INTRODUCTION HIV-1 is transmitted through semen from men to their sexual partners. Genital infections can increase HIV-1 RNA shedding in semen, but shedding also occurs in the absence of typical pathogens. We hypothesized that higher bacterial concentrations in semen would be associated with higher HIV-1 RNA levels. METHODS We analyzed semen samples from 42 HIV-1-seropositive Kenyan men using...

Computer-assisted sperm analysis of fresh and frozen-thawed bovine sperm requires proper handling and preparation, and the type of slide used in the assessment is critical if the resultant data are to be useful quality control measurements. In the present study, 4 different slide viewing chambers, a Makler chamber, a clean slide-coverslip, or a 2- or 4-cell chamber Leja slide, were compared wit...

The reproductive responses to one and two inseminations of frozen-thawed semen were compared in fat-tailed ewes which had previously been used in controlled reproduction programs aimed at estrus synchronization, multiple ovulation embryo transfer, and out of breeding season. In the trials, mature dry (n = 50) ewes in progestagen-induced estrus were inseminated 54 to 56 h after sponge removal. H...

Studies showed that assisted reproductive technology changed the sex ratio at birth, but the effect of semen processing (swim-up technique and density-gradient separation) on enriching either Xor Y-bearing sperm is always controversial. We recruited 30 healthy males and their semen samples were obtained by masturbation after sexual abstinence for 2-7 days. Each sample was divided into 3 aliquot...

On a worldwide basis, more than 750,000 embryos are produced annually from superovulated donors and more than 450,000 embryos are produced using in vitro techniques. Superovulation and embryo collection are done as frequently as every 30 days. Cryopreservation and direct transfer of frozen-thawed embryos results in pregnancy rates near that of fresh embryos. Since the zona pellucida-intact in v...

The methodologies used for cytometric sorting of fresh spermatozoa never allowed a clear resolution of sexual chromosomes of frozen-thawed semen. To devise a novel method for the production of bovine predefined sexed embryos using frozen-thawed semen, sorting efficiency of different protocols was studied using a new quantitative real-time PCR method to verify the purity of sexed semen. To this ...