Djelovanje različitih razrjeđivača na svojstva spermija i plodnost križanih svinja u sjevernoistočnoj Indiji.

The study was conducted to deduce the efficacy and suitability of three extenders: Beltsville thawing solution (BTS), Kiev and Modena extenders, on the preservation and fertility of boar semen. Semen ejaculates with more than 70% sperm motility from six Hampshire boars were used and preserved at 17 °C. The extended semen was evaluated for motility, viability, acrosomal and plasma membrane integrity from day 0 to 5 of preservation. There was a significant (P<0.01) reduction in sperm motility and viability between days 0 to 4, but no significant difference between day 0 and 2. BTS and Modena maintained significantly (P<0.05) higher sperm motility and viability as compared to Kiev. Plasma membrane integrity did not differ significantly up to day 2, but was significantly reduced on days 3 (P<0.05) and 4 (P<0.01). BTS and Modena extenders had significantly (P<0.05) higher plasma membrane integrity. By day 5, the percentage of mean sperm with intact acrosome was 80.4 ± 2.5, 81.2 ± 2.3 and 75.7 ± 2.7, in BTS, Modena and Kiev, respectively, with significant (P<0.05) increases in acrosomal damage after two days of storage, irrespective of all extenders. Farrowing rate and litter size did not differ significantly during the initial period of storage, but there was a significant difference after day 3 (P<0.05) in all extenders used. BTS and Modena maintained a farrowing rate of more than 60% on day 5, in contrast to 50% with the Kiev extender. The study concluded that both BTS and Modena are better extenders for short term storage of boar liquid semen as compared to the Kiev extender, and could be used efficiently in crossbreeding of pigs of north-eastern India.Istraživanje je provedeno kako bi se utvrdila učinkovitost i prikladnost beltsvilskog (BTS), kijevskog i modenskog razrjeđivača za očuvanje i plodnost nerastova sjemena. Upotrijebljeni su ejakulati sjemena od 6 hempširskih nerastova s pokretljivošću spermija većom od 70%, koji su sačuvani na 17 °C. Razrijeđeno sjeme procjenjivano je od 0. do 5. dana s obzirom na pokretljivost, živost te cjelovitost akrosomalne i plazmine membrane. Tijekom razdoblja od 0. do 4. dana došlo je do signifikantnog (P<0,01) sniženja pokretljivosti i živosti spermija, no signifikantne razlike između nultog i drugog dana nisu utvrđene. U usporedbi s kijevskim razrjeđivačem, BTS i modenski razrjeđivači su održavali signifikantno (P<0,05) višu pokretljivost i životnost spermija. Cjelovitost plazmine membrane nije se signifikantno razlikovala do 2. dana, ali je signifikantno snižena tijekom 3. dana (P<0,05) i 4. dana (P<0,01). Cjelovitost plazmine membrane bila je signifikantno veća (P<0,05) pri uporabi BTS i modenskog razrjeđivača. Do 5. dana, prosječni postotak spermija s nepromijenjenim akrosomom iznosio je kod BTS razrjeđivača 80,4 ± 2,5, kod modenskog razrjeđivača 81,2 ± 2,3, a kod kijevskog razrjeđivača 75,7 ± 2,7. Pri tome je, bez obzira na razrjeđivač, od 2. dana utvrđen signifikantni porast (P<0,05) spermija s oštećenim akrosomima. U početnom razdoblju stopa prasenja i veličina legla nisu se signifikantno razlikovale, no nakon 3. dana kod svih upotrijebljenih razrjeđivača razlike su bile signifikantne (P<0,05). Peti dan stopa prasenja kod BTS i modenskog razrjeđivača održala se preko 60% za razliku od kijevskog razrjeđivača kod kojeg je stopa prasivosti iznosila 50%. Istraživanjem se zaključuje da BTS i modenski razrjeđivači mogu, u odnosu na kijevski razrjeđivač, bolje poslužiti za kratkotrajno pohranjivanje nerastovog tekućeg sjemena, te kao takvi biti i učinkovitiji u križanjima svinja sjevernoistočne Indije

Cytotoxic effects of heavy metals on functional attributes of boar sperm: an in vitro study

