The objective of this experiment was to test a hypothesis that L-carnitine supplemented diet would improve semen characteristics in 6 adult crossbred AI boars (Hampshire × Pietrain). The control and the tested diet were identical except the tested period (8 weeks) when the diet was supplemented with 2 g of l-carnitine per boar per day. The semen was collected regularly weekly by a gloved-hand t...

We examined the effect of constant water temperature throughout year on gametogenesis, spawning success and egg/sperm/embryo quality in meagre (Argyrosomus regius). Two broodstocks were exposed to simulated natural photoperiod, andeither attenuated seasonal (SeasT, 16.4 19.6ºC) or relatively (CoT, 19.4 ± 0.6ºC).In period (May), 4 couples per group induced spawn with gonadotropin releasing hormo...

Infertility affects one in seven couples who are trying to conceive (Lamb & Lipshultz, 2000; Brugh & Lipshultz, 2004). Decreased semen quality, a measure of the ability of semen to achieve fertilisation, is a primary cause of male infertility. Usually, poor semen quality is characterised by low sperm motility and viability. Assisted reproductive techniques (ART) such as intra-uterine inseminati...

There is increasing evidence that females can somehow improve their offspring fitness by mating with multiple males, but we understand little about the exact stage(s) at which such benefits are gained. Here, we measure whether offspring fitness is influenced by mechanisms operating solely between sperm and egg. Using externally fertilizing and polyandrous Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), we emplo...

Background There are several indications of human female gamete cryostorage including sub-fertile and fertile patients. But our focus will be in women at risk of losing their reproductive function caused by oncologycal treatments or premature ovarian failure that could benefit greatly from this practice. Fertile women may take advantage of this technology to electively delay childbearing. The o...

Background: The present study aimed to investigate the presence of leptin mRNA transcript in epididymal spermatozoa of Holstein cattle by RT-PCR analysis. Materials and Methods: To collect sperm from epididymis, the whole testes of three adult Holstein bulls were quickly removed after slaughtering. Samples were transferred to the laboratory on ice and subsequently the epididymal contents were c...

heavy metal pollutions of aquatic ecosystems have already raised many concerns on aquaticorganisms’health and survival especially on their sperm. the effects of a single metal on sperm may be totallydifferent from cocktail of several metals because of their interactions, so the effects of zinc, cadmium andcalcium on the trout and carp sperms and their competition have been examined by incubatio...