Kaywalee Chatdarong

The effect of antioxidants on motility, viability, acrosome integrity and DNA integrity of frozen-thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa

Antioxidants partially ameliorated the negative effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced during cryopreservation. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of cysteine and a water-soluble vitamin E analogue on the quality of frozen-thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa. Epididymal spermatozoa were collected from eight male cats and divided into three aliquots; these were resuspended with a tris egg yolk extender I (EE-I), or the same extender supplemented with 5mM dl-cysteine (EE-C) or with 5mM of a water-soluble vitamin E analogue (EE-Ve). Prior to the freezing step, sperm suspensions were added to the extender with Equex STM paste (EE-II). Sperm motility, progressive motility, membrane integrity, and acrosome status were evaluated at collection, after cooling, and at 0, 2, 4, and 6h post-thaw. Sperm DNA integrity was evaluated at 0 and 6h post-thaw. Relative to the control group, supplementation with vitamin E improved (P<0.05) post-thaw motility (69.4+/-5.6%), progressive motility (3.9+/-0.3), and membrane integrity (65.1+/-8.1%) immediately after thawing, whereas cysteine supplementation improved (P<0.05) post-thaw motility after 2h of incubation (53.8+/-12.2%) and DNA integrity after 6h (84.1+/-4.4%). However, neither antioxidant significantly increased the acrosome integrity of frozen-thawed spermatozoa. In conclusion, cysteine or vitamin E supplementation of tris egg yolk extender improved motility, progressive motility and integrity of the sperm membrane and DNA of frozen-thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa.

Single-layer centrifugation through colloid selects improved quality of epididymal cat sperm.

The objectives were to determine the: 1) extent of epithelial and red blood cell contamination in epididymal cat sperm samples recovered by the cutting method; 2) efficacy of simple washing, single-layer centrifugation (SLC), and swim-up for selecting epididymal cat sperm; and 3) effects of freezing and thawing on cat sperm selected by various techniques. Ten unit samples were studied; each contained sperm from the cauda epididymides of four cats (total, approximately 200 x 10(6) sperm) and was equally allocated into four treatments: 1) simple washing, 2) single-layer centrifugation through colloid prior to cryopreservation (SLC-PC), 3) single-layer centrifugation through colloid after cryopreservation (SLC-AC), and 4) swim-up. Centrifugation (300 x g for 20 min) was done for all methods. The SLC-PC had a better recovery rate than the SLC-AC and swim-up methods (mean+/-SD of 16.4+/-8.7, 10.7+/-8.9, and 2.3+/-1.7%, respectively; P<0.05). The SLC-PC, SLC-AC and swim-up samples contained less red blood cell contamination than simple washed samples (0.02+/-0.01, 0.02+/-0.04, 0.03+/-0.04, and 0.44+/-0.22 x 10(6) cells/mL, respectively; P<0.05). Although the proportion of sperm with head abnormalities did not differ among selection methods (P>0.05), SLC-PC yielded the highest percentage of sperm with normal midpieces and tails (P<0.05), due to the lowest proportion of coiled tails (P<0.05). Furthermore, the SLC-PC was as effective as swim-up in removing sperm with proximal droplets, and selecting motile sperm, as well as those with intact membranes and DNA (P>0.05). In conclusion, both SLC-PC and swim-up improved the quality of epididymal cat sperm, including better morphology, membrane and DNA integrity, and removal of cellular contamination. However, SLC had a better sperm recovery rate than swim-up.

Cryopreservation of epididymal cat spermatozoa: effects of in vitro antioxidative enzymes supplementation and lipid peroxidation induction.

Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation reaction, causes of sperm damage, can be diminished by action of antioxidative enzymes. This study aimed to investigate effects of (1) the antioxidative enzymes; catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase, on epipididymal cat sperm quality and (2) the lipid peroxidation reaction induced by a transition metal (ferrous ion (II); Fe(2+)) on sperm quality during the cryopreservation process. Epididymal spermatozoa harvested from 39 male cats were pooled and divided into 13 aliquots (n=13). Each aliquot was resuspended with either a Tris egg yolk extender I (control; EE-I), or the Tris egg yolk extender I supplemented with 200 U/mL catalase (EE-CAT), or 10 U/mL glutathione peroxidase (EE-GPx), or 600 U/mL superoxide dismutase (EE-SOD), and then cryopreserved. After thawing, each sperm sample was subdivided into two groups; with and without lipid peroxidation induction (EE-I plus Fe(2+), EE-CAT plus Fe(2+), EE-GPx plus Fe(2+) and EE-SOD plus Fe(2+)). Subjective sperm motility, membrane, and acrosome integrity were evaluated at the time of collection, after cooling, and at 0, 2, 4, and 6h after thawing. Motility patterns assessed by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), mitochondrial activity, and DNA integrity were evaluated during post-thaw incubation, whereas percentage of lipid peroxidation was detected at 0 and 6h after thawing. The results demonstrate that catalase supplementation reduced linear motility and subjective motility immediately and 2h after thawing (P<0.05). Catalase supplementation, however, improved DNA integrity at 4h (P<0.05). Supplementation with glutathione peroxidase, compared to the control group, had a statistically significant positive effect on subjective motility at 0 and 6h, linear motility at 6h, mitochondrial activity at 6h, membrane integrity at 2 and 6h, and DNA integrity at 4h after thawing. Although superoxide dismutase had a positive effect on sperm membrane integrity at 2h after thawing (P<0.05), it significantly reduced membrane integrity after cooling, linear motility at thawing, and acrosome integrity at 2h after thawing. None of the three selected antioxidative enzymes significantly influenced acrosome integrity and none reduced the level of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, induction of the lipid peroxidation reaction by Fe(2+) negatively affected most of the sperm quality parameters, i.e., motility and DNA integrity, during post-thaw sperm incubation (P<0.05). After thawing, there were, however, no significant differences between the control plus Fe(2+) and the antioxidative enzymes supplementation plus Fe(2+) groups. We can conclude that (1) glutathione peroxidase exhibits positive effects on post-thaw epididymal cat spermatozoa; but (2) none among the selected antioxidative enzymes could improve all sperm quality parameters; and (3) the lipid peroxidation reaction may be one cause of post-thaw epididymal sperm damage in cats, but the concentrations of antioxidative enzymes used in this study could not protect cat spermatozoa from lipid peroxidation induction.

Effects of thawing temperature and post-thaw dilution on the quality of cat spermatozoa.

The present study aimed to compare cat sperm quality after thawing using two different temperatures (37 and 70 degrees C) and to investigate the effects of post-thaw dilution on the sperm quality and longevity of ejaculated cat spermatozoa. Six ejaculates of each of six male cats were collected using an electroejaculator (total 36 ejaculates). The semen was frozen in 0.25-ml straws using a Tris egg yolk extender containing Equex STM paste. Four straws prepared from each ejaculate were thawed at four different occasions; (i) at 37 degrees C for 15 s, (ii) at 37 degrees C for 15 s and diluted 1 : 2 with Tris buffer (v/v), (iii) at 70 degrees C for 6 s, (iv) at 70 degrees C for 6 s and diluted 1 : 2 with Tris buffer (v/v). The percentages of motile spermatozoa, the scores of progressive motility, the percentages of spermatozoa with intact plasma membrane (using SYBR-14/EthD-1 stains) and intact acrosome (using fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated peanut agglutinin/propidium iodide stains) were evaluated in fresh semen at 0, 2, 4 and 6 h after thawing. The thawing temperature had no effect on any sperm parameters throughout the incubation period (p > 0.05). The dilution after thawing improved sperm motility, progressive motility and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05). The thawing of cat spermatozoa and subsequently diluting with Tris buffer resulted in an immediate (at 0 h) overall (combined over temperature) percentage of motile sperm of 64.8 +/- 10.7 (mean +/- SD), a score of progressive motility of 4.0 +/- 0.5, a percentage of spermatozoa with intact plasma membrane of 64.4 +/- 12.1 and intact acrosome of 44.8 +/- 20.2. In conclusion, frozen cat semen can be thawed either at 37 or 70 degrees C and post-thaw dilution is recommended to reduce the toxic effect of some ingredients in the extender during post-thaw incubation.

