Many of the world's wild feline species are threatened by extinction. Gene banks are created with the aim of preserving their genetic materials. In case of unexpected death of the animals, epididymal sperm preservation can be used to avoid loss of genetic material. However, one requirement for the genetic preservation of endangered species is to preserve as much genetic material as possible. Th...

Chemotaxis of spermatozoa to female gonophores has been shown to occur in Campanularia, Tubularia and other hydroids (Miller, 1966 a, b). Cinemicrographic records of the movements of Campanularia spermatozoa in the vicinity of female gonophores or of glass capillary pipettes containing extracts of female hydranths have shown that chemotactic aggregation of the spermatozoa occurs because the spe...

In order to find an optimal hypo-osmotic swelling test (HOST) and to identify viable sperm cells from patients with asthenozoospermia for intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), we tested single motile and non-motile spermatozoa in four hypo-osmotic solutions by micromanipulation. The four solutions were: A, H2O; B, 50 mOsm NaCl; C, 150 mOsm NaCl and D, 150 mOsm sodium citrate and fructose. Eo...

Flagellar movement of golden hamster spermatozoa obtained from the testis and the caput and cauda epididymides was observed by a light microscope while holding them at their heads with a micropipette. Flagellar movement of capacitated spermatozoa and of reactivated spermatozoa demembranated with Triton X-100 was also observed. Testicular and caput epididymal spermatozoa showed weak movement in ...

BACKGROUND Externalization of phosphatidylserine (EPS) occurs in apoptotic-like spermatozoa and could be used to remove them from sperm preparations to enhance sperm quality for assisted medical procreation. We first characterized EPS in sperms from infertile patients in terms of frequency of EPS spermatozoa as well as localization of phosphatidylserine (PS) on spermatozoa. Subsequently, we det...

Fatty acids with carbon chain lengths greater than 22 (VLCFA) have been detected in boar, ram, bull and human spermatozoa. Saturated and mono-unsaturated fatty acids were present in all spermatozoa but, except for human spermatozoa, polyenoic fatty acids were quantitatively the most important components. Marked differences in polyenoic fatty acid composition were observed. Whereas human spermat...

When the cell membrane is disturbed, phospholipid phosphatidylserine (PS) is translocated from the inner to the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. This is one of the earliest signs of apoptosis and can be monitored by the calcium-dependent binding of annexin V. Therefore, annexin V-binding, in conjunction with flow cytometry, was used to evaluate the integrity of the sperm plasma membrane af...

The objective was to develop a sperm freezing procedure suitable for use in the propagation of valuable founder animals by assisted reproductive technologies. Here, we report a comparison of processing methods by measuring the motility of fresh and frozen-thawed rhesus monkey spermatozoa and fertility via intracytoplasmic spermatozoa injection (ICSI) of sibling oocytes. Washed spermatozoa were ...

CONTEXT Several sperm retrieval techniques are available for use on azoospeermic men. Comparisons between spermatozoa retrieved from the testicles and epididymis in relation to pregnancy and miscarriage rates are not well established. OBJECTIVE To compare pregnancy and miscarriage rates using sperm retrieved from the testes and epididymis using intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Furthermore, w...

BACKGROUND Endocrine disruptors are exogenous substance, interfere with the endocrine system, and disrupt hormonal functions. However, the effect of endocrine disruptors in different species has not yet been elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the possible effects of 17ß-estradiol (E2), progesterone (P4), genistein (GEN) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP), on capacitation and the acrosome reaction ...