Theriogenology最新文献

{"title":"SETD2 regulates oocytes in vitro maturation through histone methylation and maternal mRNA degradation in yak","authors":"Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Yangyang Pan ,&nbsp;Meng Wang ,&nbsp;Jinglei Wang ,&nbsp;Jiaxin Huang ,&nbsp;Rui Ma ,&nbsp;Shanshan Yang ,&nbsp;Wenbin Ma ,&nbsp;Sijiu Yu ,&nbsp;Yan Cui","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117387","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117387","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes is a vital aspect of assisted reproductive technology (ART), and its proper application can enhance reproductive efficiency. However, owing to the scarcity of research on the IVM of yak oocytes, its application in yak breeding remains underexplored. Therefore, in this study, we conducted high-throughput mRNA sequencing of immature and mature yak oocytes, which revealed transcriptomic changes during the IVM process in this unique high-altitude domesticated animal. Transcriptomic analysis also identified the histone methyltransferase SET domain-containing 2 (SETD2) as a key factor associated with post-translational modifications during oocyte maturation. To determine the role of SETD2 in oocytes, we employed the SETD2 inhibitor EZM0414 during oocyte maturation. Inhibition of SETD2 resulted in a significant reduction in histone methylation levels, lower oocyte maturation rate in vitro, and suppression of maternal mRNAs degradation suppression (<em>P</em> &lt; 0.05). These findings indicated that SETD2 modulates oocyte maturation by regulating histone methylation and maternal mRNAs degradation. Furthermore, suppression of <em>SETD2</em> markedly reduced the expression of oocyte secretion-related proteins (TSG6 and GDF9) and cumulus expansion-related protein (PTGS2), demonstrating that oocyte secretion and cumulus expansion were positively correlated with SETD2. Overall, our findings establish SETD2 as an essential regulator of yak oocyte maturation via histone methylation and maternal mRNAs degradation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"240 ","pages":"Article 117387"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143686297","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"5-Aminolevulinate acid improves boar semen quality by enhancing the sperm mitochondrial function","authors":"Shanpeng Wang ,&nbsp;Qi Wang ,&nbsp;Xuejun Zeng ,&nbsp;Lingjiang Min ,&nbsp;Wenxian Zeng ,&nbsp;Adedeji O. Adetunji ,&nbsp;Zhendong Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>5-Aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) is a crucial metabolic intermediate that affect mitochondrial function in somatic cells. However, the mechanisms by which 5-ALA regulates boar reproductive performance remain unclear. The effect of dietary supplementation of 5-ALA on boar semen quality and reproductive performance were investigated in this study. Forty-five boars were randomly assigned to a control group and four 5-ALA-treatment groups (125, 250, 500, and 1000 mg/kg/d). After nine weeks of treatment, serum and semen samples were collected from the boars for analysis. Results showed that the supplementation of 5-ALA to boar diet significantly (p &lt; 0.05) increased semen volume, total sperm count, and sperm motility while reducing the proportion of abnormality (p &lt; 0.05). Specifically, 250 mg/kg/d 5-ALA treatment significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reduced sperm DNA oxidative damage and elevated serum testosterone levels. Metabolomic analysis revealed that 250 mg/kg/d 5-ALA supplementation significantly increased (p &lt; 0.05) the levels of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates such as malate and isocitrate, while significantly (p &lt; 0.05) reducing harmful metabolites such as N-acetyl phenylalanine that negatively impact sperm quality and fertility. Notably, 250 mg/kg/d 5-ALA supplementation upregulated the protein levels of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) complex subunits (NDUFB8, SDHB, UQCRC2, MTCO2, and ATP5A1) and improved sperm mitochondrial membrane potential, adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, and complex IV activity (p &lt; 0.05). Regarding reproductive performance, compared to the control, the percentage of piglets born alive increased by 2.97 %, the farrowing rate improved by 10.59 %, and the occurrence of mummified fetuses decreased by 1.07 % in the 5-ALA-treated groups (p &lt; 0.05). Additionally, 250 mg/kg/d 5-ALA had a long-term beneficial advantage on boar semen quality parameters. Accordingly, dietary supplementation of 5-ALA, specifically, 250 mg/kg/d 5-ALA improved boar semen quality by enhancing seminal plasma metabolome, sperm mitochondrial function and overall reproductive performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629494","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"G6PD lactylation is involved in regulating redox balance of boar sperm in low glucose extender","authors":"Jia Cheng ,&nbsp;Qiqi Dong ,&nbsp;Saiya Nie ,&nbsp;Xu Hao ,&nbsp;Sha Mo ,&nbsp;Yixing Liu ,&nbsp;Zhendong Zhu ,&nbsp;Hongzhao Lu ,&nbsp;Tao Zhang ,&nbsp;Wenxian Zeng","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glucose metabolism is an essential pathway that indirectly supports cellular redox homeostasis by providing reducing equivalents, such as NADPH, particularly in the highly specialized sperm. Sperm exhibit higher progressive motility in low glucose extender. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The objective of the present study was to investigate effect of low glucose on sperm metabolism and lactylation modification. After 3 h of incubation, low glucose had an effect on the redox state of boar semen <em>in vitro</em>, particularly in terms of the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reductive products. Furthermore, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) activity was significantly increased at low glucose condition, accompanied by increased lactate accumulation extracellularly. Meanwhile, protein lactylation levels were enhanced, with G6PD identified as one of lactylation proteins. In conclusion, low glucose incubation induced lactylation of G6PD, resulting in increased enzymatic activity that enhanced the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP), which in turn increased antioxidant capacity and maintained sperm motility in a low glucose environment. The research results provide valuable insights into the adaptation mechanisms of sperm to their environment and offer new perspectives and opportunities for reproductive biology research.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117388"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143644239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Mangiferin promotes porcine oocyte maturation and delays the postovulatory aging process by up-regulating NRF2 levels","authors":"Xiuwen Yuan ,&nbsp;Hewei Ji ,&nbsp;Yuhao Zhang ,&nbsp;Huilin Peng ,&nbsp;Neng-hao Cao ,&nbsp;Jia-jun Ren ,&nbsp;Xue-rui Yao ,&nbsp;Xingwei Liang ,&nbsp;Nam-hyung Kim ,&nbsp;Yong-nan Xu ,&nbsp;Ying-hua Li","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117384","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117384","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Mangiferin (MGN), a flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, was evaluated in this study for its effects on porcine oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em>, as well as its potential to modulate the mechanisms associated with aging oocytes. The inclusion of 0.1 μM MGN in the IVM culture medium significantly enhanced blastocyst development following parthenogenetic activation, while also notably upregulating the expression of key embryonic development genes, including <em>SOX2</em>, <em>PCNA</em>, <em>POU5F1</em>, and <em>DNMT3A</em>. MGN treatment improved the oocytes' antioxidant capacity and mitochondrial functionality, concurrently reducing cathepsin B activity and lowering LC3B protein expression (1.06 ± 0.09 vs. 0.55 ± 0.12). To investigate the underlying mechanisms, NRF2 expression was assessed, revealing a marked increase in NRF2 fluorescence and a significant elevation in both NRF2 mRNA and protein levels (1.00 ± 0.05 vs. 1.25 ± 0.09) following MGN treatment compared to the control group. Additionally, MGN treatment enhanced the early developmental potential of aged oocytes, elevating GSH levels and mitochondrial membrane potential and reducing ROS accumulation. Furthermore, MGN treatment upregulated antioxidant genes (SOD1, SOD2). Collectively, these findings suggest that MGN improves porcine oocyte maturation <em>in vitro</em> and enhances subsequent developmental potential through the activation of NRF2 signaling. Moreover, MGN may also delay postovulatory oocyte aging by boosting antioxidant defense and mitochondrial function in aged oocytes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117384"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143620835","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Alterations to the vaginal microbiota and their correlation with serum pro-inflammatory cytokines in post-weaning sows with endometritis","authors":"Tingting Xian ,&nbsp;Yan Liu ,&nbsp;Xin Cao ,&nbsp;Tao Feng","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Endometritis is a prevalent disease in sows that strongly reduces reproductive performance. Its causes are complex and multifaceted, making disease management challenging without targeted measures. To provide a scientific basis for developing targeted disease management strategies, we examined vaginal microbiota diversity and its correlation with serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels in sows with endometritis and the main pathogenic bacterial species