Objective: Reproductive toxicology is a field that deals with the effects of heavy metals on various aspects of reproduction, including sperm count, motility, viability, spermatogenesis, follicular atresia, hormonal imbalance, and oocyte maturation, among others. The present study was carried out to examine the effects of heavy metals, viz., arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and fluoride (F), on boar sperm quality parameters in vitro.Materials and Methods: Forty (40) ejaculates from six (6) boars, averaging eight ejaculates per boar, were collected with the gloved hand technique using a dummy sow. Six (6) different concentrations were selected for the in vitro study: 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 µM for As and Pb, and 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 mM for F. The ejaculates were co-incubated with heavy metals at these different concentrations and assessed after different incubation periods (0, 0.5, and 1 h) for sperm functional attributes, viz., sperm progressive motility, viability and membrane integrity, and sperm mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). The combined effects of heavy metals on sperm functional attributes were also evaluated at different doses (5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM/μM for As–Pb; 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM/mM for As–F; and 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 200 μM/mM for Pb–F).Results: The present study revealed a highly significant (p &lt;0.001) decrease in sperm progressive motility, viable sperm, membrane integrity, and sperm MMP in samples treated with heavy metals under different incubation periods; furthermore, the longer the incubation time, the greater the toxicity. There was also a significant (p &lt;0.05) decrease in sperm motility, membrane integrity, and MMP in the samples treated with combined heavy metals (As–Pb, As–F, and Pb–F), as compared to the control, after different incubation periods. A significant (p &lt;0.05) reduction in sperm quality attributes was recorded even at the lowest concentrations in the case of heavy metal combinations.Conclusion: It can be concluded that As, Pb, and F are toxic to boar spermatozoa in vitro, causing reductions in sperm functional attributes in a dose- and time-dependent manner

Meat-based ethnic delicacies of Meghalaya state in Eastern Himalaya: preparation methods and significance

Meghalaya, a northeastern state of India, has several authentic ethnic meat delicacies that have not been documented adequately. A survey was conducted among cooks, food stall owners, and consumers representing all three tribes of Meghalaya, namely, Khasi, Jaintia, and Garo. Detailed information was collected on a variety of traditional meat preparations, the method of preparation, and the general pattern for the consumption of such products. The socioeconomic values and traditions attached to the products were also explored. We have enlisted 15 such meat-based traditional products of Meghalaya. The method of preparation and significance have been recorded for doh jem, dohkhlieh, acharDohSniang, tungrymbai, dohSnam, and jadoh. Loss of these ethnic meat delicacies can be prevented only by increasing its availability and market value. An intervention of food science in optimizing the preparation methods, improving hygiene parameters, and packaging can promise a lucrative business in this sector for local people and may attract consumers from other parts of the country. Keywords: Eastern Himalaya, Ethnic foods, Khasi tribe, Meghalaya, Traditional meat preparation

Adhesion to oviduct glycans regulates porcine sperm Ca2+ influx and viability.

Before fertilization, sperm bind to epithelial cells of the oviduct isthmus to form a reservoir that regulates sperm viability and capacitation. The sperm reservoir maintains optimum fertility in species, like swine, in which semen deposition and ovulation may not be well synchronized. We demonstrated previously that porcine sperm bind to two oviductal glycan motifs, a biantennary 6-sialylated N-acetyllactosamine (bi-SiaLN) oligosaccharide and 3-O-sulfated Lewis X trisaccharide (suLeX). Here, we assessed the ability of these glycans to regulate sperm Ca2+ influx, capacitation and affect sperm lifespan. After 24 h, the viability of sperm bound to immobilized bi-SiaLN and suLeX was higher (46% and 41% respectively) compared to viability of free-swimming sperm (10-12%). Ca2+ is a central regulator of sperm function so we assessed whether oviduct glycans could affect the Ca2+ influx that occurs during capacitation. Using a fluorescent intracellular Ca2+ probe, we observed that both oviduct glycans suppressed the Ca2+ increase that occurs during capacitation. Thus, specific oviduct glycans can regulate intracellular Ca2+. Because the increase in intracellular Ca2+ was suppressed by oviduct glycans, we examined whether glycans affected capacitation, as determined by protein tyrosine phosphorylation and the ability to undergo a Ca2+ ionophore-induced acrosome reaction. We found no discernable suppression of capacitation in sperm bound to oviduct glycans. We also detected no effect of oviduct glycans on sperm motility during capacitation. In summary, LeX and bi-SiaLN glycan motifs found on oviduct oligosaccharides suppress the Ca2+ influx that occurs during capacitation and extend sperm lifespan but do not affect sperm capacitation or motility

COVID-19, Oxidative Stress and Male Reproduction: Possible Role of Antioxidants

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) involves a complex pathogenesis and with the evolving novel variants of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the long-term impacts of the unceasing COVID-19 pandemic are mostly uncertain. Evidence indicates deleterious impact of this disease upon male reproductive health. It is concerning that COVID-19 may contribute to the already global declining trend of male fertility. The adverse impacts of COVID-19 on male reproduction may primarily be attributed to the induction of systemic inflammatory responses and oxidative stress (OS), which operate as a vicious loop. Bringing the systemic inflammation to a halt is critical for &lsquo;putting out&rsquo; the &lsquo;cytokine storm&rsquo; induced by excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. The possibility of OS playing a prime role in COVID-19-mediated male reproductive dysfunctions has led to the advocacy of antioxidant therapy. An array of antioxidant defense medications has shown to be effective in experimental and clinical studies of COVID-19. The present review thus discusses the possibilities as to whether antioxidant drugs would contribute to combating the SARS-CoV-2 infection-induced male reproductive disruptions, thereby aiming at kindling research ideas that are needed for identification and treatment of COVID-19-mediated male reproductive impairments