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Assisted reproductive technologies are key to maintain genetic stocks of endangered wild species, such as the Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica). Due to the low availability of ibex ovaries, heterologous in vitro fertilization (IVF) with domestic goat (Capra hircus) oocytes constitutes an excellent alternative to determine the fertilization capacity of ibex sperm doses. The aim of this study was to optimize heterologous ibex-goat IVF procedures by testing two different IVF media (TALP and SOF) and to determine whether estrous sheep serum (ESS) is required for fertilization. We found that TALP medium provides optimal conditions to conduct heterologous ibex-goat IVF, yielding blastocyst rates above 50%, and that supplementation with ESS is not required. No differences were found in embryo quality between embryos fertilized in TALP, SOF alone, or SOF supplemented with 2 or 20% ESS, based on the analysis of cell lineages development at day (D) 8 and D10 of development. Optimized heterologous ibex-goat IVF, together with embryo quality assessment through lineages development analysis, constitute an excellent system to assess fertilization capacity of ibex sperm doses, and opens the possibility of performing homologous in vitro embryo production in this species.

Reproductive technologies can help to protect wild ruminant species from becoming extinct. In addition, the decline in some wild game species has also raised interest in reproductive technologies to increase the number of animals that can be produced. Most biobanking efforts have focused on developing effective protocols for preserving sperm, oocytes, and embryos. Cryopreservation of sperm remains the least invasive method and the cheapest procedure for germplasm storage. Over the last few years, several reproductive biotechnologies have been developed beyond the conventional freezing of spermatozoa. These include ultra-rapid freezing techniques. Nevertheless, fertility results after artificial insemination using frozen-thawed spermatozoa are not always acceptable in wild small ruminants. Moreover, these technological efforts have met variable success related to the sample's origin (epididymal retrieved postmortem or ejaculated) and the season of sperm sample collection and storage. Epididymal sperm shows higher cryoresistance than ejaculated sperm. Changes in sperm proteome between epididymal and ejaculated sperm seem to contribute to this different cryotolerance. The role of endocrine status has been studied in some wild species to better understand the underlying mechanism of the annual variation in ruminant sperm cryoresistance. Seasonal changes in testosterone and prolactin are involved in sperm cryoresistance; sperm recovery and cryopreservation are recommended around the end of the rutting season, when good quality sperm samples can still be obtained, testosterone levels have already decreased, and prolactin concentrations remain low. The mechanisms of hormone action on sperm freezability are not well known. Still, it has been suggested that testosterone affects cell proliferation in the testis, during spermatogenesis, and membrane properties of sperm cells during their transit through the reproductive tract, which might influence their cryotolerance. Recent studies have revealed that the expression of aquaporins in the sperm cells of small wild ruminants could also be involved in the androgen-related seasonal variation of sperm cryoresistance. Along with epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa, the cryopreservation of testicular tissue may provide a suitable source of male gametes, becoming an alternative for establishing germplasm banks when semen cannot be collected for whatever reason.

Introduction and objectiveCryopreservation of testicular tissues offers new possibilities to protect endangered species, genetically valuable individuals or even the fertility potential of prepubertal individuals who have died unexpectedly. However, the use of this technique still remains a challenge. In this study, slow freezing and vitrification of testicular tissue was investigated to find out which cryopreservation method could better preserve the viability and DNA integrity of testicular germ cells in diverse wild species.MethodsTestes were obtained post-mortem from 18 artiodactyls (wild boar, roe deer, dwarf goat, mhor gazelle, European mouflon, African forest buffalo, Malayan tapir, dorcas gazelle, Iberian ibex, gnu, red river hog), 5 primates (colobus monkey, capuchin monkey, mandrill), 8 carnivores (gray wolf, Persian leopard, binturong, European mink, American black bear, suricata), and 2 rodents (Patagonian mara). The testicles belonged to adult individuals and were cut into small pieces and cryopreserved by needle immersed vitrification or uncontrolled slow freezing using a passive cooling device. After warming or thawing, testicular tissues were enzymatically digested and two germ cell types were differentiated based on their morphology: rounded cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and early spermatids) and elongated cells (elongated spermatids and spermatozoa). Cell viability was assessed by SYBR-14/propidium iodide while DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay with fluorescence microscope.Results and discussionOur preliminary results revealed that our uncontrolled slow freezing method better preserved the viability and DNA integrity of elongated cells than vitrification. Such trend was observed in all species, being significant in artiodactyls, carnivores, and primates. Similarly, the viability and DNA integrity of rounded cells was also better maintained in primates by uncontrolled slow freezing, while in carnivores, vitrification by needle immersion showed better results in this type of cells. In artiodactyls and rodents both techniques preserved the viability of rounded cells in a similar manner, although the DNA integrity of these cells was greater after needle immersed vitrification in artiodactyls.ConclusionsIn conclusion, the effectiveness of each cryopreservation method is affected by the phylogenetic diversity between species and cell type.

