espanolEn este articulo se analiza la calidad espermatica (pH, concentracion espermatica, motilidad espermatica y morfologia espermatica) del eyaculado de un verraco esteril. Los valores de pH (7,5), concentracion (234.000spz/mm3), motilidad (30-40%) y morfologia (61% de espermatozoides inmaduros) son propios de un esperma que no ha desarrollado correctamente la maduracion epididimaria debido al estres causado por el elevado ritmo de extracciones. catalaEn aquest article s'analitza la qualitat espermatica (pH, concentracio espermatica, motilitat espermiatica i morfologia espermatica) de l'ejaculat d'un mascle reproductor porci esteril. Els valors de pH (7,5), concentracio (234.000spz/mm3 ), motilitat (30-40%) i morfologia (61% d'espermatozoides immadurs) son propis d'un esperma immadur a causa de l'estres provocat per l'elevat ritme d'extraccions. EnglishSperm quality (pH, sperm concentration, sperm motility and sperm morphology) of the ejaculate from a sterile boar has been examined. The values of pH (7.5), concentration (234,000spz/mm3), motility (30-40%) and morphology (61% of immature spermatozoa) are characteristic of an immature sperm due to the stress condition caused by a high rhythm of semen collection.

espanolEste trabajo describe la relacion entre la calidad espermatica de dos machos reproductores porcinos. Las dosis seminales procedentes de los eyaculados de los dos verracos han sido examinadas al microscopio optico. La evaluacion de la calidad espermatica se ha realizado mediante la determinacion de los siguientes parametros: pH, ORT, y concentracion, motilidad y morfologia espermaticas. La calidad espermatica de uno de los verracos (control) era correcta, aunque se detecto una concentracion espermatica ligeramente baja. El examen de las dosis seminales procedentes del otro verraco (problema) revelo las caracteristicas propias de un esperma inmaduro, con una elevada incidencia de espermatozoides con cola doblada por el anillo de Jensen y una motilidad espermatica muy baja, hecho atribuido a una disfuncion epididimaria. catalaAquest treball descriu la relacio entre la qualitat espermatica de dos mascles reproductors porcins. Les dosis seminals procedents dels ejaculats dels dos animals han estat examinades al microscopi optic. L'avaluacio de la qualitat espermatica s'ha dut a terme mitjancant la determinacio dels seguents parametres: PH, ORT, i concentracio, motilitat i morfologia espermatiques. La qualitat espermatica d'un dels mascles (control) era correcta, si be es va detectar una concentracio espermatica lleugerament baixa. L'examen de les dosis seminals procedents de l'altre mascle (problema) va revelar les caracteristiques propies d'un esperma immadur, amb una elevada incidencia d'espermatozoides de cua doblegada per l'anell de Jensen i una motilitat espermatica molt baixa, fet atribuit a una disfuncio epididimaria EnglishThis report describes the relationship between the sperm quality of two boars. Semen doses coming from the ejaculates of two sexually mature boars were examined by phase-contrast and light microscopy. Sperm quality assessment was carried out by determination of the following parameters: PH, ORT, and sperm concentration, motiiity and morphology. Sperm quality results were correct for one of the boars (control), although a slightly low sperm concentration was detected. Examination of the sperm doses from the other boar (problem) revealed the inherent characteristics of an immature sperm, with a high incidence of spermatozoa with tail folded at the Jensen's ring and very low sperm motility, which may be attributed to an epididymal dysfunction.

Described here are the main ultrastructural malformations observed in spermatozoa of ejaculates collected from healthy, adult Landrace boars following 2 days of sexual abstinence. Previously semen had been collected 3 times per week. Sperm concentration in the cell-rich fraction of ejaculates was approximately 700,000 sperm/mm(3). The aberrant gamete forms did not exceed 2% of the total number of spermatozoa. Ultrastructural anomalies of spermatozoa were classified into 2 groups: head malformations and tail malformations. These consisted of: 1) spermatozoa with expanded and vacuolated acrosomes, 2) spermatozoa with myelin figures within the perinuclear space, 3) macrocephalic spermatozoa with 2 nuclei and a deformed acrosomal vesicle, 4) spermatozoa with an expanded acrosomal apex, 5) spermatozoa with nuclear vacuoles, 6) macrocephalic spermatozoa with a roundish head, 7) spermatozoa with swollen mitochondria, 8) spermatozoa with additional mitochondria over the mitochondrial sheath, 9) spermatozoa without the central microtubular pair, 10) spermatozoa without some peripheral doublets, 11) spermatozoa with 1 or 2 coiled tails, 12) spermatozoa with a folded tail and a disorganized connecting piece, 13) spermatozoa with a vesiculated tail, and 14) spermatozoa with 2 tails fused by their respective mitochondrial sheaths.

