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Orosomucoid 1 phenotypes were detected in seminal plasma by isoelectric focusing and immunoprinting. The orosomucoid 1 phenotypes in seminal plasma correlated with the types found in the corresponding serum specimens. Semen stains stored for ten days could be typed for orosomucoid 1. The present work revealed that orosomucoid 1 is a useful genetic marker for the medicolegal grouping of semen stains.
The study deals with a program for artificial insemination by means of cryopreserved donor sperm, conducted at AIED (Italian Association for Demographic Education) in Rome from 1983 to 1986. Two groups of women, both having an average age of 30, and with an equal proportion of women with factors of reduced fertility, were inseminated with a different volume of cryopreserved sperm: a) 100 women were inseminated with an average number of 6.3 straws per cycle (total number of cycles 297) and 55 pregnancies were obtained (pregnancy rate = 0.185 per cycle); b) 100 women were inseminated with a lower average number of straws; 4.1 per cycle (total number of cycles 297); in this group 23 pregnancies were obtained (pregnancy rate = 0.077 per cycle). The quality of the semen, the methods for pinpointing ovulation and for depositing seminal liquid in the female genital tract were the same for the two groups. The difference between the pregnancy rate of the two groups was statistically significant (p less than 0.0001). Altogether, 50 women with ovulatory dysfunctions underwent ovulation stimulation and among these 20 conceptions were recorded. These conceptions were obtained with 47 cycles of application (average number of cycles preceding conception cycle 1.35). This value proved to be higher than that for women not undergoing stimulation (1.10). Nevertheless, the difference was not found to be statistically significant even if considered separately for the two groups treated with different volumes of semen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
When investigating men from infertile conjugal relations it is of value early to find variables that give information about the prospects of fertilization, and to know in which patients one needs to analyse serum hormone concentrations and/or chromosomes. A standardized interview and a physical examination were performed prospectively in each case. The findings were compared with the results of a follow-up investigation, with regard to conception rate, performed 3-5 years after the initial investigation. Serum concentrations of FSH, LH, testosterone and prolactin were compared with the results of semen analyses and testicular volume measurements. Mitotic chromosome analyses were performed and the results were compared with the findings in semen. In a selected group of men, extended chromosome analyses--with special regard to the occurrence of induced chromosomal lesions--were performed. The man's age at investigation, sperm density, sperm motility and the duration of the couple's infertility, all gave information about the prospects of conception. A useful score was based on the 'break points' of these four variables, for the estimation of prognosis. Prognostic information was also obtained from total testicular volume and the percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa (MNS). Men with a long duration of infertility had more frequently azoospermia than the other men. Men with abnormal epididymis(des) had a lower conception rate (CR) than men found normal at physical examination. Otherwise, CR was influenced neither by a positive history of genital disease(s), nor by signs of genital disease(s) at the physical examination. In infertile men with a sperm density of greater than or equal to 20 million spermatozoa/ml and/or a total testicular volume greater than or equal to 30 ml, measurements of FSH, LH and testosterone seem to be of no value. A 'profile' of these hormones, however, does seem to be valuable in men with a sperm density less than 20 million/ml. Prolactin concentration gave no clinically valuable information. Chromosomal aberrations were found in 9.4%. Abnormal karyotypes were absent among men with a sperm density of greater than or equal to 20 million/ml and greater than or equal to 60% MNS. In men with less than 60% MNS there was a significantly increased number of leukocytes with chromosomal lesions.
Contamination of semen by saliva can result in the alteration of seminal phosphoglucomutase (PGM1) isozyme patterns. The alteration is characterized by the gradual loss of the a and b isozyme bands the concomitant generation of anodal bands; eventually, all PGM activity is lost. The conversion of PGM isozyme patterns has been shown to be due to a dialyzable heat-labile factor in saliva and a nondialyzable heat-labile factor in semen. The implications of this conversion for PGM typing in sexual assault evidence are discussed.
Mycobacterium paratuberculosis, the cause of Johne's disease, was isolated from the feces of a donor bull in an artificial insemination stud. During isolation and observation for 21 months, the organism was recovered from all of 26 fecal samples and from 8 of 31 semen samples. At necropsy, it was isolated from the intestine and adjacent lymph nodes, lung, spleen, seminal vesicles, and prostate gland but not from the testicles. We concluded that routine fecal cultures at bull studs will reveal infected bulls before they become genitally infected and shed M paratuberculosis in semen.
Computer-assisted sperm movement analysis was used to study the effect of pentoxifylline on human sperm motility characteristics and motility longevity of postthaw cryopreserved semen. This study focused on the following issues: the changes in individual movement characteristics in response to pentoxifylline, the persistence of the response during drug treatment. Computerized analysis was started at 30 min, 3 hrs and 24 hrs, after addition of pentoxifylline. Data obtained showed that pentoxifylline significantly increased percentage of sperm motility, average path velocity (VAP), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight line velocity (VSL), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH) at two of the three time periods (p < 0.05). But, it did not significantly increase linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), and beat cross frequency (BCF) at any time. After 24 hrs, all motility variables were significantly decreased in both groups. However, the 24-hr motility longevity in the treatment group was greater than that of the control group. The present analysis shows interest in the use of pentoxifylline as a sperm movement enhancer for postthaw cryopreserved semen. It shows a beneficial effect in the majority of sperm movement parameters and motility longevity which may increase pregnancy rates after insemination. However, whether this change leads to an increase in fertilizing ability requires further study.
