The functional roles of plant extracts have been investigated for the treatment of various diseases including subfertility. Recent studies have highlighted the benefits of ashwagandha extract (AE) in enhancing sperm production, boosting testosterone levels, and lowering reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in mammals. The current study is to examine the effects of the addition of AE to liquid boar semen on sperm quality during storage and its potential application in assisted reproductive technology. A hot water extract of ashwagandha was prepared from the dried powder of ashwagandha roots. Boar spermatozoa were stored in Beltsville thawing solution (BTS) at 17℃ for 5 days, with various concentrations of AE (1–50 mg/mL). During storage, motility, viability, acrosomal integrity and ROS of boar spermatozoa were examined. The results have shown that sperm stored in BTS with varying quantities of AE ranging from 1–20 mg/mL exhibited higher motility compared to those without AE (control) or with 50 mg/mL AE for 5 days. Similarly, sperm viability was better maintained in sperm treated with 1–20 mg/mL AE. Moreover, sperm stored in BTS with AE led to significantly higher acrosomal integrity and chromatin stability rates than sperm stored without AE. Notably, intracellular ROS levels significantly decreased in sperm stored in BTS with AE. Particularly, spermatozoa stored at 10 mg/mL AE exhibited an effective reduction in ROS during storage. These findings suggest the potential role of AE as an additive during sperm storage maintains sperm quality and can be used during subfertility treatment in both animals and humans.

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility (MOT) is an important parameter because the movement of spermatozoa indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) is important enzyme in spermatogenesis, but their effect has not been confirmed in pigs yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 124 Duroc pigs with records of sperm motility and kinematic characteristics [Total motile spermatozoa (MOT), Curvilinear velocity (VCL), Straight-line velocity (VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL (LIN), Amplitude of Lateral Head displacement (ALH)] were subjected. A SNP in non-coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with MOT (p < 0.05), VCL (p < 0.01), LIN (p < 0.01) and ALH (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the intron region of the porcine PLCz gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not defined yet. Whether the association is due to the candidate gene or not require further verification. Thus, it will be of interest to continue association studies in the regions surrounding those genes.

For evaluating the boar semen quality, sperm motility is an important parameter because the movement of sperm indicates active metabolism, membrane integrity and fertilizing capacity. Phospholipase C zeta (PLCz) is important enzyme in spermatogenesis, but the effect has not been confirmed in pigs yet. Therefore, this study was aimed to analyze their association with sperm motility and kinematic characteristics. DNA samples from 124 Duroc pigs with records of sperm motility and kinematic characteristics [total motile spermatozoa (MOT), curvilinear velocity (VCL), straight-line velocity (VSL), the ratio between VSL and VCL (LIN), amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH)] were subjected. A SNP in non-coding region of PLCz g.158 A > C was associated with MOT (p < 0.05), VCL (p < 0.01), LIN (p < 0.01) and ALH (p < 0.05) in Duroc population. Therefore, we suggest that the intron region of the porcine PLCz gene may be used as a molecular marker for Duroc boar semen quality, although its functional effect was not defined yet. Whether the association is due to the candidate gene or not require further verification. Thus, it will be of interest to continue association studies in the regions surrounding those genes.

The objective of this study was to investigate the motility and kinematics of boar sperm that while stored at 4C. The samples of fresh boar semen were place into an extender, Androhep, and stored at . In three of these samples, cryoprotectants were added. The sperm's motilities and kinematics were evaluated by using microscope () and the viability status was evaluated by using with eosin staining method. The 5 sample groups are; Goup A:Androhep (extender), stored at . Group B:Androhep (extender), stored at . Group C:Androhep (extender), + 3% glycerol (cryoprotectant), stored at . Group D:Androhep (extender), + 3% DMSO (cryoprotectant), stored at . Group E:Androhep (extender), + 3% ethylene glycol (cryoprotectant), stored at . In group A, the sperm's motility was reduced. On day one the sperm's motility was () and day 5 the motility was (). In group B, C and D the sperm's motility were reduced to 0 on day 5. In group E the sperm's percentage of motility decreased. On day one the sperm's motility was () and day 5 the motility was (). When comparing cryoprotectant in samples of boar sperm there is a slight improvement in the results when the use of Androhep Lite (extender), + 3% ethylene glycol (cryoprotectant), stored at are used. Based on these results, ethylene glycol can protect sperm from heat shock at , but not satisfactory level. However, it showed the possibilities of liquid semen preservation at by using cryoprotectant.

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of storage time on fresh boar semen in Androhep and Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS). Boar semen samples extended in each extender were stored at 17℃ up to 4 days. Sperm motility kinematics was evaluated by computer assisted sperm analyzer (CASA) and capacitation status by chlortetracycline (CTC)/Hoechst 33258 staining. Sperm motility (%) was not decreased during storage in BTS and Androhep. No significant difference between extenders was observed. Only significant differences in kinematic parameters on linearity during storage were found. The percentage of dead sperm significantly decreased during storage (p<0.05). Also the percentage of noncapacitated, capacitated, and acrosome-reacted sperm significantly modified during storage (p<0.05). However, there was no significant difference between extenders except proportion of capacitated sperm. This finding supported that modification in these parameters was not significantly different between extenders during this short-term storage. Our finding strongly indicated that both Androhep and BTS maintained favorable conditions for motility, motility kinematics, and capacitation status during short-term storage. Despite modifications in some parameters were apparent during sperm storage in extenders, these may not affect the fertilizing capacity of boar semen.