The head, body, and tail regions of the epididymal duct (or caput, corpus, and cauda epididymis) in two healthy and sexually mature Sus domesticus males were examined by light microscopy and by scanning or transmission electron microscopy. The epididymal duct is lined with a pseudostratified epithelium with stereocilia and covered by a muscular‐connective tissue sheath that is thickest in the tail region. Diameter of the epididymal duct and height of epididymal epithelium are maximal in the head region. Length of the sterocilia and spermatic density are higher in the head and body regions. Somatic cells are abundant in the tail region. The epididymal epithelium is made up of five cell types: basal cells, principal cells, clear cells, narrow cells, and basophilic cells. Abundant secretory units are observed in the supranuclear cytoplasm of columnar principal cells. Each mature secretory unit is constituted by electron‐dense secretion granules covered by more than eight layers of cisternae of reticulum between which the mitochondria are intercalated. In the apical cytoplasm the isolated secretion granules become larger and less electron dense. The apical surface is covered by numerous sterocilia. Basal cells are pyramidal and less high than principal cells. The clear cells, arranged between the principal cells, are characterized by the presence of abundant vesicular elements and electron‐lucid secretion granules, and by an apocrine secretory process. The narrow cells are characterized by their highly vacuolized cytoplasm. Intermediate cell typologies can be found among basal, principal, clear, and narrow cells, which could be four developmental stages of the same cell type. The basophilic cells are spheroidal and are found at different levels between the epithelial cells and in the connective tissue underlying the epithelium. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.

Spermatozoa from the three epididymal regions (head, body and tail) of healthy and sexually mature boars have been examined by light microscopy, and scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The origin, development and external and internal morphologies of aberrant spermatozoa with folded tails and spermatozoa with one or two heads and two fused tails have been established. A count carried out in each region of the epididymis indicated that significant differences (P less than 0.01) exist in the frequencies of each type of malformation and the epididymal region from which the spermatozoa come. Spermatozoa with folded tails at Jensen's ring originate in the cauda of the epididymis from immature spermatozoa that have not ejected the distal cytoplasmic droplet. The plasma membrane which covers the main piece is fused with the membranes of the midpiece, the connecting piece and the head. The fibrous sheath deforms the mitochondrial sheath and is placed between the plasma membrane and the postacrosomal dense lamina. Spermatozoa with one head and two fused tails originate in the epididymal body from spermatozoa with one head and two unfused tails coming from the cephalic region of the epididymis. Spermatozoa with two heads and two fused tails originate in the cephalic region of the epididymis by head-to-head agglutination of two spermatozoa and later fusion of their tails. The frequency of spermatozoa with two fused tails increases as they progress through the epididymal duct. Their tails, parallel in monocephalic spermatozoa and helicoid in bicephalic spermatozoa, have two complete axonemal axes. In their midpiece, the mitochondrial sheaths of the two axes are fused, producing an 8-shaped sheath.

espanolDiez eyaculaciones de seis machos Large White, sanos y de 22 meses de edad, han sido examinadas al microscopio de contraste de fases y al microscopio electr6nico de banido para determinar la motilidad y concentraci6n, y morfologia espermaticas, respectivamente. Para estudiar la fertilidad, 75 hembras multiparas han sido inseminadas por cada uno de los seis machos a los 22 meses de edad. A partir de tres machos (primer grupo) el esperma ha sido recogido con un ritmo de extracciones de dos veces por semana, sin periodos de des- canso, desde los 10 meses de edad. Los otros tres machos (segundo grupo) han sido some- tidos a una frecuencia de extracciones de semen con intervalos de dos dias, sin periodos de descanso, desde los 10 meses de edad. Las diferencias de fertilidad y de calidad espermatica entre los machos del primer y segundo grupo han sido significativas (p catalaDeu ejaculacions de cadascun dels sis mascles Large White, sans i de 22 mesos d'edat, han estat examinades al microscopi de contrast de fases i al microscopi electronic d'escandallatge per observar-ne la motilitat i concentracio, i la morfologia espermatiques, respectivament. Per estudiar la fertilitat, 75 femelles multipares han estat inseminades per cadascun dels sis mascles als 22 mesos d'edat. A partir de tres mascles (primer grup) l'esperma ha estat recollit a un ritme d'extraccions de dos cops a la setmana, sense periodes de repos, des dels 10 mesos d'edat. Els altres tres mascles (segon grup) han estat sotmesos a una frequencia de recol.leccio de semen amb intervals de dos dies, sense penodes de repos, des dels 10 mesos d'edat. Les diferencies de fertilitat i de qualitat espermaica entre els mascles del primer i segon grup han estat significatives (p EnglishTen ejaculates were examined from each one of six healthy boars, Large White breed, at the age of 22 months. Quality assesment was canied out by means of phase contrast light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to determine the motility, concentration and sperm quality. To study their fertility, 75 multiparous sows were inseminated by each one of six boars at the age of 22 months. From three boars (group 1) semen was collected twice weekly, without rest periods, from the age of 10 months. Another three boars (group 2) were subjected to an ejaculation frequency at 2-day intervals, without rest periods, from the age of 10 months. The differences in boar fertility and sperm quality between the first group and the second group are statiscally significant (pe0.01). In the second group the semen PH, the spermatozoa with proximal droplet and the aberrant spermatozoa increase, and the sperm motility, the sperm concentration, the mature spermatozoa, the spermatozoa with distal droplet and the fertility decrease. The depletion of the sperm reserves of the tall of the epididymis and a shortened maturation of the spermatozoa in the epididymis can be the reasons of these changes in the quality sperm. The ejaculation frequencies affect the sperm quality and the boa fertility.