A total of 57 bitches of various breeds were inseminated with frozen semen [the extender used being Tris-fructose-egg yolk-6.4% (v/v) glycerol] under controlled conditions. The optimum time of insemination was determined using vaginal smears and progesterone assays. Of 38 bitches inseminated one to three times in the vagina using a technique employing a commercial intravaginal pipette, 20 (52.6%) became pregnant, with a mean litter size of 4.2. Of 19 bitches inseminated one to three times using a transcervical technique, the conception rate was 73.6% with a mean litter size of 5.5. These data show, for the freezing method used, that the results of artificial insemination with frozen semen in the bitch are better with intrauterine than with intravaginal deposition.
Polysulfated glycosaminoglycans (PSGAG) are widely used to treat cartilage disease in horses. The drug's safety in breeding animals has not been documented. This study determined whether im PSGAG is detrimental to the bull's health and, in particular, the quantity of semen produced or the quality of the cryopreserved product. No clinically significant effect of treatment on hematologic or serum biochemistry parameters was detected, but a significant treatment x time interaction for mean corpuscular volume warrants further investigation. There was an unexplained treatment effect on total daily sperm numbers collected, even though the pre-treatment values were included as co-variates in the statistical analysis to control for any day 0 variability. There was no effect on the percent forward motile sperm in the fresh ejaculate. Although there was no significant effect of treatment on the post-thaw semen data, the power of each statistical analysis was low, ranging from 10% to 19%. Further studies using larger sample sizes are warranted. These preliminary studies suggest that im PSGAG is safe to use in bulls on an experimental basis.
The application of micro HPLC to the determination of amygdalin in Semen pruni armeniacae and Semen pruni persicae is described. Amygdalin is separated at ambient temperature on a reversed phase column of U-Finepak SIL C18(150 x 0.5 mm) with methanol + water (25:75 v/v) as the mobile phase at a flow rate of 10 microL/min. The results are calculated by the internal standard method. The linear range is 1-7 micrograms. The CV and recovery of pure amygdalin are 1.47% (n = 10) and 98.13%, respectively. The results of analysis are lower than those obtained by TLC, but microHPLC is much simpler, faster, and more sensitive and reproducible than TLC.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the accuracy and precision of a computer-automated semen analyzer (CASA; Hamilton-Thorne Research, Beverly, MA) over a wide range of sperm concentrations. DESIGN: Prospective study using comparative measurements of sperm concentration and motility were performed using manual and CASA methods of analyses. SETTING: A hospital-based Andrology laboratory. PATIENTS: Male partners of couples undergoing infertility evaluation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Measurements of sperm concentration in the range of 1 to 200 x 10(6)/mL were performed using hemacytometers and CASA-analyzed 20 MicroCell counting chambers (Conception Technologies, Inc., La Jolla, CA). Accuracy was assessed by comparison to the hemacytometer ("gold standard"). The MicroCell counting chambers also were used for manual and CASA sperm motility determinations. RESULTS: The CASA-analyzed 20 Microcell Chamber most precisely determined sperm concentration in the 1 to 200 x 10(6)/mL range (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.94). The hemacytometer was least precise (intraclass correlation coefficient = 0.91). There was a high degree of correlation between the manually and CASA-analyzed MicroCell Chambers in the sperm concentration range of 20 to 149 x 10(6)/mL. Above and below this range, correlation was lower. Motility was determined most precisely using the CASA-analyzed 20 MicroCell Chamber. CONCLUSIONS: The Hamilton-Thorne CASA used with the 20 MicroCell Chamber is a precise and accurate method for determining sperm concentration and motility of semen specimens with concentrations in the 20 to 149 x 10(6)/mL range. This same combination of CASA and MicroCell Chamber provides precise sperm motility results.
The paper reports the experimental result of the simultaneous quantitative determination of strychnine (ST) and brucine(BR) in Semen Strychni by dual wavelength spectrophotometry. The result shows that there are some deviations in the official method, because the wavelength combination might not have been chosen rightly and the correct coefficient is inconsistent with the facts. We have made a study of the thermal stability of ST and BR, too. On this basis a baking principle for Semen strychni is spelt out.