본 연구는 정액의 보존 기간 동안 정액의 질적 변화를 알아보고자 시행하였다. 돼지 정액을 Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS)에 희석한 후 17'C 에서 5일 동안 보존하였다. 보존 기간 동안 정자의 운동성(%)과 linearity는 3일째부터 유의하게 감소하였으나, 다른 운동 역학 변수에서는 유의적 변화를 나타내지 않았다. 또한, 5일 동안 정액을 보존할 경우 첨체의 온전성에도 변화가 없었다. 그러나 제 4일째부터 첨체 변화가 야기된 정자는 유의적으로 증가하였으나, 수정능 획득이 일어난 정자는 유의적으로 감소하였다. 정액의 보존 기간 동안 첨체의 온전성의 유의적 변화가 없었다. 즉, 보존 기간 3일동안 정자의 질적 운동성 및 첨체 온전성에는 유의적인 변화가 없었으므로 상업용 돼지 액상정액은 17'C 에서 적어도 3일간 수정능력을 만족스럽게 유지함을 보여준다.

본 연구는 체외성숙된 돼지난포란을 액상정액으로 수정시 수정시간과 배양배지가 난포란의 발달에 미치는 영향을 조사하기 위하여 실시하였다. 정자농후정액 (30∼60 ml)을 채취하여 실온에서 2시간 정도 서서히 냉각시킨 후, 정액을 15 ml 튜브에 담아 800×g로 10분간 원심분리하였다. 상층액은 버리고 하부의 정자는 5 ml LEN 희석액으로 1×10/sup 9/ 전자/ml가 되도록 재희석하였다. 희석된 정액은 4℃ 냉장고에 보존하였다. 미성숙 난모세포의 성숙에 사용된 배지는 26.19 mM sodium bicarbonate, 0.9 mM sodium pyruvate, 10 ㎍/ml insulin, 2 ㎍/ml vitamin B/sub 12/, 25 mM HEPES, 10 ㎍/ml bovine apotransferrin, 150 μM cysteamine, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 IU/ml PMSG, 10 IU/ml EGF, 0.4% BSA, 75 ㎍/ml sodium penicillin G, 50 ㎍/ml streptomycin sulfate그리고 10% pFF를 첨가한 TCM-199 배지였다. 22시간 성숙 배양한 후 난모세포는 cysteamine과 hormone들을 배제한 후 38.5℃, 5% CO₂ incubator에서 22시간 더 성숙시켰다. 성숙된 난모세포는 채취 후 2일간 4℃에 보존된 액상정액으로 수정되었다. 난모세포는 500 μl mTBM 수정 배지에서 1×10/sup 6/ 정자/ml의 농도로 1, 3, 6 그리고 9시간 동안 수정시켰다. 그 후 난모세포는 500 μl NCSU-23, Hopes buffered NCSU-23, PZM-3 그리고 PZM-4 배양배지에 옮겨서 6, 48 그리고 144시간을 더 배양하였다. 정자침투율, 웅성전핵형성율 그리고 난모세포의 난할율은 6 및 9시간 수정시간에서 1 및 3시간 수정시간 보다 높았다. 6시간 수정시 배반포형성율 (33.6%)은 1, 3 그리고 9시간 수정시 배반포형성율 (11.4, 23.0 그리고 29.6%) 보다 높았다. 배반포의 평균세포수는 6, 9, 3 그리고 1시간 수정시 각각 32.9, 27.6, 26.3 그리고 24.4개 였다. 분할된 난모세포의 배반포형성율 그리고 배반포의 평균세포수는 NCSU-23, PZM-3 그리고 PZM-4 배양배지보다 HEPES buffered NCSU-23 배양배지가 우수하였다. 결론적으로 4℃ 보존 돼지액상정액은 체외성숙된 돼지 난모세포의 체외수정에 사용될 수 있음이 입증되었다. 또한 체외성숙된 돼지 난모세포는 500 μl mTBM 수정배지에서 1×10/sup 6/ 정자/ml로 6시간 공배양시키는 것이 바람직하며, HEPES buffered NCSU-23 배양배지에서 배양하는 것이 좋다는 결과를 얻었다.

본 연구는 돼지 액상정액을 인공수정용 100ml 플라스틱 병에 보존하면서 BF5희석액과 Butschwiler 희석액 간에 보존 온도별 차이를 조사하고, BF5 희석액에서의 글리세롤 농도의 효과를 조사하여 돼지 액상정액을 좀더 장기간 사용할 수 있는 방법을 찾고자 실시하였다. 돼지 액상정액을 5 냉장고에 보존하면서 조사한 바에 의하면, 37에서 0.5 및 2시간 배양후의 정자운동성은 전체 보존기간동안 BF5 희석액이 Butschwiler 희석액보다 유의하