Association between sperm morphology and sperm count of boar semen.

The number of spermatozoa in the ejaculate is important for its quality and that of the sperm contained in it. The number of ejaculated spermatozoa is also associated with sperm dimensions. The aim of this study was to assess the morphological structure of sperm and the frequency of morphological abnormalities in sperm on the ejaculation performance of boars, measured as the total number sperm per ejaculate.

Identification and characterisation of mitochondrial proteins isolated from rabbit epididymal spermatozoa - a preliminary study.

This is the first study to identify 23 protein spots corresponding to 13 proteins in mitochondria isolated from rabbit epididymal spermatozoa. In the group of protein spots identified in stress-induced samples, the abundance of 20 protein spots increased, whereas the abundance of three protein spots (GSTM3, CUNH9orf172, ODF1) decreased relative to the control. The results of this study provide valuable inputs for future research into the molecular mechanisms implicated in pathological processes during oxidative stress (OS).

The Usefulness of Sexual Behaviour Assessment at the Beginning of Service to Predict the Suitability of Boars for Artificial Insemination.

Parameters of sexual activity were determined in 49 young boars used for artificial insemination, four times at three-month intervals. The parameters included the time from entering the arena until mounting the phantom; the time from mounting the phantom until achieving erection; the time from achieving full erection until the start of ejaculation; duration of ejaculation; and the number of times the boar mounted the phantom. Characteristics of the ejaculates were also assessed.

Effects of breed and ejaculate volume on sperm morphology and semen parameters of boars.

The aim of the study was to determine the relation between the semen quality, frequency of sperm defects, sperm dimensions and shape, and the ejaculate volume of Large White and Landrace boars. A total of 648 ejaculates collected from 31 Large White and 30 Landrace boars were divided into three groups according to the criterion of the ejaculate volume. In this study Landrace boars produced ejaculates with higher volume, sperm concentration, and total numbers of spermatozoa than Large White boars.

Gene promoter polymorphisms in boar spermatozoa differing in freezability.

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5'-flanking regulatory regions of genes could affect their expression levels. This is a follow-up study aimed to identify polymorphic variants in the 5'-flanking regulatory regions of genes expressed in boar spermatozoa, and to predict the interactions of such variants with transcription factors (TFs) on the gene promoter activity, using bioinformatics. Five and six boars were classified as having good and poor semen freezability (GSF and PSF, respectively) according to post-thaw (PT) assessment of sperm motility and membrane integrity characteristics.

Heterosis for morphometric characteristics of sperm cells from Duroc x Pietrain crossbred boars.

Morphometric studies of spermatozoa were conducted on 30 ejaculates collected from 15 boars represented by five Duroc boars, five Pietrain boars and five Duroc x Pietrain crossbred boars. Spermatozoa were stained using two methods: eosin-nigrosin and eosin-gentian. Values for morphometric measurements of sperm cells including head length, head width, head area, head perimeter, tail length and total sperm cell length were collected, and indices characterizing sperm cell morphological structure were calculated.

Assessment of chosen semen characteristics of two colour morphs of the Arctic fox Alopex lagopus L.

The aim of the study was to evaluate semen quality in the two most popular colour morphs of the Arctic fox Alopex lagopus L., blue and white, based on ejaculate parameters, acrosin activity and analysis of sperm morphology. The research material consisted of ejaculates collected once by manual stimulation from 20 one-year-old male Arctic foxes (10 individuals of the blue morph and 10 of the white morph).

Dependence of Sperm Morphology and Ejaculate Characteristics on Sperm Concentration in the Ejaculates of Hypor Boars.

Introduction: Determination of sperm concentration and morphology in ejaculate is essential in evaluating fertility. Sperm shape and dimensions may depend on their concentration in ejaculate. The aim of the study was to evaluate the dependence of Hypor boar morphological and morphometric sperm characteristics on concentration in ejaculate.

Application of Two Staining Methods for Sperm Morphometric Evaluation in Domestic Pigs.

Introduction: The effect of two smear staining methods on the dimensions and shape of sperm cells in the semen of domestic pigs was evaluated.

Material And Methods: The studies were carried out on 30 ejaculates collected from 15 boars, which included five Duroc boars, five Pietrain boars, and five hybrid Duroc × Pietrain boars. Each ejaculate was next sampled to make two microscopic slides, of which one was stained with eosin-nigrosin and the other with eosin-gentian dye.

Ejaculate Traits and Sperm Morphology Depending on Ejaculate Volume in Duroc Boars.

Introduction: The aim of this study was to evaluate the dependence between ejaculate traits, sperm morphology, and ejaculate volume in Duroc boars.

Material And Methods: The analysis involved 121 ejaculates collected from 12 Duroc boars kept in three artificial insemination centres located in central Poland. Ejaculates were collected manually at one-month intervals, over a period of 10 months.

The Usefulness of Selected Physicochemical Indices, Cell Membrane Integrity and Sperm Chromatin Structure in Assessments of Boar Semen Sensitivity.

