Artificial insemination

The aim of this study was to monitor the ovarian response and conception rate following estrous synchronization using CIDR, Ovsynch and double prostaglandin F2α protocols in Egyptian buffalo heifers. A total of 80 cyclic buffalo heifers were divided into four equal groups: CIDR (intravaginal progesterone releasing device, EAZI-BREED(TM) CIDR(®)), Ovsynch (GnRH, PGF2α, GnRH injections), PGF (double PGF2α doses) and control. Timed artificial insemination (TAI) was performed in all heifers. All animals were examined using ultrasound and blood samples were collected for measurement of progesterone. A new follicular wave occurred earlier in the Ovsynch and PGF groups than in the CIDR group (p < 0.05). The mean diameter of the ovulatory follicle was smaller in the CIDR group than in the Ovsynch and PGF groups (p < 0.05). The ovulation rate was 100% in the CIDR group, 75% in the Ovsynch group and 70% in the PGF group. In the control group a lower pregnancy rate (20%) was determined i...

The Amur leopard cat (Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus) is a globally endangered species, and there is thus an urgent need to increase its population. The objectives of this study were to: (1) confirm the utility of urethral catheterization (UC) for semen collection from Amur leopard cats; (2) investigate proper dilution media for fresh semen; and (3) investigate the effectiveness of sperm cryopreservation, including examining the effect of glycerol concentration. Six adult males in captivity (mean weight 5.03 ± 0.44 kg, aged 2-6 years) were included. All study procedures were performed during the breeding season (February to April) over two consecutive years. Semen samples (n = 28) were collected four or five times from each animal (four times for two animals and five times for four animals) by UC under general anaesthesia, and their characteristics (including sperm motility) were evaluated. First, the sperm motility in semen diluted in Ham's F-10 or phosphate buffer saline ...

Established sperm preparation techniques have been under the spotlight in support of the affordable assisted reproduction drive. Affordability and safety are particularly relevant in developing countries, with restricted access to basic infertility care due to limited resources. This study investigated a modified sperm swim-up method in comparison to a commercial sperm preparation kit. Spermatozoa were processed using three different volume disposable syringes: 5 ml (SW-5), 10 ml (SW-10), and 20 ml (SW-20), with respect to concentration and motility. Hereafter, the syringe method that resulted in the highest sperm yield was matched against a commercially available device (SEP-D kit) for the evaluation of sperm motility, concentration, vitality, morphology, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) fragmentation. Semen processed using the SW-10 method resulted in a higher total motile sperm count (6.62 x10 6), in comparison to the SW-5 and SW-20 methods. When compared to the commercial device, spermatozoa harvested with the SW-10 method presented with significantly improved total motility (75.35% vs 87.05%) and concentration (14.35 x10 6 /ml vs 17.10 x10 6 /ml, p<0.0001). Furthermore, there was a significant increase in spermatozoa viability after processing using the SW-10 (79.47% vs 70.05 for the hypo-osmotic swelling test, 82.31% vs 72.00% for eosin and nigrosin test, p<0.001), and fewer spermatozoa with DNA damage (13.70% vs 23.20%, p<0.0001). This modified swim-up method can therefore be integrated into a cost-effective intrauterine insemination treatment for selected patients in a low-resource setting.

Infertility is a global reproductive problem that has a huge impact on a couple's life. Different etiological factors contribute to this problem, and the pregnancy outcomes vary depending on the infertility cause and age of the women. This study aimed to investigate the etiology of infertility and pregnancy outcomes in women aged 40 years or more in a non-IVF setting from January 2015 up to December 2019. This study was a descriptive retrospective cohort study that included 207 infertile patients who attended the infertility clinic in SQUH from 1 January 2015 up to 31 December 2019. Data were collected from the hospital's information system (HIS) and analyzed by using the SPSS program (version 25). There were a total of 207 couples. The study showed that secondary infertility (71.5%) was more prevalent compared to primary infertility (28.5%). About 9.66% of women had live babies after treatment, though the overall pregnancy rate was 12%. Most of the infertility cases were due to female factors (54.1%), followed by male factors (22.7%). The commonest semen characteristic was asthenozoospermia (52.7%). The best outcome was for couples with unexplained infertility where 20.0% of them got normal live babies. The overall live baby rate was 9.66%. Female factors specifically anovulatory disorders remain the commonest cause of infertility. The best outcome was for women with unexplained infertility.