Positive impact of sucrose supplementation during slow freezing of cat ovarian tissues on cellular viability, follicle morphology, and DNA integrity.

The objectives of the study were to (1) examine and optimize the impact of sucrose during slow freezing and (2) compare the results of two freezing methods (slow freezing and vitrification) on cellular viability (germinal and stromal cells), follicle morphology, DNA integrity, and gap junction protein expression (connexin 43 [Cx 43]). Different sucrose supplementations (0, 0.1, and 0.3 M) in standard freezing medium were compared before and after slow freezing. Ovarian tissue slow frozen using 0.1- (4.0 ± 0.4) or 0.3-M sucrose (3.9 ± 0.5) yielded better follicular viability (number of positive follicles per 0.0625 mm(2)) than the group without sucrose (1.9 ± 0.2; P < 0.05). Morphologically normal primordial follicles were higher in the sucrose-treated groups (0.1 M, 47.4% and 0.3 M, 43.5%) than the group without sucrose (0 M, 33.8%; P < 0.05). Moreover, less apoptotic primordial follicles were found in both sucrose groups (0.1 M, 1.2% and 0.3 M, 1.9%) than the group without sucrose (7.7%; P < 0.05). However, their Cx 43 expression showed no difference among the groups of different sucrose concentrations. In terms of the freezing methods used, vitrified ovarian tissues had fewer viable follicles (3.2 ± 0.6) than the slow-freezing method (4.6 ± 0.6; P < 0.05). In addition, the slow freezing resulted in more postthawed morphologically normal primordial follicles (38.8% vs. 28.3%, P < 0.05) and less apoptotic primordial follicles (3.8% vs. 8.9%, P < 0.05) than vitrification. The Cx 43 expression showed no difference between slow freezing and vitrification. The present study reported the positive effects of sucrose supplementation and slow-freezing method on the follicular viability, follicular histologic appearances of follicles, and apoptosis of the follicles and stromal cells in cat ovarian tissues.

The effects of antioxidants on semen traits and in vitro fertilizing ability of sperm from the flat-headed cat (Prionailurus planiceps)

Since antioxidants can overcome the negative effects of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during sperm cryopreservation, post-thaw sperm quality in flat-headed cats (Prionailurus planiceps), an endangered species, might benefit from the addition of antioxidants to semen extender. The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate semen traits; and 2) evaluate effects of the vitamin E analogue Trolox (vitamin E) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) on the quality of frozen sperm from captive flat-headed cats in Thailand. Eight ejaculates were collected by electroejaculation from four flat-headed cats. Each semen sample was divided into three aliquots and re-suspended in a semen extender as follows: 1) without antioxidant supplementation (control); 2) supplemented with 5 mM vitamin E; or 3) supplemented with 10 U/mL GPx. All samples were cryopreserved and thawed. Subjective sperm motility, progressive motility, and the integrity of the sperm membrane, acrosome and DNA were evaluated at semen collection, after 1 h cold storage, and at 0 and 6 h after thawing. Mitochondrial membrane potential, early apoptotic cells, and embryo development by heterologous in vitro fertilization were evaluated after thawing. Captive flat-headed cats were affected by teratozoospermia. After 1 h cold storage, sperm membrane integrity in samples supplemented with GPx was higher than the control group (54.5 ± 13.7 vs 51.3 ± 13.9; P < 0.05; mean ± SD). Sperm frozen in extender with GPx had higher motility at 6 h and greater mitochondrial membrane potential at 0 and 6 h post-thaw incubation than the other groups (P < 0.05). In conclusion, GPx improved the quality of frozen-thawed sperm in flat-headed cats.

