radioimmunoassay. The difference in temperature between perianal and perivulvar areas was evaluated through thermographic images by FLIR ResearchIR Software. Results According to the results obtained from the study, differences between progesterone and S + KS% were statistically significant (P  0,05). Serum luteinizing hormone levels did not sign any difference (P > 0,05). Conclusions As a result, thermographic monitoring alone is not enough for estrus detection in Anatolian Shepherd bitches. However, it can be used to assist the actual estrus detection technique in terms of providing some foreknowledge by evaluating the differences in temperature

Red pine (Pinus brutia Ten) bark tree extract preserves sperm quality by reducing oxidative stress and preventing chromatin damage

Taşdemir, Umut ( Aksaray, Yazar )This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using red pine bark tree extract (P; Pinus brutia Ten) as a TRIS extender in an attempt to prevent oxidative stress in bull spermatozoa after freezing. Semen specimens were obtained from Simmental bulls via an artificial vagina and pooled. They were separated into five specimens and diluted with Tris extender consisting of P (200, 100, 50 and 25 µg/ml) and P free (control; C) up to a final concentration of 16 × 106 per straw. All specimens were equilibrated for a period of 4 hr at a temperature of 4°C, following which they were filled in 0.25-ml French straws and frozen. Addition of P resulted in favourable tail length in comparison with C (p .05). In conclusion, it has been shown that although P added to a Tris extender does not have a positive effect on sperm motility, it prevents chromatin damage by reducing oxidative stress, in addition to reducing head abnormalities when used at the amount of 50 μg/ml

Cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin plus trehalose improves quality of frozen-thawed ram sperm

WOS: 000461825100003The objective of this study was to determine effects of supplementing 'Eris-based semen extenders with either cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) or 7-dehydrocholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (7-DCLC) plus trehalose (T) for cryopreservation of ram semen. Semen was collected with an artificial vagina from five Merino rams (2-3 years of age) during the non-breeding season. Ejaculates were pooled, divided into eight equal portions, diluted with a standard Tris-based extender containing: no additive (control); T (50 mM); or T (50 mM) + 1.5, 2.5 or 3.5 mg of either 7-DCLC or CLC. Semen was chilled from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C, placed in 0.25 ml French straws, held 5 cm above liquid nitrogen for 12 minutes, then plunged into liquid nitrogen. After thawing, a computer-aided semen analyzer system (CASA) was used to assess motility, whereas plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI) and high mitochondrial membrane potential (HMMP) were assessed with flow cytometry. Sperm supplemented with 2.5 mg and 3.5 mg CLC + T had the highest (P < 0.05) total and progressive motility (65.2 +/- 4.7 and 19.0 +/- 1.0% respectively, mean +/- SEM), albeit with no significant differences from sperm with 1.5 or 3.5 mg Cl,C + T. Sperm with 2.5 mg CLC + T had the highest (P < 0.05) PMAI (59.3%; not different from 3.5 mg CLC + T) and highest (P < 0.05) HMMP (64.6%; not different from 1.5 or 3.5 mg CLC + T). The lowest ALH value, 2.8 +/- 0.3 pm was in the 2.5 mg 7-DCLC + T group; otherwise, there were no significant differences among groups for any other CASA end point. In conclusion, adding CLC + T to a tris-based extender optimized quality of frozen-thawed ram semen. Therefore, extenders including CLC + T have potential to improve quality of frozen-thawed ram sperm

Supplementation of rosmarinic acid has reduced oxidative stress on bull spermatozoa followİng the freeze thawing process

PubMed ID: 29734425BACKGROUND: Cryopreservation has a side effect on the motility, chromatin integrity and viability of sperm cells. OBJECTIVE: The present study investigated the effects of supplementation with rosmarinic acid (RA) Tris extender on sperm quality parameters, plasma and acrosome membrane damage, antioxidant enzyme activity and chromatin integrity following the freeze thawing process on bull spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ejaculates were split into five aliquots and diluted to a final concentration of 15x106 spermatozoa/ml with the Tris extender containing RA (25, 50, 100 and 200 µg/ml) and (control) and then frozen at a controlled rate. RESULT: Treatments did not give better results on the percentages of sperm progressive, total motility and sperm motion characters (P&gt;0.05); however, RA25 and RA50 exhibited favourable chromatin integrity. In conclusion, RA25 and RA50 increased total antioxidant activity. As a consequence, the amount of MDA and chromatin damage were reduced in sperm cells. © CryoLetters

Gallic and carnosic acids improve quality of frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa

*Öztürk, Caner ( Aksaray, Yazar )The objective was to determine effects of gallic acid (GA) and carnosic acid (CA), present in carob pods and rosemary extract respectively, on frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa. Thirty ejaculates were collected from five Merino rams, pooled, diluted in Tris-based extender and divided into five equal portions containing: 0.05 or 2 mM of GA; 0.05 or 0.2 mM of CA; or no additive (control). Extended semen was equilibrated at +4 degrees C, loaded into straws, held 5 cm above liquid nitrogen for 12 min then plunged. Computer-aided sperm analysis was used to assess motility, whereas flow cytometry was used to assess high mitochondrial membrane potential (HMMP) and percentages of spermatozoa with plasma membrane and acrosome integrity (PMAI). Spermatozoa supplemented with 2 mM GA had greater total motility than control spermatozoa (39.9 +/- 3.01 vs. 29.2 +/- 1.31%, mean +/- SEM, p < .05). The PMAI was greatest in 0.2 mM CA (13.3 +/- 0.68%), whereas HMMP was highest in 0.05 mM CA but lowest in control (22.9 +/- 4.95 and 11.4 +/- 3.64% respectively; p < .05). In conclusion, for cryopreservation of ram semen in Tris-based extender, supplementation with 2 mM GA increased post-thaw motility, whereas supplementation with 0.05 mM CA enhanced mitochondrial function...

