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Biomedical subjects

K Bamba

Publications and source records attributed to K Bamba.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Immunoreactive relaxin in seminal plasma of fertile boars and its correlation with sperm motility characteristics determined by computer-assisted digital image analysis.

Ejaculates from 10 mature fertile large white Yorkshire boars were used to examine the correlation between immunoreactive relaxin levels in seminal plasma and sperm motility characteristics. Seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin were measured by a time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TR-FIA). Motility characteristics were assessed using a CellSoft computer-assisted digital image analysis system. The mean +/- SD level of immunoreactive relaxin in seminal plasma was 2.61 +/- 0.62 ng/mL. When the correlation between seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin and parameters of sperm movement was examined, it was found that relaxin levels were significantly correlated with the percentage of motile spermatozoa (r=0.687, p < 0.05), curvilinear velocity (r=0.745, p < 0.05), straight line velocity (r=0.651, p < 0.05), mean amplitude of lateral head displacement (mean ALH) (r=0.844, p < 0.01) and the maximum amplitude of lateral head displacement (max ALH) (r=0.830, p < 0.01), but not with linearity, beat-cross frequency, or percentage of circular cells. Among these parameters, seminal plasma levels of immunoreactive relaxin showed the strongest correlation with the ALH parameter related to fertilizing ability. These results indicate that immunoreactive relaxin in boar semen may be necessary not only for normal sperm motility but also for normal fertility, suggesting that determination of the profile of immunoreactive relaxin in ejaculates may have value as a potential marker for predicting sperm fertilizing ability of boars.

Animals↗

Rapid and simultaneous detection of chromosome Y- and 1-bearing porcine spermatozoa by fluorescence in situ hybridization.

This study was carried out to develop a rapid and simultaneous detection system of chromosome Y- and 1-bearing porcine spermatozoa by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Chromosome Y- and 1-specific DNA probes were produced by polymerase chain reaction with digoxigenin (Dig)- or biotin-dUTP. The hybridization probe mixture of labeled Y-chromosome and chromosome 1-specific DNA was applied to the preparation, immediately denatured at 75 degrees C for 8 min, hybridized for 5 min at 37 degrees C and overall FISH steps were done within a few hours. When double FISH with Dig-labeled chromosome Y-specific and biotin-labeled chromosome 1-specific probes was applied to sperm nuclei pretreated with dithiothreitol, the average of 50.9% of sperm nuclei had the Dig-signal, 99.2% of the sperm nuclei had the biotin-signal and the average of 0.3% of sperm nuclei showed no signal. The putative rate of Y-bearing spermatozoa ranged from 49.8% to 52.8% among 5 boars and the average putative rate of Y-bearing spermatozoa was 51.0%. The results indicated that a rapid and simultaneous FISH with chromosome Y- and 1-specific porcine DNA probes produced by PCR made possible more accurate assessment of Y-bearing porcine spermatozoa.

Animals↗

Detection of Y-bearing porcine spermatozoa by in situ hybridization using digoxigenin-labeled, porcine male-specific DNA probe produced by polymerase chain reaction.

This study was carried out to determine whether Y-bearing porcine spermatozoa could be detected by in situ hybridization using a digoxigenin (Dig)-labelled DNA probe specific to the Y chromosome produced by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A conventional PCR (with Dig-dUTP) was performed using a set of oligonucleotide primers (5'-AAGTGGTCAGCGTGTCCATA-3' and 5'-TTTCTCCTGTATCCTCCTGC-3') for 236 bp fragment of porcine male-specific DNA sequence and 1.25 x 10(4) template white blood cells obtained from a boar. When fluorescence in situ hybridization with the Dig-labelled DNA probe was applied to the metaphase chromosome spreads prepared from both boar and gilts, the fluorescein signal was only detected on the long arm of the Y chromosome. In addition, immunocytochemical detection with the Dig-labelled DNA probe and alkaline phosphatase-labeled anti-Dig was applied to both sperm nuclei pretreated with dithiothreitol and white blood cells; 51% of sperm nuclei and 96% of white blood cells obtained from boar were labelled, whereas none of white blood cells obtained from gilts were labelled with the Dig-labelled DNA probe. The results indicated that in situ hybridization with porcine male-specific DNA probe produced by PCR made possible the direct visualization of Y-bearing porcine spermatozoa by in situ hybridization.