Intergeneric somatic cell nucleus transfer in marbled cat and flat-headed cat

Intergeneric nucleus transfer (ig-NT) is a promising technique to produce offspring of endangered species. The objectives of this study were to (1) investigate the in vitro development of marbled cat (MC; Pardofelis marmorata) and flat-headed cat (FC; Prionailurus planiceps) ig-NT embryos reconstructed from domestic cat (DC; Felis catus) oocytes (Experiment 1), (2) evaluate the effect of individual FC donor cell lines on NT success (Experiment 2), and (3) assess the developmental ability of FC-cloned and DC-IVF embryos in vitro and in vivo after oviductal transfer (Experiment 3). In Experiment 1, the morula rate of FC-reconstructed embryos was significantly higher than those of MC and DC embryos but lower than that of parthenogenic DC embryos. However, blastocyst rate was not different. In Experiment 2, FC-ig-NT embryos reconstructed from female muscular tissue had significantly higher morula rate in comparison with those derived from other donor cell lines. However, there was no difference in blastocyst rate among cell lines. In Experiment 3, in vitro development of FC-ig-NT embryos was lower than that of DC-IVF embryos. The competency of in vivo development of FC-ig-NT and/or DC-IVF embryos was investigated by assessing pregnancy rate after their transfer into DC recipients. Domestic cat recipients receiving only FC-ig-NT embryos, FC-ig-NT embryos in one side of the oviduct and DC-IVF embryos contralaterally (co-transfer), and only DC-IVF embryos were observed. No pregnancy was detected in all recipients receiving FC-ig-NT embryos. One recipient receiving co-transferred embryos became pregnant, then delivered DC-IVF dead fetuses (n=2) and live kittens (n=6). All recipients receiving DC-IVF embryos became pregnant, and three of six recipients delivered five DC-IVF kittens. These results illustrate the developmental capacity of MC- and FC-ig-NT embryos up to the blastocyst stage. Individual donor cell line affects the developmental success up to the morula stage of FC-ig-NT embryos. Improving the developmental competence and quality of FC-ig-NT embryos may be required for implantation and development to term of FC-ig-NT offspring.

Effects of Equex STM Paste on the quality of frozen-thawed epididymal dog spermatozoa.

This study was carried out to investigate the cryoprotective efficacy of Equex STM Paste on the quality of canine post-thaw epididymal spermatozoa. Following castration, spermatozoa were flushed from the cauda epididymides. Epididymal spermatozoa from 13 of 16 dogs with a sperm motility of >70% were frozen in an egg yolk-Tris extender, supplemented with Equex STM Paste (0.5%, v/v); the extender free of Equex STM Paste served as a control cryoprotective diluent. The quality of spermatozoa, judged by its motility, plasma membrane integrity and acrosome integrity, was evaluated on four occasions, immediately after collection, after equilibration and at 0 and 2h post-thaw. Reducing the temperature to 4 degrees C for 2h prior to freezing decreased sperm motility (P=0.001), but had no effects on membrane integrity or acrosome integrity. Immediately after thawing, the percentage of acrosome-intact spermatozoa significantly decreased in samples frozen without Equex STM Paste compared to freshly collected or Equex-treated samples. After incubation at 37 degrees C for 2h post-thaw, a greater percentage of motile spermatozoa (P=0.018) and spermatozoa with intact acrosomes (P=0.001) were observed in Equex-treated samples compared with the control. The percentage of membrane-intact spermatozoa did not differ significantly between Equex-treated and control samples at any time. Supplementation with Equex STM Paste in the semen extender was effective for freezing canine epididymal spermatozoa because it protected acrosome integrity against damage induced by cryopreservation and it prolonged post-thaw sperm motility during in vitro incubation at 37 degrees C.