Creating germplasm banks of wild species, such as the Iberian red Deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) can be challenging. One of the main difficulties is the obtention and cryopreservation of good-quality reproductive cells when the spermatozoa are obtained from epididymides after death. To avoid a loss of seminal quality during transport, developing alternative methods for cooling and freezing sperm samples under field conditions is necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different durations of equilibrium and different techniques of cooling and freezing on Iberian red deer epididymal sperm quality after thawing to optimize the processing conditions in this species. Three experiments were carried out: (I) evaluation of refrigeration in straws or tubes of 15 mL; (II) study of equilibration period (0, 30, 60, or 120 min); and (III) comparison of four freezing techniques (liquid nitrogen vapor in a tank (C), liquid nitrogen vapor in a polystyrene box (B), dry ice (DY), and placing straws on a solid metallic plate floating on the surface of liquid nitrogen (MP)). For all experiments, sperm motility and kinematic parameters, acrosomal integrity, sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA integrity were evaluated after thawing. All statistical analyses were performed by GLM-ANOVA analysis. Samples refrigerated in straws showed higher values (p ≤ 0.05) for mitochondrial activity and lower values (p ≤ 0.05) for apoptotic cells. Moreover, the acrosome integrity showed significant differences (p ≤ 0.05) between 0 and 120 min, but not between 30 and 60 min, of equilibration. Finally, no significant differences were found between freezing in liquid nitrogen vapors in a tank or in a box, although there was a low quality after thawing when the samples were cryopreserved in dry ice or by placing straws on a solid metallic plate floating on the surface of liquid nitrogen. In conclusion, under field conditions, it would be possible to refrigerate the sperm samples by storing them in straws with a 120 min equilibration period and freezing them in liquid nitrogen vapors in a tank or box.

The heterogeneous nature of ejaculates highlights the relevance of studying the behavior of different sperm subpopulations. Changes in sperm motility and the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation are key events that usually occur during capacitation and can be modified by the cryopreservation process. However, the relationship between both events remains poorly defined throughout capacitation in the different sperm subpopulations. Fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa were incubated in capacitating (CAP) and non-capacitating (NC) media up to 240 min. Sperm kinematics, tyrosine phosphorylation and mitochondrial activity were measured by the CASA system and imaging flow cytometry. Four motile sperm subpopulations (SP) were identified in fresh and frozen-thawed ram semen after the cluster analysis. Incubation under CAP conditions over time led to greater changes in the percentage of spermatozoa included in each subpopulation compared to NC conditions, being different between fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The SP1, characterized by slow spermatozoa, progressively increased after 15 min in frozen-thawed samples incubated in both media but not in fresh ones. The SP4, characterized by fast and non-linear spermatozoa, showed a marked increase during CAP, but not under NC conditions, occurring more rapidly in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. This subpopulation (SP4) was also the only one positively and strongly correlated with mitochondrial activity and all phosphorylated sperm regions during capacitation, either in fresh or frozen-thawed samples. Our results indicated that in vitro capacitation induced significant changes in the distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, being affected by cryopreservation. Notwithstanding, the subpopulation which probably represents hyperactivated-like spermatozoa (SP4) also increased in frozen-thawed samples, occurring faster and simultaneously to the increment of mitochondrial activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of different sperm regions.

To date, the underlying mechanisms by which cAMP modulators act during in vitro maturation to improve oocyte developmental competence are poorly understood. Here, we sought to fill this knowledge gap by evaluating the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin during a culture period of 2 h before in vitro maturation (pre-IVM) on the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation features in essential organelles, cumulus cells activity, and in vitro developmental potential of sheep oocytes. Results showed that pre-IVM treatment significantly decreased (p < 0.05) the DNA damage of mature oocytes (pre-IVM = 2.08% ± 3.51% vs. control = 20.58% ± 3.51%) and increased (p ≤ 0.05) expanded blastocyst rates compared to the control (from the total of oocytes: pre-IVM = 23.89% ± 1.47% vs. control = 18.22% ± 1.47%, and from the cleaved embryos: pre-IVM = 45.16% ± 1.73% vs. control = 32.88% ± 1.73%). Considering that oocytes are highly vulnerable to the accumulation of DNA damage because of exposure to in vitro culture conditions, our results suggest that the modulation of intra-oocyte cAMP levels with forskolin and IBMX before IVM might afford oocytes a more effective DNA repair mechanism to overcome damage obstacles and ultimately improve developmental competence. This previously unappreciated action of cAMP modulators could help to develop improved methods for assisted reproduction technologies in animal and clinical research.

