Semen Quality and Reproductive Performance of Boars

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Reproduction".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2023) | Viewed by 6134

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science and Fisheries, University of Siedlce, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Interests: boar; sperm morphometry; sexual activity; sperm morphology; libido; spermiogram; ejaculate quality
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E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Animal Science and Fisheries, Siedlce University of Natural Sciences and Humanities, Bolesława Prusa 14, 08-110 Siedlce, Poland
Interests: boar; sperm dimension; traits of ejaculate; sexual activity; sperm morphology; spermiogram; sperm membrane integrity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Genetic progress is far more conditioned by males than females. Boar sexual performance and the volume and quality of produced semen are practically important for artificial insemination. These traits exhibit high variability, and significantly affect the performance value of insemination boars. Semen quality is of fundamental importance for successful conception and embryonic development. Therefore, boars should be tested for their reproduction aptitude.

The purpose of this Special Issue, “Semen Quality and Reproductive Performance of Boars”, is to present the latest scientific achievements in the use of advanced techniques for the assessment of boar semen. We also invite original research papers that address methods for the assessment of boar sexual activity parameters. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Original research articles and reviews are welcome.

Dr. Krzysztof Górski
Prof. Dr. Stanisław Kondracki
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • boar
  • sexual activity
  • sperm morphology
  • spermiogram
  • ejaculate quality
  • sperm dimension
  • traits of ejaculate
  • sperm membrane integrity
  • sperm quality
  • semen analysis
  • artificial insemination