contributing to endometritis. Fourteen post-weaning sows selected at a pig farm in Beijing, China, were randomly divided into healthy (C) and endometritis (E) groups. Levels of cytokines including interleukin-1α (IL-1α), IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Vaginal microbiota species were identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. Concentrations of IL-1α and IL-6 in serum and vaginal microbial diversity were significantly increased in group E versus group C. The relative abundance of Firmicutes exhibited a marked increase in group E, whereas that of Fusobacteriota was significantly decreased. The composition and relative abundance of dominant bacterial genera differed between the two groups, and the dominant genera in group E were <em>Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1</em>, <em>UCG-005</em>, <em>UCG-002</em>, <em>Terrisporobacter</em>, and <em>Christensenellaceae_R-7_group</em>. IL-6 was significantly positively correlated with <em>Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1</em> and <em>Terrisporobacter</em> in group E. These results suggest that vaginal microbiota abundance and diversity and serum pro-inflammatory cytokine levels are increased in sows with endometritis, and the latter are closely associated with vaginal microbiota abundance and composition. This study provides a foundation for investigating the pathogenesis of endometritis in sows and a theoretical basis for disease prevention and treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629493","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into breeding management and contraception in catteries – What we learned from an online survey","authors":"Ricarda Schaper,&nbsp;Eva-Maria Packeiser,&nbsp;Sandra Goericke-Pesch","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117385","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117385","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Published knowledge about cat breeders' habits regarding breeding management and contraception is limited, but vital for efficient veterinary support of catteries. With an online questionnaire, we surveyed breeders’ origin, breed, number of breeding queens/tomcats in the cattery, age at first estrus, use of contraceptives and ovulation-inducing drugs or treatment in queens [progestin pills; proligestone injection; hCG; GnRH agonists as injection or deslorelin implants (DSRI); melatonin; vaginal stimulation], as well as the use of contraceptives in tomcats [progestins pills; proligestone injection; DSRI; melatonin]. The participating 404 breeders of 46 cat breeds originated from 24 countries (German (201, 49.8 %) and Bengal breeders (73, 15.8 %) overrepresented) with the majority having ≥10 years of experience (n = 195, 48.3 %). In average, 3–4 intact adult queens (n = 185, 45.8 %) and one intact tomcat (n = 149, 36.9 %) were kept per cattery. Breeders answered that 50.6 % (n = 896) of their queens were 7–10 months old at first heat, long-haired breeds significantly older than short-haired (p &lt; 0.0001). Progestin pills (n = 235, 47.4 %) were most commonly administered in queens, followed by DSRI (n = 53, 10.7 %). Regarding tomcats, the slight majority of breeders (n = 229, 53.3 %) did not use contraceptives, next common were DSRI (n = 141, 32.8 %). Within the study population, contraceptives were most popular in (Northern) Europe, while least common in Northern America. Despite its limitations, this large worldwide study provides relevant insights into reproductive and contraceptive management of catteries. Limited access to contraceptives and dissatisfaction with local veterinary support as commented by several participants suggest the establishment of telephone consultation services and breeder seminars by specialized veterinarians.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117385"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143609918","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative proteomic and transcriptomic analysis of testicular tissue of yaks with or without cryptorchidism","authors":"Dapeng Yang ,&nbsp;Ligang Yuan ,&nbsp;Jianlin Zeng ,&nbsp;Yumei Qi ,&nbsp;Long Ma ,&nbsp;Haijun Li ,&nbsp;Jinhan Lv ,&nbsp;Yulu Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117376","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117376","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Yak is a large plateau mammal with low reproduction rate, while cryptorchidism is a major reproductive disorder associated with infertility in highland yaks. To better understand the occurrence of cryptorchidism and its regulatory mechanisms in yaks, we conducted a multi-omic analysis, and screened a total of 4456 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 332 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between normal and unilateral cryptorchid testes of yaks using high-throughput transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) and Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based proteomics techniques, with testes from yaks with cryptorchidism as the target. Enrichment analysis revealed that the DEGs were associated with cell growth, sperm motility, immune regulation, and intercellular tight junctions, and were mainly enriched in pathways related to cell differentiation; amino acid, sugar, and lipid metabolism; cell adhesion, and hypoxia tolerance. The results of protein interactions network analyses indicated tight interactions between the differential proteins CCT2, CCT4, CCT5, FZR1, and PSMA8. In conclusion. This expression of these differential genes and proteins dysregulation may lead to the obstruction of the testicular descent process or the abnormal development of the testis, potentially leading to cryptorchidism. The results of this study laid a foundation for the screening of key candidate genes and proteins for cryptorchidism in yak, and also provided a theoretical basis for the research molecular mechanism of reproductive system diseases in yak and plateau animals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117376"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immunohistochemical expression of testin protein in testicular tumours in dogs","authors":"Rafał Ciaputa ,&nbsp;Eleonora Brambilla ,&nbsp;Stanisław Dzimira ,&nbsp;Marcin Nowak ,&nbsp;Izabela Janus-Ziółkowska ,&nbsp;Aleksandra Piotrowska ,&nbsp;Alicja Tomaszek ,&nbsp;Małgorzata Kandefer-Gola ,&nbsp;Valeria Grieco","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117375","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117375","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Testin (TES), a protein localised in the cytoplasm and belonging to the LIM family of proteins, is part of the cytoskeleton localised along stress fibres and recruited to focal adhesions. It is considered a tumour suppressor protein in humans and decreased TES expression has been shown to increase cell motility and decrease cell-cell contact. In veterinary medicine, TES has only been studied in rat testes and, more recently, also in canine testes. The expression of this protein in testicular tumours is unknown. As the dog has been proposed as an animal model for the study of human testicular tumours, studies on canine TES may provide useful information for both species. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the expression of TES in the most common types of canine testicular tumours. For this study, paraffin blocks of 166 canine testicular tumours (53 Sertoli cell tumours, 50 Leydig cell tumours, and 63 seminomas) were retrieved from the archive of the Department of Pathology of Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences. Sections were obtained for complete description of the tumours, confirmation of the histological diagnosis, and immunohistochemical TES antigen location. Sections from 10 normal canine testes were examined as controls. The presence of TES was also demonstrated in fresh tissue from three types of canine testicular tumour. The diagnosis was confirmed in the 166 tumours, and TES was immunohistochemically demonstrated in 98 % of them and in all 10 normal testes. All tumour types had reduced expression of TES, even if not related to the tumour growth pattern or mitotic index, demonstrating that TES expression is reduced in canine as well in human testicular tumours. However, the reduction of TES expression appeared to be moderate, and these features were consistent with the evidence that testicular tumours in dogs are often well-differentiated. A complete understanding of the function of TES in cancer processes requires further investigation, but the relative parallelism between normal and neoplastic cells in well-differentiated, mostly benign testicular tumours provides a good basis for studying TES expression in more aggressive tumours, such as prostatic or urinary tract neoplasms.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117375"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143629492","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Growth performance in pigs derived from in vitro produced embryos is enhanced compared to their artificial insemination-derived counterparts from birth to adulthood","authors":"Sonia Heras ,&nbsp;Cristina Soriano-Ubeda ,&nbsp;Armando Quintero-Moreno ,&nbsp;Jon Romero-Aguirregomezcorta ,&nbsp;Evelyne Paris-Oller ,&nbsp;Joaquin Gadea ,&nbsp;Raquel Romar ,&nbsp;Sebastian Canovas ,&nbsp;Pilar Coy","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Research suggests that assisted reproductive technologies may lead to adverse effects on the offspring. To date, long-term effects from fetal development through adulthood have been scarcely researched. In the present observational study, we aimed to describe growth (body weight, BW; crown-rump length, CRL; and average