For the past two decades, there has been a growing interest in the application of in vitro embryo production (IVP) in small ruminants such as sheep. To improve efficiency, a large number abattoir-derived ovaries must be used, and long distances from the laboratory are usually inevitable when adult animals are used. In that scenario, prolonged sheep ovary transportation may negatively affect oocyte developmental competence. Here, we evaluated the effect of ovary storage time (3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 h) and the medium in which they were transported (TCM199 and saline solution) on oocyte quality. Thus, live/dead status, early apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential and distribution, and relative abundance of mRNA transcript levels were assessed in oocytes. After in vitro maturation (IVM), cumulus cell viability and quality, meiotic and fertilization competence, embryo rates and blastocyst quality were also evaluated. The results revealed that, after 7 h of storage, oocyte quality and developmental potential were significantly impaired since higher rates of dead oocytes and DNA fragmentation and lower rates of viable, matured and fertilized oocytes were observed. The percentage of cleavage, blastocyst rates and cumulus cell parameters (viability, active mitochondria and GSH/ROS ratio) were also decreased. Moreover, the preservation of ovaries in medium TCM199 had a detrimental effect on cumulus cells and oocyte competence. In conclusion, ovary transport times up to 5 h in saline solution are the most adequate storage conditions to maintain oocyte quality as well as developmental capacity in sheep. A strategy to rescue the poor developmental potential of stored oocytes will be necessary for successful production of high-quality embryos when longer ovarian preservation times are necessary.

A major limiting factor for the development of in vitro embryo production (IVP) in wild species, such as Iberian red deer, compared to livestock animals is the poor availability and limited access to biological material. Thus, the use of post-mortem ovaries from slaughtered animals represent a source of oocytes for the large scale production of embryos needed for research and to improve the efficiency of IVP. However, these oocytes are not as developmentally competent as their in vivo counterparts. Moreover, oocytes are usually obtained from ovaries that have been transported for long distances, which may also affect their quality. In order to overcome the issues associated with prolonged storage times of post-mortem material, in this study we examined the effect of melatonin supplementation to the ovary transport medium on oocyte quality, embryo yield, and blastocyst quality in Iberian red deer. When necessary, sheep was used as an experimental model due to the large number of samples required for analysis of oocyte quality parameters. Oocytes were in vitro matured and assessed for early apoptosis; DNA fragmentation; reactive oxygen species (ROS); reduced glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and distribution; and relative abundance of mRNA transcript levels. After in vitro fertilization, embryo rates and blastocyst quality were also investigated. The results revealed that melatonin treatment significantly increased intracellular level of GSH in sheep oocytes. Moreover, the percentage of cleavage and blastocyst yield in red deer was greater compared to the Control group and there was lower abundance of oxidative stress- and apoptosis-related SHC1, TP53, and AKR1B1 mRNA transcripts in blastocysts for the Melatonin group. In conclusion, the supplementation of melatonin to the ovary storage medium had a positive effect on the developmental competence and quality of resulting blastocysts in Iberian red deer.

Background: Recently, the metabolic pathways involved in energy production and the role of aquaglyceroporins in capacitation-associated events have been studied in humans and mice. However, little is known about these in ram spermatozoa., Objective: The present study investigated bioenergetic and aquaglyceroporin 3 variations during in vitro capacitation of ram spermatozoa. In addition, differences in testosterone levels between males were examined to determine their influence on capacitation-like changes., Materials and Methods: Spermatozoa obtained from nine rams (ejaculates = 36) were incubated for 180 min in three different media (control, capacitating, and aquaglyceroporin-inhibitor media) at 38.5°C. At 0 and 180 min of incubation in each medium, sperm viability, kinetics, chlortetracycline patterns, adenosine triphosphate concentration, lactate excretion (final subproduct of glycolysis), and immunolocalization of aquaporin 3 were evaluated., Results: The increment of the capacitated spermatozoa-chlortetracycline pattern and the hyperactivated-like movement characterized by the highest curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement and the lowest linearity was only recorded after 180 min in the capacitating medium. At this time and conditions, adenosine triphosphate content and lactate excretion decreased, whereas the aquaglyceroporin 3 location in the midpiece and principal piece increased compared to 0 min. Such changes were not observed in the control medium over time. Incubation in the aquaglyceroporin-inhibitor medium for 180 min reduced drastically sperm motility and adenosine triphosphate content compared to the other media. Testosterone analysis revealed a significant individual variability, which was also present in all sperm parameters evaluated. Furthermore, testosterone was negatively correlated with adenosine triphosphate content but positively correlated with lactate excretion levels, sperm viability, motility, capacitated sperm-chlortetracycline pattern, and aquaglyceroporin 3 immunolabeling in the midpiece and principal piece., Conclusion: Despite individual differences, capacitation of ram spermatozoa increases adenosine triphosphate consumption, energy metabolism, and aquaglyceroporin 3 location in the midpiece and principal piece, which seems to be related to the acquisition of hyperactivated-like motility. Furthermore, testosterone levels may serve as a valuable tool to select those males with a greater sperm metabolism rate and fertilizing capacity., (© 2024 The Author(s). Andrology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