The effect of vaginal and cervical deposition of frozen-thawed semen on the fertility of sheep was tested in a field trial in which 543 Norwegian crossbred ewes aged between six months and five-and-a-half years from 10 farms were inseminated after natural oestrus. Cervical insemination with 200 x 10(6) spermatozoa resulted in 25-day non-return and lambing rates of 75.4 and 72.7 per cent, respectively, and vaginal insemination gave rates of 71.3 and 67.4 per cent; the cervical inseminations produced significantly higher lambing rates (P=0.04). There were significant differences between the lambing rates for different rams (P=0.006) and different farmers (P=0.003), and there was a significant interaction between farmer and deposition site (P=0.03). After vaginal insemination fertility was encouragingly high, but the results varied with the farmer, and different flock and management conditions.
The results obtained by insemination with 3,418 frozen donor ejaculates with known semen characteristics were analyzed. The concentrations of motile spermatozoa before and after thawing were significantly higher in samples from donors producing pregnancies compared to samples from donors not causing pregnancies. In ejaculates known specifically to have caused a pregnancy even higher concentrations were found. It was assumed that the concentration of motile spermatozoa after thawing was the most important parameter, and by dividing the material into fractions it could be demonstrated that a spermatozoa concentration of more than 20 million/ml is essential for reasonable results.
Fifty-six males from infertile couples were categorised into two different groups and their semen quality examined. Patients in which there was no evidence of interference with normal testicular thermoregulation either during the day or the night were classified as 'cool workers' and 'cool sleepers' (Group I, n = 26). In the other group (II), 'warm workers'/'warm sleepers' (n = 30), there was evidence for scrotal insulation. The number of good moving spermatozoa per ejaculate as well as this number per ml was greater in 'cool workers'/'cool sleepers' than in 'warm workers'/'warm sleepers' (p less than 0.001). These results emphasize the need for comprehensive patient history when evaluating infertility problems. Similarly, living habits may play a role in human male infertility and treatment.
A liquefraction factor from normal human seminal plasma was purified by cation and anion exchange chromatography. It is nondialyzable, heat-labile, and has many properties in common with the seminal protease "chymotrypsin-like enzyme." Its lytic effect is most distinctly observed in abnormal semen that is semisolid or that is solid and fails to liquefy for several hours. Seminal plasmas from certain of these samples have and adverse effect on normal sperm motility. Clinically, the purified seminal liquefaction factor is useful in solubilizing abnormal samples for sperm analysis and homologous artificial insemination.
One semen analysis laboratory [the Institute of Reproductive Medicine (IRM), Münster, Germany] was enrolled in three external quality assurance programmes in Europe (United Kingdom External Quality Assurance Scheme, European Academy of Andrology, European Society of Human Reproduction) that control for the assessment of sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm morphology. Agreement between the participating laboratory and the sperm concentrations designated by all three programmes was good. Disagreement between two quality control (QC) programmes providing motility assessment was particularly noticeable in the distinction between motility grades a and b. For the identification of normal sperm morphology, marked differences between the standards set by different QC programmes were apparent. One programme was stricter in its categorization of normal forms, such that an overestimation of normal forms was diagnosed at IRM, whereas agreement with the other programmes was achieved. Variation of results from technicians in the IRM internal QC programme was <13%. The discrepancies between external quality control (EQC) centres demonstrated here are challenging problems to be overcome partly by the andrology laboratories and partly by the providers of EQC services. The introduction of objective, computer-aided sperm assessment in providing designated values may help to rectify this situation. Until this is achieved, EQC programmes should develop an internal programme to monitor their materials and methods for assessment.
1. The rate of tetrazolium dye-reduction by fowl spermatozoa measured by an objective colourimetric assay was shown to correlate strongly with sperm motility, morphology, ATP content and fertilising ability. 2. Although dye-reduction appeared less well correlated with fertilising ability than the other variables, the method for its determination has many practical advantages for the assessment of semen quality in poultry.
BACKGROUND: The hypothetical responsibility of sperm donation in cytomegalovirus (CMV) transmission to recipients and precautions to prevent this transmission are widely discussed. The aim of this French CECOS Federation study was to evaluate both the reality and the importance of the CMV risk due to donor sperm and the relevance of measures used to screen it. METHODS: We conducted a prospective multicentric study. CMV was detected by rapid and conventional cultures and by PCR in the frozen sperm of donors who met the normal criteria required of semen donors, irrespective of their CMV serological status. RESULTS: 635 samples from 231 donors (39.4% IgG(+)) were obtained and tested by culture; 551 samples from 197 donors were also tested by PCR. From those samples, 0.78% were culture(+), 1.57% culture(+) and/or PCR(+); 3.3% of seropositive donors and 0.72% of initially seronegative donors were culture(+), but in the latter seroconversion occurred during the quarantine period; of the 197 PCR-tested donors, 3.5% (6.2/1.7) were PCR(+), 3.3% (5.3/1.45) culture(+) and/or PCR(+). PCR(+) samples can be culture(-) and vice versa. The most strongly positive sample corresponded to an initially seronegative donor. CONCLUSION: The best strategy to prevent potential CMV risk is to test donors for CMV IgG and IgM antibody at the outset and after a 6 month period of quarantine and to reject initially IgM seropositive donors or donors who seroconvert during the quarantine period.