Animals↗

Protective action of aromatic compounds against cold-shock injuries in boar spermatozoa.

Butylated hydroxytoluene has been known to protect spermatozoa from cold shock injury. To determine whether such protective action is a common property of aromatic compounds, the effect of 14 hydrophobic and 2 hydrophilic aromatic compounds on the protection of boar spermatozoa from cold shock was investigated. The majority of the hydrophobic compounds tested provided protection; the hydrophilic compounds were ineffective. Of the aromatic compounds tested, naphthalene was most effective in reducing the effect of cold shock on motility and acrosomal integrity of boar spermatozoa.

Acrosome↗

Effects of treatment with butylated hydroxytoluene on the susceptibility of boar spermatozoa to cold stress and dilution.

Boar spermatozoa acquired resistance to cold shock immediately after exposure to 2.0 mmol butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) l-1 when Beltsville thawing solution was used as a basic diluent, as judged by motility (the proportion of motile spermatozoa) and acrosomal integrity. The concentration of BHT could be reduced to 0.2 mmol l-1 without decreasing the protective action. However, motility was altered in the presence of greater than 0.15 mmol BHT l-1. Beltsville freezing 5 (BF5) diluent was more effective than Beltsville thawing solution in protecting spermatozoa from cold shock, but addition of BHT to BF5 diluent did not affect the motility and acrosomal morphology of spermatozoa before or after cold shock. Dilution of BHT-treated spermatozoa with BF5 diluent did not restore motility and did not afford further protection against cold shock; it was detrimental to spermatozoa treated with 2 mmol BHT l-1 for greater than 15 min. Egg yolk or lecithin had a detrimental effect. When spermatozoa were treated with 0.05-0.10 mmol BHT l-1 before slow cooling to 5 degrees C, the progressive motility and acrosomal integrity were maintained better after storage for 6 days than in untreated spermatozoa.

Acrosome↗

Evidence for immunoreactive relaxin in boar seminal vesicles using combined light and electron microscope immunocytochemistry.

Light-microscope immunocytochemistry using the peroxidase-antiperoxidase technique and a polyclonal rabbit antiserum raised against purified porcine relaxin showed that cytoplasmic immunostaining for relaxin could be visualized in the epithelial cells of the seminal vesicle. No relaxin immunoreactivity was seen in the testis, epididymis, ductus deferens, prostate or bulbo-urethral gland. A ten times higher concentration of porcine relaxin antiserum was necessary to achieve immunostaining in the seminal vesicle comparable to that in the corpora lutea of pregnant sows. Ultrastructural examination showed that the epithelial cells of the boar seminal vesicle resembled typical protein-secreting cells with prominent rough endoplasmic reticulum and well-developed Golgi apparatus. The most striking feature of these cells was the accumulation of granules with a limiting membrane, which ranged from 200 to 600 nm in diameter and contained flocculent material of moderate electron density. Electron-microscope immunocytochemistry using the protein A-gold technique and relaxin antiserum demonstrated that the granules were the only intracellular organelles that showed immunoreactivity for relaxin. These results indicate that a relaxin-like substance is present in boar seminal vesicles and that the subcellular site of its localization is the granules, suggesting that the seminal vesicle produces and stores a relaxin-like substance, but that it is present at much lower concentrations than in the corpora lutea of pregnant sows.

Animals↗

Effects of pig follicular fluid on maturation of pig oocytes in vitro and on their subsequent fertilizing and developmental capacity in vitro.

This study examines the effects of pig follicular fluid on the maturation of pig oocytes and on their subsequent fertilizing and developmental capacity in vitro. The addition of pig follicular fluid or its fractions obtained by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography to maturation medium significantly increased the rates of nuclear maturation, normal fertilization and normal cleavage of pig oocytes after fertilization in vitro: the rates of normal fertilization and cleavage were 2-4 times higher than those in the control medium. The efficacy of pig follicular fluid was lost after heating at 56 degrees C for 30 min, whereas no significant decrease in activity was observed after defatting. In addition, the effective component(s) was partially purified by ultrafiltration, gel filtration and ion-exchange chromatography: the activity was observed in the fraction (UF2; M(r) 10,000-20,000) obtained by ultrafiltration. Activity was found in the first fraction (G1) obtained by gel filtration of UF2. Among three fractions obtained by ion-exchange chromatography of G1, only the third fraction had the activity. The results indicate that pig follicular fluid contains an acidic substance(s) (M(r) 10,000-200,000) that promotes oocyte maturation.