Sperm capacitation is a crucial step towards the acquisition of fertilizing capacity. Despite the attempts to mimic the in vivo situation, there is still a lack of standardization in vitro techniques. Bicarbonate and serum albumin (BSA) are routinely used, although controversial results are reported regarding the optimal concentration of each compound. In addition, whether caffeine is needed on in vitro capacitation media in boar sperm remains to be elucidated. Here, 18 boar commercial artificial insemination doses were used to test different concentrations of bicarbonate (19, 37 or 56 mM) in experiment 1, BSA (1.5, 3, 4.5 mg/mL) in experiment 2 and the presence or absence of caffeine (5.15 mM) experiment 3. We analysed at 0, 30 and 120 min of incubation at 38.5°C, 5% CO 2 : Total motility (TMOT), membrane integrity (VIAB), acrosomal exocytosis (rAcro; H33342/PI/PNA), capacitation status (chlortetracycline staining CTC) and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1). The higher concentrations of bicarbonate (37 and 56 mM) decreased TM and VIAB (p < .01) but increased rAcro (p < .01) after 120 min of incubation compared to the fresh control. In contrast, only the BSA concentration of 3 mg/mL reduced the VIAB at 120 min, but all the concentrations tested increased the average of JC-1 and decreased TM (p < .01) throughout incubation compared to the fresh control. Finally, in experiment 3, when boar sperm were incubated in the capacitating media with bicarbonate, BSA and with or without caffeine, the capacitated pattern measured by the CTC technique and rAcro increased after 120 min of incubation (p < .01) compared to fresh control, either in the presence or in the absence of caffeine. In summary, our results suggested that the combination of capacitating components, like bicarbonate and BSA, contributed to increasing the proportion of capacitated boar spermatozoa, mitochondrial membrane potential as well as acrosomal exocytosis. However, caffeine did not significantly influence in vitro sperm capacitation in this species., (© 2023 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Introduction and Objective: Cryopreservation of testicular tissues offers new possibilities to protect endangered species, genetically valuable individuals or even the fertility potential of prepubertal individuals who have died unexpectedly. However, the use of this technique still remains a challenge. In this study, slow freezing and vitrification of testicular tissue was investigated to find out which cryopreservation method could better preserve the viability and DNA integrity of testicular germ cells in diverse wild species., Methods: Testes were obtained post-mortem from 18 artiodactyls (wild boar, roe deer, dwarf goat, mhor gazelle, European mouflon, African forest buffalo, Malayan tapir, dorcas gazelle, Iberian ibex, gnu, red river hog), 5 primates (colobus monkey, capuchin monkey, mandrill), 8 carnivores (gray wolf, Persian leopard, binturong, European mink, American black bear, suricata), and 2 rodents (Patagonian mara). The testicles belonged to adult individuals and were cut into small pieces and cryopreserved by needle immersed vitrification or uncontrolled slow freezing using a passive cooling device. After warming or thawing, testicular tissues were enzymatically digested and two germ cell types were differentiated based on their morphology: rounded cells (spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and early spermatids) and elongated cells (elongated spermatids and spermatozoa). Cell viability was assessed by SYBR-14/propidium iodide while DNA fragmentation by TUNEL assay with fluorescence microscope., Results and Discussion: Our preliminary results revealed that our uncontrolled slow freezing method better preserved the viability and DNA integrity of elongated cells than vitrification. Such trend was observed in all species, being significant in artiodactyls, carnivores, and primates. Similarly, the viability and DNA integrity of rounded cells was also better maintained in primates by uncontrolled slow freezing, while in carnivores, vitrification by needle immersion showed better results in this type of cells. In artiodactyls and rodents both techniques preserved the viability of rounded cells in a similar manner, although the DNA integrity of these cells was greater after needle immersed vitrification in artiodactyls., Conclusions: In conclusion, the effectiveness of each cryopreservation method is affected by the phylogenetic diversity between species and cell type., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Peris-Frau, Benito-Blanco, Martínez-Nevado, Toledano-Díaz, Castaño, Velázquez, Pequeño, Martinez-Madrid, Esteso and Santiago-Moreno.)

