Effects of increased scrotal temperature on semen quality and seminal plasma proteins in Brahman bulls.

Environmental temperature has effects on sperm quality with differences in susceptibility between cattle subspecies and breeds, but very little is known about the seminal plasma protein (SPP) changes resulting from testicular heat stress. Scrotal insulation (SI) for 48 hr was applied to Brahman (Bos indicus) bulls. Semen was collected at 3-day intervals from before, until 74 days post-SI.

An update on boar semen assessments by flow cytometry and CASA.

In the quest for predicting fertility of an individual, enhancing semen handling, dilution and storage protocols, and understanding the impact of environment and, andrologists have changed their approaches to semen analysis. The technologies used today are fast developing and readily implemented in research. Semen is one of a few naturally occurring monocellular suspensions, so sperm function analysis by flow cytometry (FC) and utilization of fluorochromes is an ideal technique for high throughput, objective and accurate analysis.

The sperm chromatin structure assay as a diagnostic tool in the human fertility clinic.

Background: Sperm DNA integrity has been shown to be necessary for achieving and sustaining embryo development. The objective was to evaluate the sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) as a diagnostic tool in clinical practice for intrauterine insemination (IUI), in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatments.

Methods: A total of 385 semen samples from 234 couples were frozen for SCSA, and smears were prepared for morphology: 48 IUI, 139 IVF and 47 ICSI.