Epididymal flush

In small and laboratory animals epididymal spermatozoa can be collected only by the mincing technique however, blood and cell debris contamination may adversely affect the quality of the samples. This study aimed at performing the retrograde flushing technique, for the first time, in the tomcat. In the first experiment attempts to insert a blunted needle into tomcats' ductus deferentes were made and the cannulation time and the success rate were recorded. In the second experiment, insertion of the needle into the ductus was carried out under a stereomicroscope for one testis, while the other was submitted to mincing for sperm recovery and the samples obtained from paired testes were compared...

This study investigated whether the origin of sperm (epididymal vs. ejaculate) affects the cryopreservation efficiency in agouti (Dasyprocta leporina). Five sexually mature agoutis underwent electroejaculation, resulting in obtaining four semen samples. After 15 days, the same animals were euthanized, and through retrograde flushing, sperm samples were obtained from the epididymis tails. In both collection methods, samples were evaluated for sperm parameters (sperm concentration, motility, vigor, membrane integrity, osmotic response, and morphology)...

BACKGROUND: The recovery of spermatozoa from the cauda epididymis may be the only option to obtain genetic material from elite stallions that had undergone castration or sudden death due to colic or severe injury. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate two different protocols for retrieval of stallion epididymal spermatozoa and to evaluate different cryoprotectants on the freezability of the epididymal spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Six epididymides from three stallions were collected immediately after routine castration under general anesthesia...

This study aimed to assess the suitability of egg yolk (EY) supplementation to a tris-citric acid-based extender on cryosurvival of guinea pig ( Cavia porcellus ) epididymal spermatozoa. Two synthetic-based extenders, tris-citric acid-glucose plus 20% EY (TCG-EY) and tris-citric acid-fructose (TCF) both with 5% glycerol, were compared. Thirty-two epididymides were recovered from 16 adult guinea pig males by gonadectomy, and then the sperm samples were retrieved by retrograde flushing using TCG-EY and TCF extenders for left or right epididymis, respectively...

This study aimed to assess the parameters of epididymal sperm harvested by retrograde flushing (RF) followed by slicing float-up (SF). Epididymides from donkeys ( n = 18) and horses ( n = 28) were subjected to RF with a freezing extender and then SF technique. The retrieved sperm after RF and SF was evaluated for volume, concentration, and total sperm and then cryopreserved separately. Post-thaw total motility (TM) and progressive motility (PM) were evaluated with CASA. Sperm membrane integrity (SMI) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were assessed with flow cytometry...

This study aimed to assess the effects of age on testicular morphometry and function in donkeys. Testes and epididymides of 57 donkeys were harvested immediately after slaughtering. The donkeys were grouped: young (1-4 years old, n = 13); adult (5-15 years old, n = 25) and aged (>15 years old, n = 19). Each testis and epididymis were weighed separately. Testicular volume was calculated. Epididymal sperm was harvested by retrograde flushing method, and sperm parameters were evaluated. The testicular parenchyma was immunolabelled for BAX and COX2...

BoviPure® is a salt solution containing colloidal silica particles coated with silane used to select sperm (e.g., ruminants) by density-gradient centrifugation (DGC). This research assessed the suitability of the BoviPure-DGC and swim-up methods for selecting dog epididymal sperm in fresh, chilled and frozen-thawed samples on post-treatment sperm quality. Sperm samples (n = 60 epididymides) were recovered by retrograde flushing from thirty orchiectomized adult dogs. Thereafter, 20 sperm pools, containing sperm aliquots of three randomly selected animals, were used for chilling (at 5 ºC for 24 h) and freezing (in liquid nitrogen vapors)...

As an alternative to ejaculated semen, epididymal spermatozoa (ES) can be recovered and cryopreserved for use in artificial insemination and other assisted reproductive technologies. However, variabilities in the sperm response to freeze-thaw procedures challenge its inherent value. Therefore, the present study aims to clarify the freezability phenomena in the swamp buffalo ES, where pieces of literature do not abound. Here, we isolated ES from swamp buffaloes using abattoir-derived, post-mortem caudal epididymis by slicing-flushing technique...

BACKGROUND: Epididymal sperm can be collected post-castration or post-mortem. This method has already been described for alpaca (Vicugna pacos), but little data are available on success rate and the influence of diluent on it. OBJECTIVE: The aim was to investigate the effectiveness of epididymis incision as an extraction method. METHOD: Post-castration epididymides (n = 78) were incised and semen was collected from cut surfaces. Further sperm were flushed with two semen extenders...

This study was aimed to assess the effectiveness of two methods for cryopreservation of dog epididymal spermatozoa, one by conventional freezing (CF) with shortening both equilibration and cooling times, and the other by ultra-rapid freezing (URF) with nonpermeable cryoprotectant. Sixty epididymides were recovered from thirty orchiectomized adult dogs and the sperm samples were retrieved by retrograde flushing using TCG-EY (tris, citric acid, glucose + 20% egg yolk) extender and then 20 pools were conformed...