Incubation with estrous sheep serum (ESS) is required to induce in vitro capacitation of spermatozoa during in vitro fertilization of small ruminants. However, the effect of adding different serum concentrations in the fertilization media on the quality of resulting blastocysts has not yet been studied. Here, 298 sheep oocytes were co-incubated with capacitated spermatozoa with either 10% or 2% ESS. There were no differences between treatments in cleavage (10% ESS: 63.81 ± 5.87% and 2% ESS: 45.31 ± 5.87%) and blastocyst rates (10% ESS: 20.83 ± 2.12% and 2% ESS: 15.93 ± 2.12%). Nonetheless, in vitro-produced blastocysts from the 10% ESS treatment showed a higher transcript abundance of mRNAs involved in apoptosis (ITM2B and BCL2), antioxidant defence (GPX1) and growth-related imprinting (IGF2R). Our data suggest that ESS supplementation during in vitro fertilization can influence the quality of sheep embryos at later stages of development by increasing the transcription of developmentally important genes., (© 2022 The Authors. Reproduction in Domestic Animals published by Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The preservation of ovaries beyond 7 h dramatically decreases the developmental potential of oocytes to reach the blastocyst stage during in vitro embryo production. Here we investigated the protective effects of melatonin in the ovarian preservation solution after prolonged storage (7 h) in ovine as an animal model. Slaughterhouse adult sheep ovaries were preserved in saline solution for 2 h (Control) and 7 h (Control stress), and with melatonin for 7 h and at different concentrations (Melatonin 10 -3 , 10 -5 , 10 -7 , 10 -9 , and 10 -11  M). First, the fertilizing ability, embryo development rates, and blastocyst quality were investigated. Notably, a concentration of 10 -9  M melatonin showed the greatest number (p < 0.05) of blastocysts produced after 7 h of ovary storage (24.75 ± 1.57%) and was comparable (p > 0.05) to that obtained after just 2 h of storage in the untreated Control (30.77 ± 1.57%). Then, oocyte quality parameters showed that, compared to Control stress, Melatonin actively reduced intracellular ROS content, caspase-3 activity, DNA fragmentation, and the abundance of pro-apoptotic transcripts BAX and CASP3, while increasing that of GDF9 and GPX1. In cumulus cells, flow cytometry results showed that melatonin decreased apoptosis and increased mitochondrial activity (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a greater (p < 0.05) abundance of HAS2, STAR, and PTGS mRNA transcripts in Melatonin compared to Control stress. These findings reveal a melatonin-mediated developmental rescue of oocytes against ischemic damage during ovary preservation which represents a promising strategy for successfully producing embryos when prolonged ovarian transport times are required., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier Inc.)

Creating germplasm banks of wild species, such as the Iberian red Deer ( Cervus elaphus hispanicus ) can be challenging. One of the main difficulties is the obtention and cryopreservation of good-quality reproductive cells when the spermatozoa are obtained from epididymides after death. To avoid a loss of seminal quality during transport, developing alternative methods for cooling and freezing sperm samples under field conditions is necessary. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different durations of equilibrium and different techniques of cooling and freezing on Iberian red deer epididymal sperm quality after thawing to optimize the processing conditions in this species. Three experiments were carried out: (I) evaluation of refrigeration in straws or tubes of 15 mL; (II) study of equilibration period (0, 30, 60, or 120 min); and (III) comparison of four freezing techniques (liquid nitrogen vapor in a tank (C), liquid nitrogen vapor in a polystyrene box (B), dry ice (DY), and placing straws on a solid metallic plate floating on the surface of liquid nitrogen (MP)). For all experiments, sperm motility and kinematic parameters, acrosomal integrity, sperm viability, mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA integrity were evaluated after thawing. All statistical analyses were performed by GLM-ANOVA analysis. Samples refrigerated in straws showed higher values ( p ≤ 0.05) for mitochondrial activity and lower values ( p ≤ 0.05) for apoptotic cells. Moreover, the acrosome integrity showed significant differences ( p ≤ 0.05) between 0 and 120 min, but not between 30 and 60 min, of equilibration. Finally, no significant differences were found between freezing in liquid nitrogen vapors in a tank or in a box, although there was a low quality after thawing when the samples were cryopreserved in dry ice or by placing straws on a solid metallic plate floating on the surface of liquid nitrogen. In conclusion, under field conditions, it would be possible to refrigerate the sperm samples by storing them in straws with a 120 min equilibration period and freezing them in liquid nitrogen vapors in a tank or box.