daily gain, ADG), and growth-related hormone levels (growth hormone, GH; insulin-like growth factor 1, IGF-1; thyroxine, T4; cortisol) of pigs derived from artificial insemination (AI) and from embryos produced <em>in vitro</em> under two different conditions, C-IVP, with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA), and RF-IVP, with reproductive fluids and BSA, as protein source in culture, from birth to 5 years of age. <em>In vitro</em>-produced animals showed greater BW, CRL and ADG than AI. Additionally, C-IVP animals had greater BW, CRL and ADG than RF-IVP up to 6 months of age. Regarding hormones, GH concentration was greater in RF-IVP compared to AI and C-IVP. In males, IGF-1 levels of RF-IVP were greater than those of AI. Instead, T4 levels of AI males were greater than C-IVP and RF-IVP. Males showed greater IGF-1 and GH than females, the latter only from 1 year old. Instead, females had greater T4 concentration than males. No differences in cortisol were observed between groups or sexes. In conclusion, this study sets reference values of growth and hormone concentrations for adult pigs that are missing in literature. Although the differences observed between the experimental groups were within physiological ranges, there was a greater growth performance in the IVP groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"239 ","pages":"Article 117372"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143577865","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Results of the “test-freeze” approach in a commercial program of stallion sperm cryopreservation and the relationship between pre-freeze sperm quality and “freezability.”","authors":"Camilo Hernández-Avilés,&nbsp;Dickson D. Varner,&nbsp;Luisa Ramírez-Agámez,&nbsp;Juan C. Samper ,&nbsp;Charles C. Love","doi":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117373","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.theriogenology.2025.117373","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In the current study, we report the effect of different commercially available semen freezing extenders utilized for the “test-freeze” procedure for 13 years (2010–2023) as part of a commercial program of stallion sperm cryopreservation. Ejaculates obtained from sexually active and healthy stallions (n = 124) were cryopreserved using up to five commercially available semen freezing extenders (Lactose-EDTA [LE], MFR5, CryoMax LE [CMLE], CryoMax MFR5 [CMMFR5] or BotuCrio [BC]). Post-thaw sperm motility (total motility – TM [%]; progressive motility – PM [%]; and curvilinear velocity – VCL [μm/s]), sperm viability (VIAB [%]), and sperm DNA damage (COMP_ɑt [%]) were compared among semen freezing extenders. Overall, TM, PM, and VIAB were similar for extenders LE, CMLE, and BC (P &gt; 0.05) while higher than for extenders MFR5 or CMMFR5 (P &lt; 0.05). Mean VCL was lower for extender LE than for extender BC (P &lt; 0.05). An effect of semen extenders on mean COMP_αt was not observed (P &gt; 0.05). The proportion of ejaculates that yielded four different post-thaw sperm “freezability” indices, based on the average value between post-thaw TM and VIAB (MV; MV ≤ 41 % [LOW]; MV 42–54 % [AVERAGE]; or MV ≥ 55 % [HIGH]), or post-thaw PM: ≥30 %, was calculated. Extenders MFR5 and CMMFR5 yielded a higher proportion of stallions in the LOW category (36 and 37 %, respectively) compared to extenders LE (22 %), CMLE (20 %), or BC (21 %; P &lt; 0.05). For the HIGH and PM ≥ 30 % categories, extenders LE (16 and 65 %), CMLE (15 and 66 %), and BC (15 and 61 %) yielded a higher proportion of stallions than extenders MFR5 (4 and 40 %) or CMMFR5 (2 and 45 %), respectively (P &lt; 0.05). For the AVERAGE category, an effect of semen extenders was not observed (60–63 %; P &gt; 0.05). The relationship between pre-freeze sperm quality parameters (i.e., sperm motility, morphology [Normal], viability, and COMP_ɑt) and the indices of post-thaw “freezability” (LOW, AVERAGE, HIGH, PM ≥ 30 %) was also determined. The percentages of TMOT and Normal in fresh semen yielded the highest ROC values related to “freezability,” irrespective of the index used: 1) LOW = % Normal – AUC 0.8328 (P &lt; 0.0001); 2) AVERAGE = TMOT – AUC 0.5875 (P = 0.055); 3) HIGH = % TMOT – AUC: 0.8015 (P &lt; 0.0001); 4) PM ≥ 30 % = % Normal – AUC 0.8392 (P &lt; 0.0001). This study provides clinically relevant data regarding the effect of different semen freezing extenders on post-thaw stallion sperm quality and the potential relationship between some sperm quality parameters commonly assessed in practice and post-thaw sperm “freezability” in stallions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":23131,"journal":{"name":"Theriogenology","volume":"238 ","pages":"Article 117373"},"PeriodicalIF":2.4,"publicationDate":"2025-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143549544","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}