Distribution of estrogen receptor alpha and progesterone receptor, and leukocyte infiltration in the cervix of cyclic bitches and those with pyometra

The objectives were to localize estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) and progesterone receptor (PR), and enumerate leukocyte infiltration in cervical tissue of normal bitches during various stages of the estrous cycle (n = 35), as well as in those developing open (n = 22) or closed-cervix pyometra (n = 19). Each pyometra group was subdivided into anestrus and diestrus. Cervical tissues were collected after ovariohysterectomy. Receptor expressions were determined by immunohistochemistry and leukocyte infiltration was evaluated in histological sections stained with haematoxylin-eosin. The assessment was performed in two parts of cervical sections: the uterine part in four tissue layers (surface epithelium (SE), lamina propria (LP), glandular epithelium (GE), and tunica muscularis (M)), and the vaginal part in three layers (SE, LP and M). An immunohistochemical total score consisted of the addition of both the intensity and proportional scores. The ERα and PR scores differed between groups (P < 0.05) and between layers (P < 0.05), but were not significantly different between uterine and vaginal parts. The ERα score was lowest in the open-cervix pyometra bitches at anestrus and in closed-cervix pyometra bitches at diestrus. For all types of immune cells, there were no significant differences among stages of the estrous cycle in normal bitches, whereas neutrophils were lower in both sub-groups of closed-cervix versus open-cervix pyometra (P < 0.05). In conclusion, distributions of ERα and PR were similar along the longitudinal axis of the canine cervix. We inferred that cervical dilation in normal bitches and bitches with uterine pathology was likely controlled by different mechanisms. Receptor expressions were influenced by stage of the estrous cycle in normal bitches, whereas neutrophil infiltration in cervical tissue appeared to be involved in cervical dilation in bitches with pyometra, regardless of estrous stages.

Detection of Lipid Peroxidation Reaction in Frozen-Thawed Epididymal Cat Spermatozoa Using BODIPY581/591 C11

Lipid peroxidation is considered to be an important cause of sperm membrane damage, resulting in an apparent reduction of reproductive fecundity. Recently, a new lipophilic fluorescent dye probe (BODIPY(581/591) C11; Invitrogen Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore) has been demonstrated to be a highly sensitive indicator for the physiological oxidation of cell membrane fatty acids. The objectives of this study were: (i) to detect lipid peroxidation in frozen-thawed epididymal cat spermatozoa using the BODIPY(581/591) C11 and (ii) to study the effect of semen extender in protecting sperm membrane from lipid peroxidation [100-mm ferrous ion, ferrous sulphate (FeSO(4))]. Epididymal cat spermatozoa were collected from eight male cats. Two straws of sperm sample from each cat were cryopreserved. After thawing, the semen extender from the first straw was removed and the sperm pellet was resuspended with Tris buffer (control). The semen sample from the other straw was equally divided: one sample contained semen extender (treatment A) and one contained no extender (treatment B); both were incubated with FeSO(4). Semen samples were labelled with the BODIPY(581/591) C11 probe and evaluated by flow cytometry at 0 and 6 h after thawing (control), 6 h after the addition of FeSO(4) (treatment A), and 30 min and 6 h after the addition of FeSO(4) (treatment B), respectively. The percentage of lipid peroxidation was higher after treatment B (51.3 +/- 23.9) and 6-h incubation compared with the control and treatment A (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the percentage of lipid peroxidation after treatment B increased during the incubation time (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the high percentage of lipid peroxidation after treatment B indicated that FeSO(4) induced membrane damage in cat spermatozoa, which could be detected by BODIPY(581/591) C11. This marker is suggested to be a beneficial tool for the evaluation of lipid peroxidation. Furthermore, the use of semen extender seemed to protect cat spermatozoa membranes from lipid peroxidation.