The heterogeneous nature of ejaculates highlights the relevance of studying the behavior of different sperm subpopulations. Changes in sperm motility and the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation are key events that usually occur during capacitation and can be modified by the cryopreservation process. However, the relationship between both events remains poorly defined throughout capacitation in the different sperm subpopulations. Fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa were incubated in capacitating (CAP) and non-capacitating (NC) media up to 240 min. Sperm kinematics, tyrosine phosphorylation and mitochondrial activity were measured by the CASA system and imaging flow cytometry. Four motile sperm subpopulations (SP) were identified in fresh and frozen-thawed ram semen after the cluster analysis. Incubation under CAP conditions over time led to greater changes in the percentage of spermatozoa included in each subpopulation compared to NC conditions, being different between fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The SP1, characterized by slow spermatozoa, progressively increased after 15 min in frozen-thawed samples incubated in both media but not in fresh ones. The SP4, characterized by fast and non-linear spermatozoa, showed a marked increase during CAP, but not under NC conditions, occurring more rapidly in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. This subpopulation (SP4) was also the only one positively and strongly correlated with mitochondrial activity and all phosphorylated sperm regions during capacitation, either in fresh or frozen-thawed samples. Our results indicated that in vitro capacitation induced significant changes in the distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, being affected by cryopreservation. Notwithstanding, the subpopulation which probably represents hyperactivated-like spermatozoa (SP4) also increased in frozen-thawed samples, occurring faster and simultaneously to the increment of mitochondrial activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of different sperm regions.

To date, the underlying mechanisms by which cAMP modulators act during in vitro maturation to improve oocyte developmental competence are poorly understood. Here, we sought to fill this knowledge gap by evaluating the use of phosphodiesterase inhibitor 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine (IBMX) and adenylyl cyclase activator forskolin during a culture period of 2 h before in vitro maturation (pre-IVM) on the nuclear and cytoplasmic maturation features in essential organelles, cumulus cells activity, and in vitro developmental potential of sheep oocytes. Results showed that pre-IVM treatment significantly decreased ( p < 0.05) the DNA damage of mature oocytes (pre-IVM = 2.08% ± 3.51% vs. control = 20.58% ± 3.51%) and increased ( p ≤ 0.05) expanded blastocyst rates compared to the control (from the total of oocytes: pre-IVM = 23.89% ± 1.47% vs. control = 18.22% ± 1.47%, and from the cleaved embryos: pre-IVM = 45.16% ± 1.73% vs. control = 32.88% ± 1.73%). Considering that oocytes are highly vulnerable to the accumulation of DNA damage because of exposure to in vitro culture conditions, our results suggest that the modulation of intra-oocyte cAMP levels with forskolin and IBMX before IVM might afford oocytes a more effective DNA repair mechanism to overcome damage obstacles and ultimately improve developmental competence. This previously unappreciated action of cAMP modulators could help to develop improved methods for assisted reproduction technologies in animal and clinical research.

Background: Sperm chromatin structure provides valuable information for the prediction of male fertility and can be altered during different procedures. Previous studies have shown that sperm chromatin condensation decreased during in vitro capacitation. Moreover, cryopreservation can affect sperm DNA integrity and chromatin compaction., Objectives: This study aimed to investigate dynamic modifications produced in the chromatin structure of ram spermatozoa during in vitro capacitation before and after cryopreservation., Materials and Methods: Chromatin decondensation (AB+), DNA methylation, DNA fragmentation index (%DFI) and high DNA stainability (HDS) were evaluated in fresh and frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa incubated under capacitating (CAP) conditions at 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 minutes and under non-capacitating (NC) conditions at 0, 15 and 240 minutes., Results: Incubation in NC conditions did not induce significant changes in chromatin condensation (P > .05; AB + and HDS). However, incubation of fresh and cryopreserved ram spermatozoa under CAP conditions significantly increased chromatin decondensation (P < .05), reaching the highest percentage of AB + and HDS from 180 to 240 minutes in fresh samples and from 5 to 30 minutes in cryopreserved samples. Both variables (HDS and AB+) were positively correlated with tyrosine phosphorylation, total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear velocity and amplitude of lateral head displacement, as well as between them under CAP conditions in fresh and cryopreserved spermatozoa. DNA methylation significantly increased in cryopreserved spermatozoa (P < .05), but only after extended incubation under CAP conditions (60-240 minutes), while the %DFI, albeit higher in cryopreserved samples, remained constant under CAP and NC conditions in both types of sample (P > .05)., Discussion and Conclusions: Our results suggest that sperm chromatin condensation decreased progressively during in vitro capacitation of ram spermatozoa, while sperm DNA integrity remained intact. Such changes in chromatin condensation appeared faster after sperm cryopreservation., (© 2020 American Society of Andrology and European Academy of Andrology.)