Knowledge of the rabbit reproductive pattern would go a long way in boosting the productivity potential of rabbits in Nigeria. This work was aimed at determining the global productivity of rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculus) following oestrus synchronization, natural service, and artificial insemination. Forty adult rabbits do were used to carry out studies on the global productivity of rabbit does following oestrus synchronization, artificial insemination and natural service. They were divided into four groups designated as natural service (NS), Artificial Insemination (A.I), Natural service + Gonadotropin (NS + GnRH), Artificial Insemination + Gonadotropin (A.I + GnRH). The NS + GnRH and A. I + GnRH rabbit does were synchronized using 0.5 ml Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone (GnRH) analogue (Lecirelin) i.m injection at point of insemination/Service. Oestrus response rate, fertility rate, prolificacy rate, conception rate, and global productivity were determined. 10 % of the does which showed flattening, circling and aggression were all classified under indications of unwillingness to mate. Lordosis was observed in 70 % of the does while 20 % of the does allow mounting without lordosis. The fertility rate of rabbits does to natural service was 63.3 % and artificial insemination was 50 % following oestrus synchronization (hormonal and non-hormonal). The prolificacy rate obtained was 652.6 % and 593.6 % for natural service and artificial insemination. The conception rate was 63.3 % for natural services and 50% for artificial insemination. It was concluded that the Oestrous response rate of rabbit does to synchronization improved by 44.44 % in hormonal (GnRH) than the non-hormonal methods. Natural service showed an improvement in the fertility rate by 21.01 % as compared to artificial insemination following oestrus synchronization (hormonal and non-hormonal).

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different seasons on the morphometric testicular parameters and the respective epididymal sperm parameters. Total numbers of 104 scrota of pubertal buffalo bull (24-48 months) include their contents were provided from the local slaughterhouse. Scrotal circumference was measured on its place before dissection. Morphological parameters of testis and epididymis and epididymal sperm were analyzed. The results showed the highest scrotal circumference and testicular weight as well as retrieved sperm concentrations in spring. However, sperm tail and midpiece abnormalities were highest and the sperm progressive motility was the lowest during spring. During summer the lowest testicular weight and retrieved sperm concentration as well as low sperm progressive motility was considered. In conclusion, the results of the present study confirm direct influence of different seasons on the epididymal sperm and the testicular parameters of the Iranian river buffalo bull.

Infertility is a worldwide reproductive health and emotionally charged problem that affects approximately 15% of married couples. In recent years, male infertility has increased in the industrialized countries due to a decline in sperm counts and a rise in testicular and sperm pathologies. There seems to be a direct relationship between modern lifestyles and declining male fertility and the statistics are alarming. In this review, etiological factors of human male infertility known up to date and the techniques employed in fertility research are evaluated.

It is well known that buffaloes have seasonal anoestrus and that the use of melatonin reduces the effects of season in reproduction, articularly among sheep and goats. This study evaluates the use of melatonin on water buffaloes to increase pregnancy rates in a fixed-time insemination programme. The study was conducted on an Argentinian buffalo herd, located in the Corrientes Province, during an unfavourable reproductive season. Artificial insemination cycles were performed in September and December 2018. Sixty animals were selected, and melatonin was administered to 29 females at a dose of 18 mg/50 kg. Ten days after the melatonin implant, ovulation synchronization was started. Animals were inseminated with frozen semen of a single bull. Pregnancy was evaluated by ultrasound 35 days after insemination. The pregnancy rate of the two repetitions was 34.62% for September and 6.4% for December (P=0.007). No significant differences were found in the parameters associated with follicular...