The present work describes experiments undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of selected physicochemical indices of semen, cell membrane integrity and sperm chromatin structure for the assessment of boar semen sensitivity to processes connected with pre-insemination procedures. The experiments were carried out on 30 boars: including 15 regarded as providers of sensitive semen and 15 regarded as providers of semen that is little sensitive to laboratory processing. The selection of boars for both groups was based on sperm morphology analyses, assuming secondary morphological change incidence in spermatozoa as the criterion.

An assessment of the breeding maturity of insemination boars based on ejaculate quality changes.

We examined the sexual development and insemination capability of boars representing five breeds used at Polish sow insemination stations. The speed of attaining full breeding maturity by the boars and their insemination usefulness was assessed based on the results of experiments analysing age-related changes in the physical characteristics of the ejaculates. Directly after sampling, the ejaculates were analysed for the following physical parameters: ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and the percentage of progressively motile spermatozoa per ejaculate.

The effect of sperm concentration in the ejaculate on morphological traits of bull spermatozoa.

Experiments were performed on 75 ejaculates obtained from 19 bulls representing different cattle breeds used at the Masovian Centre for Animal Breeding and Reproduction in Łowicz. Fresh ejaculates were measured in respect to their volume and sperm count in the ejaculates was determined. The ejaculates were classified based on the criterion of sperm concentration and divided into five groups.

Effect of sperm concentration in an ejaculate on morphometric traits of spermatozoa in Duroc boars.

The experimental material consisted of 75 ejaculates collected form 8 Duroc boars. The ejaculates were divided into three groups according to sperm concentration in an ejaculate. An ejaculate was obtained from each boar monthly and it was used to make microscopic preparations to examine spermatozoa morphology.

Morphometrical characteristics of spermatozoa in Polish Landrace boars with regard to the number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate.

Ejaculates (n=344) were collected from 35 Polish Landrace boars. The ejaculates were assigned to one of four groups according to the total number of spermatozoa in an ejaculate. Morphometrical measurements of spermatozoa with proper morphology were performed.

Sperm morphology of cattle and domestic pigs.

Sperm morphology was evaluated (using Blom classification) in 44 ejaculates of 11 bulls and 44 ejaculates of 11 boars. Significant differences in sperm morphology were found between bulls and boars. In addition, the correlations between frequency of morphological changes and morphometrical traits of boar spermatozoa were demonstrated.

Evaluation of males spermiogram in domestic pigs.

A microscopic assessment was used to estimate sperm morphological structure in 405 ejaculates from 70 boars according to Blom classification. The classification of spermiogram quality according to a new 6-degree scale was also established. We found, that male spermiograms in domestic pigs were characterized by a large variability both between and within breeds.

Four laboratory-associated cases of infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7.

An investigation of four cases of infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7 among laboratorians from different clinical laboratories revealed that the DNA fingerprint pattern of each case isolate was indistinguishable from that of an isolate handled in the laboratory prior to illness. These data suggest that the infections were laboratory acquired, and they demonstrate the importance of laboratorians strictly adhering to biosafety practices recommended for the handling of infectious materials.

The effect of age on the morphometric sperm traits of domestic pigs (Sus scrofa domestica).

The experiment was conducted using 20 male domestic pigs, which were in 2 (equal-sized) age groups: under 14 months old and over 18 months old. At least 5 ejaculates from each male were taken, and in each ejaculate, morphometric measurements of 50 spermatozoa were made. The measured parameters were head area, head length and width, and flagellum length.

Molecular epidemiology of outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis in New York State, 1998-1999.

This investigation evaluated the role of Norwalk-like virus (NLV) and other viruses (rotavirus, enteric adenovirus, and enterovirus) in 11 outbreaks of acute nonbacterial gastroenteritis that occurred in multiple settings in a span of 18 months in New York State. To determine the etiology of illness, patients' stool specimens were analyzed with a combination of reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nucleotide sequencing, cell culture, and ELISA diagnostic techniques. NLV was detected from all of these outbreaks, with an overall detection rate of 64% (51 of 79) for all specimens tested.

The role of young children in a community-wide outbreak of hepatitis A.

An Hasidic Jewish community has experienced recurrent hepatitis A outbreaks since 1980. To assess risk factors for illness during a 1985-6 outbreak, the authors reviewed case records and randomly selected 93 households for an interview and serologic survey. In the outbreak, 117 cases of hepatitis A were identified, with the highest attack rate (4.

Outbreak and sporadic egg-associated cases of Salmonella enteritidis: New York's experience.

Since 1985, egg-associated Salmonella enteritidis has emerged as a major cause of foodborne disease. New York State has been especially affected, with 47 documented egg-associated S enteritidis outbreaks involving 2279 cases and 10 deaths. Individual case reports of salmonella have also increased 56%, and sporadic cases of S enteritidis have been shown to be associated with egg consumption.