Sperm handling and management in the teleost model fish Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes).

Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) has been used as a model organism in different research fields, including reproductive physiology. Sperm motility is the most important marker for male fertility in fish and, thus, reproduction success. However, because of small volume of ejaculate and short motility duration, it is still challenging to manage the sperm collection and analysis in small model fish.

Cervical immune activation during the luteal phase may compromise subsequent trans-cervical ram sperm transport†.

Worldwide, cervical artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen yields low pregnancy rates. The only exception to this is in Norway, where vaginal insemination with frozen-thawed semen yields pregnancy rates in excess of 60% and which has been attributed to the specific ewe breed used. Our previous work demonstrated differences in cervical gene expression at the follicular phase of the estrous cycle in ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates.

Ewe breed differences in the cervical transcriptome at the follicular phase of a synchronised oestrous cycle.

Background: Cervical artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen results in unacceptably low pregnancy rates internationally. The exception is in Norway, where vaginal deposition of frozen-thawed semen to a natural oestrous routinely yields pregnancy rates in excess of 70%. Previous studies by our group has demonstrated that this is due to differences in cervical sperm transport.

Conserved and breed-specific differences in the cervical transcriptome of sheep with divergent fertility at the follicular phase of a natural oestrus cycle.

Background: The outcome of cervical artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen in sheep is limited by the inability of sperm to traverse the cervix of some ewe breeds. Previous research has demonstrated that cervical sperm transport is dependent on ewe breed, as sperm can traverse the cervix in greater numbers in some higher fertility ewe breeds. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ewe breed differences in sperm transport through the cervix remain unknown.

Effects of feeding naturally contaminated deoxynivalenol diets to sows during late gestation and lactation in a high-yield specific pathogen-free herd.

Background: The most prevalent mycotoxin in grains is deoxynivalenol (DON). Contamination of swine feed with DON can result in reduced consumption and poor growth performance. Gestating and lactating sows need sufficient feed intake for fetus development during late gestation and milk production and body maintenance during lactation.