Prior to the introduction of English law, the ethnic
groups occupying the geographical area known as Nigeria
relied on their customary laws to maintain economic and social
inclusion in instances of succession. One of these customs, as
protected by local laws, is opo-Sisu (levirate marriage) as
practised under Yoruba law and custom. Within this culture,
levirate marriage involves the inheritance of widows by the
relatives of the deceased. In most cases, the inheritors are
restricted to the brothers of the deceased. While this practice
may be antithetical to concepts of equality and human dignity
in some instances, it is not without its benefits. Key amongst
the benefits is the preservation of the deceased’s estate, raising
his offspring, and protecting his widow. While women’s
liberation movements and Western societies may regard this
practice a relic of the dark pre-colonial past, the practice
continues in some parts of Nigeria, especially southwestern
Nigeria. Relying on functionalist theories, this paper critically
analyses the concept and practices of levirate marriage under
the Yoruba law and custom. The paper adopts the theory in
explaining what we term ‘the benefactors’ triad’ i.e., the widow, the offspring of the deceased, and the larger society.
This explanation presupposes that customary law mechanisms
enforce the triad’s rights against the inheritor. The purpose of
this analysis is to unveil the explanations for the practice
notwithstanding the liberation movements targeted at
emancipating women perceived to be disadvantaged by the
practice. This paper concludes that where consent of the widow
is freely given and legal mechanisms are effectively utilised,
levirate marriage significantly solves the problems of all the
parties involved, including that of the society.

The use of artificial insemination in animal production and especially in cattle breeding is an important intensification factor. For the purpose of maximal use of genetic potential, importance is always put on the creating conditions for effective insemination. The aim of this work was to analyze the effect of the taurine addition to bovine ejaculates in the process of cryopreservation on the spermatozoa motility. Taurine was dissolved in a saline to obtain various concentrations (50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mM) and added to the extender. Fresh ejaculates collected from six breeding bulls were used in the experiment. Ejaculates were placed to the prepared extender. The control sample consisted of the extender only. After four hours of exposure at 4 °C, the ejaculates were put into straws with a volume of 0.5 ml. The semen was then exposed to freezing temperature of nitrogen vapour for 10 min. The straws were stored for one month in liquid nitrogen at -196 °C. Thereafter, the spermato...

Background: Pregnancy rates after in vitro fertilisation (IVF) treatment continue to improve, while intrauterine insemination (IUI) programmes show no such trend. There is a need to improve success rates with IUI to retain it as a viable option for couples who prefer avoiding IVF as a first line treatment. Objective: To investigate if a modified slow-release insemination (SRI) increases the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) after intrauterine insemination (IUI) with partner semen. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective cohort study in a Belgian tertiary fertility centre. Between July 2011 and December 2018, we studied data from an ongoing prospective cohort study including 989 women undergoing 2565 IUI procedures for unexplained or mild/moderate male infertility. These data were analysed in order to study the importance of different covariates influencing IUI success. Generalised estimating equations (GEEs) were used for statistical analysis. Results of two periods (2011-2015, pe...

Intrauterine inseminations (IUI) are easier to perform, less invasive and less expensive than other methods of assisted reproduction. The rationale for the use of artificial insemination is to increase gamete density at the site of fertilisation. It is generally accepted that IUI with homologous semen should be preferred as a first choice treatment above more invasive and expensive techniques of assisted reproduction in case of cervical, unexplained and moderate male factor subfertility. Scientific validation of this strategy is difficult because the literature is rather

Artificial insemination with homologous (AIH) or donor semen (AID) is nowadays a very popular treatment procedure used for many subfertile women worldwide. The rationale behind artificial insemination is to increase gamete density at the site of fertilisation. The sequence of events leading to today’s common use of artificial insemination traces back to scientific studies and experimentation many centuries ago. Modern techniques used in human artificial insemination programmes are mostly adapted from the work on cattle by dairy farmers wishing to improve milk production by using artificial insemination with sperm of selected bulls with well chosen genetic traits. The main reason for the renewed interest in artificial insemination in human was associated with the refinement of techniques for the preparation of washed motile spermatozoa in the early years of IVF. The history of artificial insemination is reviewed with particular interest to the most important hurdles and milestones.

Aim: Several factors had been concerned with the developmental competence of the sheep oocyte. This study aims to investigate the effect of adding growth factors (insulin-like growth factor 1 [IGF-1] and epidermal growth factor [EGF]) in the maturation medium of ewe oocytes selected based on brilliant cresyl blue (BCB) screening on in vitro maturation (IVM), fertilization, and pre-implantation embryo development. Materials and Methods: Cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were obtained from the ovaries of slaughtered ewes by either aspiration or slicing techniques. COCs were in vitro matured in a medium containing IGF-1 and EGF (control group). For BCB screening, oocytes were stained and divided into BCB+ oocytes that matured in the same maturation conditions without adding growth factors (Group 2) or in the presence of growth factors (Group 3), and BCB– oocytes that matured in medium without growth factors (Group 4) or with growth factors (Group 5). Results: The supplementation of the m...