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 4206 KiB  
Article
Post-Thaw Storage Temperature Influenced Boar Sperm Quality and Lifespan through Apoptosis and Lipid Peroxidation
by Junwei Li, Juncheng Li, Shuaibiao Wang, Huiming Ju, Shufang Chen, Athina Basioura, Graça Ferreira-Dias, Zongping Liu and Jiaqiao Zhu
Animals 2024, 14(1), 87; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14010087 - 26 Dec 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1448
Abstract
Cryopreservation deteriorates boar sperm quality and lifespan, which restricts the use of artificial insemination with frozen-thawed boar semen in field conditions. The objective of this study was to test the effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature on boar sperm survival. Semen ejaculates [...] Read more.
Cryopreservation deteriorates boar sperm quality and lifespan, which restricts the use of artificial insemination with frozen-thawed boar semen in field conditions. The objective of this study was to test the effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature on boar sperm survival. Semen ejaculates from five Landrace boars (one ejaculate per boar) were collected and frozen following a 0.5 mL-straw protocol. Straws from the five boars were thawed and diluted 1:1 (v:v) in BTS. The frozen-thawed semen samples were aliquoted into three parts and respectively stored at 5 °C, 17 °C, and 37 °C for up to 6 h. At 0.5, 2, and 6 h of storage, sperm motility, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and apoptotic changes were measured. Antioxidant and oxidant levels were tested in boar sperm (SPZ) and their surrounding environment (SN) at each timepoint. The results showed significant effects of post-thaw storage time and temperature and an impact on boar sperm quality (total and progressive motility, VCL, viability, acrosome integrity), early and late sperm apoptotic changes, and changes in MDA levels in SPZ and SN. Compared to storage at 5 °C and 37 °C, frozen-thawed semen samples stored at 17 °C displayed better sperm quality, less apoptotic levels, and lower levels of SPZ MDA and SN MDA. Notably, post-thaw storage at 17 °C extended boar sperm lifespan up to 6 h without obvious reduction in sperm quality. In conclusion, storage of frozen-thawed boar semen at 17 °C preserves sperm quality for up to 6 h, which facilitates the use of cryopreserved boar semen for field artificial insemination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semen Quality and Reproductive Performance of Boars)
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10 pages, 650 KiB  
Article
Slow Freezing of Preserved Boar Sperm: Comparison of Conventional and Automated Techniques on Post-Thaw Functional Quality by a New Combination of Sperm Function Tests
by Felipe Pezo, Fabiola Zambrano, Pamela Uribe, André Furugen Cesar de Andrade and Raúl Sánchez
Animals 2023, 13(18), 2826; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13182826 - 6 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1712
Abstract
The slow freezing of boar sperm is the only way to preserve genetic material for extended periods; this can be achieved with exposure to liquid nitrogen vapors (conventional) or by using automated freezing equipment. The aim was to compare the effect of both [...] Read more.
The slow freezing of boar sperm is the only way to preserve genetic material for extended periods; this can be achieved with exposure to liquid nitrogen vapors (conventional) or by using automated freezing equipment. The aim was to compare the effect of both techniques on post-thaw functionality. Boar sperm devoid of seminal plasma and resuspended in lactose-egg yolk-glycerol medium were cryopreserved. Conventional: straws were exposed to LN2 vapors; automated: using a drop curve of −39.82 °C·min−1 for 113 s from −5 to −80 °C during the critical period; and subsequent immersion in NL2. Cell viability, cholesterol flow, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), lipid peroxidation, peroxynitrite, superoxide anion levels, phosphatidylserine translocation, and caspase activation were evaluated by flow cytometry. In addition, total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were determined by the SCA system immediately (T0), 60 (T60), and 120 min (T120) post-thawing. Automated freezing significantly reduces cholesterol flow and free radical and lipid peroxidation levels, making it possible to preserve motility for 120 min of incubation. At the same time, viability, acrosome integrity, MMP, and caspase activation did not differ from the conventional technique. In conclusion, controlling the temperature drop curve using automated freezing equipment reduces oxidative/nitrosative stress, preserving membrane fluidity and sperm motility. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semen Quality and Reproductive Performance of Boars)
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18 pages, 3998 KiB  
Article
Dietary Supplementation with Linseed Oil Ethyl Esters Improves Sexual Behavior and Chosen Seminal Parameters in Porcine Species
by Anna Zwyrzykowska-Wodzińska, Wiesław Bielas, Wojciech Niżański, Anna Jankowska-Mąkosa and Damian Knecht
Animals 2023, 13(8), 1347; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13081347 - 14 Apr 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2240
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown that improvements in the sperm and semen quality of males of many species can be achieved with appropriate dietary supplements added to feed or fodder. Particularly promising seems to be the inclusion of omega polyunsaturated fatty acids in the [...] Read more.
Numerous studies have shown that improvements in the sperm and semen quality of males of many species can be achieved with appropriate dietary supplements added to feed or fodder. Particularly promising seems to be the inclusion of omega polyunsaturated fatty acids in the diets of males. Among other things, it has been shown that linseed oil ethyl esters (EELO can be an excellent source of omega 3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in animal diets. These compounds are more durable and resistant to oxidation, epoxidation and resinification processes, and do not exhibit toxic properties in living organisms. At present, there is a lack of data in the literature on the enrichment of boar diets with EELO. The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of the addition of EELO to boar diets on the properties of sperm in fresh semen. The study was conducted during the summer on semen collected from 12 boars of the line 990. Linseed oil ethyl esters were administered in each feeding at a rate of 3.0% (45 mL each) in basal diets for each boar on a daily basis for 16 weeks. Ejaculates were collected manually by the gloved-hand technique, at one-week intervals for eight-week periods, from the eighth week onwards after the start of feeding. Eight ejaculates were collected from each boar, totaling 96 samples. The addition of EELO to the diets of boars caused an increase in sperm viability (p < 0.001), semen volume (310 mL versus 216 mL, p < 0.001) and sperm concentration (331 versus 216 million per mL, p < 0.001). Furthermore, in the experimental animals, there was a decrease in the percentage of spermatozoa exhibiting DNA fragmentation. The experimental boars also showed an increase in the percentage of gametes without apoptosis and capacitation and an increase in the percentage of viable spermatozoa not showing lipid peroxidation membranes. Consequently, EELO nutritional supplementation resulted in the improved quality of the fresh semen of boars. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Semen Quality and Reproductive Performance of Boars)
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