The high viscosity of Camelidae semen continues to present a major impediment for its application in assisted reproduction technology. The exposure of epididymal spermatozoa (ES) to seminal plasma (SP) may provide an approach to enhance the development of assisted reproductive techniques in these important domestic species. Since the sperm glycocalyx plays a key role in reproduction we aimed to evaluate whether SP exposure modifies the surface glycosylation patterns of cryopreserved dromedary ES. Epididymal sperm was collected through retrograde flushing of the cauda epididymidis that were obtained from orchidectomized mature dromedary bulls...

The objectives of this study were to describe the parameters of dromedary camel epididymal spermatozoa collected by retrograde flushing (RF) technique and to evaluate the freezability of the collected sperm, diluted with and without the supplementation of seminal plasma (SP). Two experiments were conducted: in Experiment 1, ES were recovered within 6-8 h after castration; selected samples were diluted with a Tris-citrate egg-yolk glycerolated buffer and frozen. In Experiment 2, epididymides were stored for 24 h at 4 °C before RF and semen samples were frozen after dilution with a Tris-lactose egg-yolk glycerolated extender with and without 15% SP...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different freezing procedures on sperm motion, viability, the acrosome status, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), intracellular calcium content, and DNA integrity on epididymal stallion sperm. Therefore, the sperm of 10 healthy stallions was harvested by retrograde flushing after testectomy, diluted with a semen extender containing defined milk proteins and a freezing extender containing egg yolk and glycerol and frozen according to 4 different protocols, using a programmable freezer and a floating rack performing a slow (processes 1 and 2) or a fast cooling rate (processes 3 and 4, respectively)...

Cryopreservation of epididymal sperm allows final preservation of the gene reserve from valuable sires in case of unexpected injury terminating the breeding career. This case report describes the birth of a healthy foal following insemination with frozen-thawed epididymal sperm. The testes and epididymides were removed under general anaesthesia and sent cooled to the laboratory overnight. The cauda epididymidis was dissected and 17.79 × 109 sperm were harvested by a retrograde flush technique. A fertile mare was inseminated 1 year later with frozen-thawed epididymal sperm...

Cryopreservation of epididymal sperm allows the saving of genetic material in case of unexpected death or emergency castration. The aim of the present study was the comparison of five different combinations of extenders commercially available for equine frozen semen processing for cryopreservation of epididymal sperm. Epididymal sperm were harvested from gonads of 10 healthy stallions after routine castration by retrograde flush technique. Then, samples were split and diluted with (1) INRA96 + INRA Freeze, (2) BotuSemen + BotuCRIO, (3) EquiPlus + Gent Freeze, (4) EquiPlus + EquiPlus Freeze, and (5) Gent + Gent Freeze...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arboviral infection that has been shown to be sexually transmitted. The study outlined herein aims to determine if accessory sex glands and epididymal epithelial cells are sources of viral persistence in subacute and chronic ZIKV infection, and if infection of these organs is important in sexual transmission during long-term (chronic) infection. Male interferon type I receptor knockout (Ifnar-/- ) mice were challenged with ZIKV and reproductive tissues were harvested 14 and 35 days post infection (DPI) for inoculation studies and 14, 35 and 70 DPI for histopathology...

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arboviral infection that may be sexually transmitted. The present study aims to determine if accessory sex glands are a potential source of infectious virus and important in sexual transmission. Male interferon type I receptor knockout (Ifnar-/- ) mice were challenged subcutaneously with a Puerto Rican ZIKV isolate. Reproductive tissues were harvested seven days after viral challenge and artificial insemination fluid derived from epididymis or homogenized accessory sex glands (seminal plasma) was obtained...

SummaryThe aim of this study was to establish a functional freezing-thawing protocol for epididymal sperm of collared peccaries (Pecari tajacu L., 1758) by comparing different extenders. The epididymal sperm from 12 sexually mature males was recovered by retrograde flushing using Tris-based or coconut water-based (ACP®-116c) extenders. After initial evaluation, samples were diluted and frozen with the same extenders to which 20% egg yolk and 6% glycerol were added. After 2 weeks, thawing was performed at 37°C/60 s and sperm motility, vigour, morphology, functional membrane integrity, sperm viability, sperm plasma membrane integrity, and a computer-assisted semen analysis (CASA) were assessed...

As a non-threatened hystricognath rodent species, Spix's yellow-toothed cavies can be used as a model for the development of assisted reproductive techniques for the conservation of closely related species. The objective was to establish a functional protocol for cryopreservation of epididymal sperm from these cavies. Twelve sexually mature males, ∼2 y old and weighing ∼300 g, were euthanized. Sperm were recovered by retrograde flushing of the vas deferens and cauda epididymis with Tris extender. Thereafter, sperm were extended in Tris plus 20% egg yolk, with 3%, 6% or 9% glycerol or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), placed in 0...

STUDY QUESTIONS: Are extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the murine oviduct (oviductosomes, OVS) conserved in humans and do they play a role in the fertility of Pmca4-/- females? SUMMARY ANSWER: OVS and their fertility-modulating proteins are conserved in humans, arise via the apocrine pathway, and mediate a compensatory upregulation of PMCA1 (plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase 1) in Pmca4-/- female mice during proestrus/estrus, to account for their fertility. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY: Recently murine OVS were identified and shown during proestrus/estrus to express elevated levels of PMCA4 which they can deliver to sperm...