The objective of this trial was to evaluate different post-timed artificial insemination (TAI) reproductive managements in postpartum beef cows to produce crossbred calves from artificial insemination (AI). Nellore cows (n = 607), with 45 days postpartum, were inseminated at a fixed time, using a protocol that included an intravaginal progesterone-releasing device along with oestradiol benzoate, prostaglandin, equine chorionic gonadotropin, and oestradiol cypionate, followed TAI 48 h post-device removal. Four post-TAI treatments were evaluated: in CONTROL (T1, n = 161), cows were exposed to Nellore clean-up bulls until the end of the breeding season (75 days). In OBSERVATION (T2, n = 132), heat detection was performed for 15–25 days post-TAI, followed by AI. In RESYNC22 (T3, n = 157) and RESYNC30 (T4, n = 157), resynchronisation started after 22 or 30 days, following second TAI at Day 32 or 40 days after first TAI. In T2, T3 and T4, after the second AI, cows were exposed to Nellore ...

The present study was conducted to determine the effect of different factors on pregnancy rate after artificial insemination (AI) with refrigerated and frozen semen in Payoya goats reared under commercial farm conditions. A total of 820 goats, belonging to 10 farms, was used. The total number of studied inseminations was 1384 over a 4-year period. Factors considered in the study were year, farm, month of AI, age of the goat at AI, dose of progestagen, eCG dose, buck, type of semen (refrigerated or frozen), technician, number of goats to be inseminated (group size), incidences at AI (problems, no problems, trans-cervical insemination), distance from semen collection to farm, number of previous kidding, kidding–AI interval, and milk production. The variable studied was fertility, expressed as successful kidding. Mean fertility was 59%. Six (farm, age, group size, transcervical AI, number of kidding and milk production) of the 15 factors studied presented a significant (P &lt; 0.05) ef...

This study aimed to evaluate the proteomic profile of seminal plasma from young Nellore bulls. We used 20 bulls aged between 19.8 and 22.7 months, divided into two groups according to the results of the Breeding Soundness Evaluation (BSE): approved (FIT n = 10) and not approved (UNFIT n = 10). The scrotal perimeter was measured and a semen collection was performed through electroejaculation. The percentage of sperm motility, mass motility, and sperm vigor were calculated using conventional microscopy, and the percentage of sperm abnormalities was calculated using phase-contrast microscopy of all ejaculates. Seminal plasma was separated from spermatozoa using centrifugation and processed for proteomic analysis by LC-MS/MS. Seminal plasma proteins were identified using MASCOT Daemon software v.2.4.0 and label-free quantification analysis was carried out by SCAFFOLD Q+ software v.4.0 using the Exponentially Modified Protein Abundance Index (emPAI) method. Functional classification of p...

The objective of this study was to compare the efficiency of artificial insemination (AI) carried out with frozen and fresh, diluted and chilled semen under field conditions. One hundred and twenty-nine mares of different breeds were included in the study. Eighty-one out of the 107 mares inseminated with fresh, chilled semen got pregnant. Seven pregnant mares aborted and 74 foals were born. Out of the 22 mares inseminated with frozen semen, 17 mares got pregnant. Two mares out of the 17 pregnant mares aborted and finally 15 healthy foals were born. No difference was found between the two groups in the ratio of the foals born (P &gt; 0.05). The comparison of medians for the number of insemination cycles did not show significant differences. However, a significant difference (Kruskal–Wallis test, P = 0.014) was found in the number of the inseminations per conception in favour of frozen semen (2.5 vs. 1.8 with fresh chilled and frozen semen, respectively). The Cox regression revealed t...

Duration of fertility is one of the most influential factors to define the accurate frequency of artificial insemination to produce crossbred native chicken. This research conducted to determine the fertility duration of Commercial Laying Hen which inseminated using Indonesian Native Chicken Semen. Semen was collected from three rooster, 12-month-old, of native chicken, pooled and evaluated before dilution using physiological saline 0.85 % NaCl solution. Eight laying hens were inseminated at dose 75 x 106 per 0.1 mL for each, followed with eggs collection from 2nd day until 16th day after insemination then incubated for 21 days. The result showed that eggs fertility remained high for the first week and dropped during the second week after insemination. The average duration of fertility in laying hens inseminated was 6.5 days and the average percentage of egg fertility was 49.1 ± 18.9%.