Animals↗

Freezing rabbit semen by the use of BF5 diluent.

Three experiments were carried out to find the optimal concentration of DMSO and glycerol in BF5 diluent for freezing rabbit spermatozoa. Semen was diluted 1:1 with diluent A (BF5 + DMSO) at 25 degrees C and diluted further 1:1 with diluent B (diluent A + glycerol) after cooling down to 5 degrees C. Diluted semen was frozen immediately and stored in liquid nitrogen. Maximum percentages for motility and normal acrosomes were obtained in the presence of 12% DMSO (as expressed in diluent A) and 3% glycerol (final concentration) after thawing.

Acrosome↗

Effect of rapid warming of bull and rabbit semen.

Rapid warming of semen from 5 to 37 degrees C caused visible damage to the acrosomes of bull and rabbit spermatozoa. The degree and type of damage varied with the species, the bull being the more resistant. While vesiculation was observed in rabbit spermatozoa, neither warm nor cold shock resulted in this defect in the bull. Warm shock of bull spermatozoa caused acrosomal knobbing in an anterior region of the head. Spermatozoa with thread and/or droplet-like structures were frequently observed in bull semen after cold shock.

Acrosome↗

Further studies on rapid dilution and warming of boar semen.

Studies have been carried out to investigate factors related to the induction of warm shock in boar spermatozoa. Rapid dilution per se caused visible damage to acrosomes when the sample contained 7.5% or more glycerol. This dilution effect was greater at lower temperatures. Acrosomal damage was greatly reduced by raising the dilution temperature from 15 to 25 degrees C, suggesting that a change in the physico-chemical characteristics of the acrosomal membrane occurred between these temperatures. During rapid dilution with warming, the dilution rate, the magnitude of the temperature change and the terminal temperature had a significant influence on acrosomal integrity; a terminal temperature of 35 degrees C was much more detrimental than one of 25 degrees C. The first sign of acrosomal damage was observed 15 sec after rapid dilution + warming and the damage was nearly maximal by 60 sec. An antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), was effective against both rapid cooling and warming, while glycerol, dimethylsulphoxide and propylene glycol were ineffective in preventing warm shock.

Acrosome↗

Effect of rapid warming of boar semen on sperm morphology and physiology.

The effect of rapid dilution (1:8 with BTS or 1:6.5 with KRP) and temperature change on sperm morphology and physiology were studied using boar spermatozoa pre-diluted in BF5 diluent. Rapid dilution of cold semen (5 degrees C) with a warm solution (37 degrees C) caused marked acrosomal changes which were most prominent in the anterior region. The acrosomal damage appeared to be caused mainly by rapid warming. In contrast to rapid cooling, rapid warming had little effect upon motility, glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase release and respiration.

Animals↗

Effects of various antibiotics on the control of bacteria in boar semen.

Nine antibiotics were tested for the control of 11 bacterial genera isolated from boar semen. Of the antibiotics tested, the aminoglycosides dibekacin, amikacin and gentamicin proved fairly effective. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of those antibiotics were low (less than 6.25 micrograms/ml) compared to those of antibiotics commonly used for semen diluents. Seventy-four semen samples were stored at 15 degrees C by means of dialysis in the presence of dibekacin (100 micrograms/ml). After seven days' storage, about 80 per cent of the samples showed no bacterial growth and the mean values for sperm motility an normal acrosomes were 75.4 per cent and 82.7 per cent respectively. Twenty sows which were inseminated with semen stored for up to 14 days produced 16 litters and the average litter size was 9.9.

Amikacin↗

Factors affecting the quality of boar semen stored by means of dialysis.

The effects of dialysis fluids containing blood serum, serum albumin or activated charcoal on the storage of boar serum were examined. The effects of antibiotics were also tested by including them in the dialysis fluids and semen samples. Undiluted semen was stored for 7 days at 15 degrees C by means of dialysis across a cellulose membrane. A combination of sulbenicillin and streptomycin was superior to that of penicillin and streptomycin in reducing bacteria and maintaining sperm motility and normal acrosomes. Serum albumin exerted a beneficial effect on the stored spermatozoa which may be due to its capacity to adsorb the metabolic products from bacteria and spermatozoa; it could be replaced with activated charcoal.

Acrosome↗