Supplementation of quercetin for advanced DNA integrity in bull semen cryopreservation

WOS: 000429536900034The aim of this study was to identify the effects of adding quercetin (Q) to Tris extender in order to identify levels of oxidative stress in bull sperm after freeze thawing. Ejaculates were collected via artificial vagina from Holstein bulls. Semen was divided into five tools and diluted to a final concentration of 15x10(6) spermatozoa/ml with the Tris extender containing Q (25, 50, 100 and 200g/ml) and no additive (control; C). All examples were equilibrated at 4 degrees C during 4hr then were loaded into 0.25-ml straws and frozen using a controlled rate. Sperm motility and motility characteristics were determined using the computer-assisted semen analyser. Sperm membrane integrity was assessed using the hypoosmotic swelling test. Sperm chromatin integrity was investigated using the single cell gel electrophoresis. Total antioxidant capacities were performed colorimetrically. Q supplementation used as an antioxidant did not produce better results in the proportion of sperm progressive and total motility, plasma membrane integrity and sperm abnormalities. Q supplementation exhibited the favourable tail length, tail DNA and tail moment. In conclusion, when whole parameters are considered, Q25 can be added to the Tris extender due to its positive effect on sperm DNA integrity and no adverse effect on the progressive and total motilities of sperm.General Directorate of Agribusiness, Ankara, TurkeyThis study was supported by General Directorate of Agribusiness, Ankara, Turkey

The effect of green tea extract supplementation in bull semen cryopreservation

WOS: 000471814000017This study aims to investigate the effect of catechin (CT), green tea extract, as a supplement to Tris extender on semen quality parameters in frozen-thawed of bull sperm. Ejaculates were taken with artificial vagina from Holstein bulls and divided equal five aliquots, diluted to containing different amounts of CT (5, 10, 25 and 50 mu g/mL) and no-additive (control). All samples were equilibrated at 4 degrees C for 4 h and were frozen using a digital freezing machine. Post-thawed sperm motility and kinetic parameters were determined using the sperm analyser system. Spermatozoa DNA integrity was evaluated with the single cell gel electrophoresis, abnormal spermatozoa rate was evaluated by fluid fixation test and lipid peroxidation status was evaluated calorimetrically. CT supplementation did not improve motility and kinetic parameters. However, the higher morphological integrity was detected in CT10, 25 and 50 groups compared to control (P<0.05). Regarding chromatin integrity, positive effects of catechin were observed in the treatment groups while in CT 50 group adverse effects were found (P<0.05). Although there was no improvement in malondialdehyde levels, the highest total antioxidant activity was seen in the CT50 group (P<0.05). In conclusion, CT supplementation could be used the protection of morphological and DNA integrity from cryodamage and it has increased the total antioxidant activity depending of the dose in bull semen.General Directorate of Agribusiness, Ankara, TurkeyThis study was supported by General Directorate of Agribusiness, Ankara, Turkey

Effect of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin on semen cryopreservation of Aksaray Malakli shepherd dogs of different ages

WOS: 000433999000021PubMed: 29699920The objective of the study was to determine the effect of cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) on the quality parameters of semen from Aksaray Malakli Shepherd dogs of different age groups. Forty-eight male dogs were divided into 3 groupings according to their ages (young age (Y): = 7 years; n: 8). The sperm-rich portion of the ejaculate from each dog was divided into four aliquots and extended with either tris as a control (C) or tris loaded with 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5 mg/120 x 10(6) CLC as low (L), intermediate (I), and high (H) doses, respectively. Following equilibration for at least half an hour, the straws were frozen in nitrogen vapor and then stored in liquid nitrogen at least for 48 h. Later, the frozen straws were thawed in a water bath for spermatological evaluation. Significant differences were observed between different age groups in terms of the spermatological parameters (p < 0.05). The evidence suggests that increasing age is associated with poor in-vitro spermatological parameters and CLC was able to protect the acrosome integrity from cryo-damage during the freeze-thawing process. Better semen freezability characteristics were obtained at young ages, considering the overall parameters.Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) [1140636]This study was financed under the Project supported by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) (Project No:1140636)

Use of infrared thermography during ejaculation process and Its link with semen quality and freezability in dogs

This study aimed to describe the thermal variation of external reproductive tracts during ejaculation in relation to sperm quality in dogs. Forty-six adult fertile dogs were monitored using a thermal camera before, during and after the semen collection, taking into account penile and scrotal temperatures as reproductive thermal patterns while eye and perianal temperatures were recorded as complementary thermal patterns of behavioral response. The parameters were classified depending on age (≤4 years and >4 years), body weight (BW) (≤75 kg and >75 kg), sperm concentration (CON) (≤300 million and >300 million), total testicular volume (TTV) (≤600 cm3 and >600 cm3) and total ejaculation time (TET) (≤800 s and >800 s) of the animals from which semen was collected successfully. Heavier males (p < 0.05) that have more consistent testicles (p < 0.01) as well as quicker ejaculate responders (p < 0.001) and lower scrotal temperature had better semen (Δ motility) freezability. The lower eye temperature prior to the ejaculation (p < 0.01), lower scrotal temperature following ejaculation (p < 0.01), and conversely, higher penile temperature during the ejaculation (p < 0.001) had a higher sperm concentration. Furthermore, the sperm freezability was negatively correlated with total ejaculation time (r = -0.39, p < 0.05) and sperm abnormalities were lower in the ejaculate of dogs having a higher temperature of the scrotum, bulbus and penis. In conclusion, infrared monitoring throughout semen collection in dogs can provide information on behavioral reactions during human manipulation, as well as semen quality and testicular functionality