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Title: ACROSIN INHIBITOR BSTI-I IN SEMINAL AND/OR BLOOD PLASMA OF MALE AND FEMALE PIGS UNDER DIFFERENT REPRODUCTIVE CONDITIONS

Author
item ERKENS, J.H.F. - DLO INST FOR ANIM SCI
item Johnson, Lawrence
item VAN DER LENDE, T - DLO INST FOR ANIM SCI

Submitted to: Reproduction in Domestic Animals
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 8/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: Predicting the fertilizing capacity of semen in pigs has been a desire of animal scientists for generations. It becomes more critical in current times because of the advent of new technologies such as in vitro fertilization, embryo transfer and sex preselection. Sperm fertilization rate in pigs is affected by many different aspects of reproductive fluids. This study was devised to gain a greater knowledge of how blood plasma in semen components may be related to fertilization. These studies showed in fact the boar seminal plasma inhibitor found in seminal plasma and blood plasma could not be used as a means of fertility. The results will be used by scientists to further study the interaction of boar seminal plasma inhibitor and fertility.

Technical Abstract: Boar seminal plasma trypsin-acrosin inhibitor I (BSTI-I) concentrations were measured by homologous radio-immunoassay: 1. In seminal and blood plasma of boars, before and after castration and following testosterone propionate administration (after castration); 2. In blood plasma of gilts, during the oestrous cycle and following insemination; and 3. In blood plasma of sows at the time of weaning. It was demonstrated that the blood- plasma component, measured by the radio-immunoassay, is indeed BSTI-I. The main goal of the study was to determine BSTI-I concentrations during different reproductive stages and to evaluate the possibilities for using these measurements in fertility studies. In boars, BSTI-I levels were testosterone dependent, in both the seminal plasma and circulation. The blood-plasma BSTI-I level appeared to be sex dependent. In animals measured so far, the lowest concentration measured in non-castrated males was 1.5 times the highest concentration measured in non-inseminated females. In gilts, the endogenous blood-plasma BSTI-I concentration showed no clear relationship with the phase of the oestrous cycle. In sows, a significant increase in the BSTI-I concentration was found during a 5-day period following weaning. After insemination, the seminal plasma BSTI-I was found to be absorbed and could be detected in the circulation. The highest blood- plasma levels of this exogenous BSTI-I were reached at about 4 h after insemination. Absorption of seminal-plasma BSTI-I varied during the period of oestrus; however, no relationship between blood-plasma BSTI-I concentrations and the fertilization rate and embryonic survival could be demonstrated. The results here do not indicate that BSTI-I measurements in blood plasma can be used as a parameter in fertility studies.