For the past two decades, there has been a growing interest in the application of in vitro embryo production (IVP) in small ruminants such as sheep. To improve efficiency, a large number abattoir-derived ovaries must be used, and long distances from the laboratory are usually inevitable when adult animals are used. In that scenario, prolonged sheep ovary transportation may negatively affect oocyte developmental competence. Here, we evaluated the effect of ovary storage time (3, 5, 7, 9, 11 and 13 h) and the medium in which they were transported (TCM199 and saline solution) on oocyte quality. Thus, live/dead status, early apoptosis, DNA fragmentation, reduced glutathione (GSH) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, caspase-3 activity, mitochondrial membrane potential and distribution, and relative abundance of mRNA transcript levels were assessed in oocytes. After in vitro maturation (IVM), cumulus cell viability and quality, meiotic and fertilization competence, embryo rates and blastocyst quality were also evaluated. The results revealed that, after 7 h of storage, oocyte quality and developmental potential were significantly impaired since higher rates of dead oocytes and DNA fragmentation and lower rates of viable, matured and fertilized oocytes were observed. The percentage of cleavage, blastocyst rates and cumulus cell parameters (viability, active mitochondria and GSH/ROS ratio) were also decreased. Moreover, the preservation of ovaries in medium TCM199 had a detrimental effect on cumulus cells and oocyte competence. In conclusion, ovary transport times up to 5 h in saline solution are the most adequate storage conditions to maintain oocyte quality as well as developmental capacity in sheep. A strategy to rescue the poor developmental potential of stored oocytes will be necessary for successful production of high-quality embryos when longer ovarian preservation times are necessary.

A major limiting factor for the development of in vitro embryo production (IVP) in wild species, such as Iberian red deer, compared to livestock animals is the poor availability and limited access to biological material. Thus, the use of post-mortem ovaries from slaughtered animals represent a source of oocytes for the large scale production of embryos needed for research and to improve the efficiency of IVP. However, these oocytes are not as developmentally competent as their in vivo counterparts. Moreover, oocytes are usually obtained from ovaries that have been transported for long distances, which may also affect their quality. In order to overcome the issues associated with prolonged storage times of post-mortem material, in this study we examined the effect of melatonin supplementation to the ovary transport medium on oocyte quality, embryo yield, and blastocyst quality in Iberian red deer. When necessary, sheep was used as an experimental model due to the large number of samples required for analysis of oocyte quality parameters. Oocytes were in vitro matured and assessed for early apoptosis; DNA fragmentation; reactive oxygen species (ROS); reduced glutathione (GSH) content, mitochondrial membrane potential, and distribution; and relative abundance of mRNA transcript levels. After in vitro fertilization, embryo rates and blastocyst quality were also investigated. The results revealed that melatonin treatment significantly increased intracellular level of GSH in sheep oocytes. Moreover, the percentage of cleavage and blastocyst yield in red deer was greater compared to the Control group and there was lower abundance of oxidative stress- and apoptosis-related SHC1 , TP53 , and AKR1B1 mRNA transcripts in blastocysts for the Melatonin group. In conclusion, the supplementation of melatonin to the ovary storage medium had a positive effect on the developmental competence and quality of resulting blastocysts in Iberian red deer.

Sperm cryopreservation represents a powerful tool for livestock breeding. Several efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of sperm cryopreservation in different ruminant species. However, a significant amount of sperm still suffers considerable cryodamage, which may affect sperm quality and fertility. Recently, the use of different "omics" technologies in sperm cryobiology, especially proteomics studies, has led to a better understanding of the molecular modifications induced by sperm cryopreservation, facilitating the identification of different freezability biomarkers and certain proteins that can be added before cryopreservation to enhance sperm cryosurvival. This review provides an updated overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm cryodamage, which are in part responsible for the structural, functional and fertility changes observed in frozen-thawed ruminant sperm. Moreover, the molecular basis of those factors that can affect the sperm freezing resilience of different ruminant species is also discussed as well as the molecular aspects of those novel strategies that have been developed to reduce sperm cryodamage, including new cryoprotectants, antioxidants, proteins, nanoparticles and vitrification.

The aim of this study was to investigate the dynamic changes that ram sperm experience during in vitro capacitation before and after cryopreservation. Using flow cytometry and computer assisted sperm analysis system (CASA), protein tyrosine phosphorylation and several functional parameters were evaluated in fresh and cryopreserved ram sperm incubated under capacitating and non-capacitating conditions at 0, 1, 5, 15, 30, 60, 120, 180 and 240 min. A short incubation period (5-30 min) under capacitating conditions was enough to increase mitochondrial activity and tyrosine phosphorylation in cryopreserved sperm, inducing also changes in the motility pattern, which could be related to hyperactivation. However, fresh sperm required a longer incubation (180-240 min) under capacitating conditions to undergo similar modifications. In both types of samples, tyrosine phosphorylation increased in a sequential manner in the midpiece, principal piece and tail at specific time points during in vitro capacitation. Moreover, the proportion of viable sperm with intact acrosome begun to decrease during capacitation, occurring before in cryopreserved sperm. Our findings suggest that cryopreserved ram sperm become competent for fertilization after a short exposure to capacitating conditions as a result of drastic changes inflicted by the freezing-thawing procedure, while prolonged incubations after cryopreservation severely impair sperm quality., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of the research reported., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Incubation gas atmosphere affects the development of in vitro produced embryos. In this study, there was examination of effects of two different oxygen (O 2 ) tensions (5 % and 21 %) during in vitro maturation (M5 and M21) and/or fertilization (F5 and F21) on embryo production and quality in deer and sheep. There was assessment of the percentage of embryos with cell cleavage occurring, percentage that developed to the blastocyst stage, and analysis of the relative abundance of mRNA transcript for genes important for development to the blastocyst stage. The O 2 tension treatment did not affect (P > 0.05) percentage cleavage or blastocyst development in either species. In sheep, there was a greater abundance of SHC1, GPX1, TP53, BAX and NRF1 mRNA transcript (P < 0.05) in M21 F5-derived embryos. In deer, there was a greater abundance of SOD2 mRNA transcript (P < 0.05) when oocytes had been matured under relatively lesser O 2 , regardless of the tension used during fertilization. There was a lesser abundance of SOX2 mRNA transcript (P < 0.05) in the M5F21 compared to the other three treatment groups. The AKR1B1 mRNA transcript was in greater abundance (P < 0.05) in M21 F21 as compared to M21 F5 and M5F21 group, and there was a greater abundance PLAC8 mRNA transcript (P < 0.05) in M21 F21, as compared to all other treatment groups. In conclusion, while O 2 tension had no effect on developmental rates it did affect the relative abundance of mRNA transcript of multiple genes related to important cell functions during development., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Nowadays, the use of foetal calf serum (FCS) during in vitro embryo culture is very controversial. Whilst some authors have encouraged its use, others reject it because of its harmful effects. Although in vitro embryo production in red deer is a promising assisted reproductive technique, it is still in its infancy and a great effort is needed to update the protocols used. The aim of this study was to assess whether FCS supplementation in red deer embryo culture medium is necessary to produce blastocyst and, if so, when is the best time to add it in terms of blastocyst production and quality. In vitro blastocysts were cultured with FCS added at 24, 48 or 96 hours post-insemination (hpi). In addition, a treatment without FCS was used as control. Six hundred and ninety-four cumulus-oocyte complexes were collected for in vitro fertilization. Cleavage rate was examined at 48 hpi, and blastocyst yield was recorded on days 6, 7 and 8. FCS had no influence on cleavage and blastocyst rate for any of the treatments studied. However, the number of cells was higher (p = .025) in those blastocysts cultured with FCS from 48 hpi compared with FCS-free culture media (93.88 ± 7.76 vs. 54.11 ± 8.36). In conclusion, the addition of FCS to the embryo culture medium at 48 hpi improves the quality of red deer blastocyst, although it does not affect the percentage of embryos obtained., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

This study aimed to compare the ability of sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA ® ) and Sperm-Ovis-Halomax ® to detect DNA fragmentation in frozen-thawed ram spermatozoa incubated under capacitating conditions in synthetic oviductal fluid (SOF) supplemented with oestrous sheep serum (SOF-ESS) at multiple time points (0-240 min). Incubation in SOF-ESS had no significant effects on SCSA ® parameters while the percentage of spermatozoa with fragmented DNA measured by Sperm-Ovis-Halomax ® increased after 180 min of incubation. In addition, no correlation or agreement was found between the techniques, suggesting that SCSA ® and Sperm-Ovis-Halomax ® may quantify different types of DNA damage in ram spermatozoa under these experimental conditions., (© 2019 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)

Mammalian sperm must undergo a set of structural and functional changes collectively termed as capacitation to ensure a successful oocyte fertilization. However, capacitation can be compromised by cryopreservation procedures, which alter the proteome and longevity of sperm. To date, how the protein changes induced by cryopreservation could affect the acquisition of sperm fertilizing potential remains unexplored. The present study investigated the protein profile of ram sperm during in vitro capacitation before and after cryopreservation to elucidate the impact of cryopreservation on sperm capacitation at a molecular level. Fresh and cryopreserved ram sperm were incubated under capacitating (CAP) and non-capacitating (NC) conditions for 240 min. The sperm proteome of these four treatments was analyzed and compared at different incubation times using reverse phase liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (RP-LC-MS/MS). The comparison between fresh and cryopreserved sperm suggested that cryopreservation facilitated an apoptosis-stress response and redox process, while the comparison between sperm incubated in CAP and NC conditions showed that capacitation increased those biological processes associated with signaling, metabolism, motility, and reproductive processes. In addition, 14 proteins related to mitochondrial activity, sperm motility, oocyte recognition, signaling, spermatogenesis, and the apoptosis-stress response underwent significant changes in abundance over time when fresh and cryopreserved sperm incubated in CAP and NC conditions were compared. Our results indicate that disturbances in a ram sperm proteome after cryopreservation may alter the quality of sperm and its specific machinery to sustain capacitation under in vitro conditions.