Problem of inquiry: There are no named sow‘s impregnation influence for Lithuanian swine-breeding farms. When sows are non-impregnate fall all manufacture efficiency, getting less gaining’s and enlarge the prime cost for products. Goals of inquiry: Identify sow‘s impregnation efficiency influence reasons, rate their influence for swine-breeding economics indexes. Inquiry tasks: • Identify leading reasons for saw‘s impregnation. • Rate with sow connected actions influence for impregnation indexes. • Rate with boar connected actions influence for impregnation indexes. • Rate with farm factors connected actions influence for impregnation indexes. • Rate sow‘s non-impregnation influence for swine-breeding farm‘s economic process. Conclusions: In this prospecting work were analyzing sow‘s impregnation influence for Lithuanian swine-breeding farm‘s economic process. Clear, that for impregnation has influence genetic indexes and feature of the farm. Sows impregnation directly has influence for farms practices profitability. If enlarge sows non-impregnation percentage, then profitability is lowing and enlarge price for shoats.

Darbo tikslas: įvertinti imunokastracijos komerciniu preparatu Improvac® poveikį jauniems ir suaugusiems, lytiškai subrendusiems kuiliams. Darbo uždaviniai: 1. Įvertinti imunokastracijos poveikį jaunų kuilių augimo intensyvumui, priesvoriams ir mėsos kokybei. 2. Įvertinti imunokastracijos poveikį suaugusių / lytiškai subrendusių kuilių testosterono koncentracijai kraujyje, libido, spermos kokybei bei biocheminiams kraujo rodikliams. 3. Įvertinti imunokastracijos poveikį suaugusių / lytiškai subrendusių kuilių sėklidėms bei priedinėms lytinėms liaukoms. 4. Įvertinti imunokastracijos poveikį lytiškai subrendusių gyvulių mėsos kokybei bei indolo ir skatolo kiekiui skerdenoje. Mokslinis darbo naujumas ir reikšmė Suaugusių, lytiškai subrendusių ir jau naudojamų reprodukcijai kuilių imunokastracijai panaudotas komercinis preparatas Improvac®. Įvertintas dvigubos ir trigubos injekcijos poveikis gyvulių testosterono koncentracijai kraujyje, libido, spermos kokybei bei biocheminiams kraujo rodikliams, kuilių sėklidėms bei priedinėms lytinėms liaukoms, kuilio kvapą sudaran-čioms medžiagoms ir mėsos kokybei. Išvados: 1. Jaunų kuilių imunokastracija preparatu Improvac 95 ir 138 jų gyvavimo dienomis turėjo įtakos jų augimo intensyvumui, priesvoriams ir mėsos kokybei. Improvac grupės kuilių paros priesvoriai buvo 0,24±0,1 kg didesni, o skerdimo dieną jie vidutiniškai svėrė 2,02±3,93 kg daugiau nei chirurgiškai kastruoti kuiliai (p≤0,01). 2. Vakcinuotų gyvulių mėsa buvo liesesnė... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The aim of the study: To evaluate the impact of immunocastration by commercial product Improvac® on young and adults, sexually matured boars. The purpose of the study: 1. To evaluate the impact of immunocastration on intensity of grow, overweight and meat quality of young boars. 2. To evaluate the impact of immunocastration on testosterone concentration in blood, on libido, on semen’s quality and on biochemical indicators of adults/sexually matured boars. 3. To evaluate the impact of immunocastration on adults/sexually matured boar’s testicles and accessory sex glands. 4. To evaluate the impact of immunocastration on meat quality of sexually matured animals as well as on amount of indole and skatole in carcass. Conclusions: 1. Immunocastration of young boars with Improvac product on 95th and 138th day of life had an impact on growth intensity, overweight and meat quality. Day overweight of Improvac group boars were 0.24±0.1 kg bigger and on a day of slaughtering they weighted 2.02±3.93kg more in average if compare with surgically castrated boars (P≤0.01). 2. Meat of vaccinated animals was leaner, percentage of muscularity was bigger and carcass quality according to SEUROP classification was higher (P≤0.001), but for separate meat quality parameters immune-castration of boars had no influence (P≥0.05). During current research amounts of indole and skatole found in vaccinated animals‘ fat haven‘t exceed sensible and permissible limits. 3. Immunocastration of mature boars with... [to full text]

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Os objetivos do estudo foram: (a) avaliar a influência da suplementação de vitamina A na dieta de cachaços nos parâmetros seminais: volume, motilidade, vigor espermático, pH, concentração espermática, número total de espermatozóides, percentual de espermatozóides vivos e anormalidades morfológicas ao longo do ano; (b) averiguar a variabilidade das características, em animais suplementados com vitamina A na dieta, frente às variações da temperatura nas estações do ano. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Pesquisa em Suínos, da FMVZ-USP, utilizando-se 10 machos de linhagem híbrida e distribuídos em dois tratamentos, controle (nível de 25.000 UI de vitamina A/animal/dia) e suplementado com a vitamina A (nível de 40.000 UI de vitamina A/animal/dia). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com medidas repetidas no tempo, sendo os dados analisados utilizando o programa estatístico Statistical Analysis System (SAS). As probabilidades de interações com o tempo foram determinadas pelo teste de Greenhouse-Geisser Epsilon, considerando o nível de significância de 5%. Em relação aos efeitos da vitamina A durante o período de 1 ano, verificou-se que não houve diferença entre os tratamentos para os parâmetros seminais, não encontrando-se efeito de interação tempo e tratamento. Detectou-se efeito de tempo para os parâmetros pH, concentração espermática, número total de espermatozóides, percentual de espermatozóides vivos e anormalidades morfológicas. Já na averiguação da variabilidade também não foi constatado efeito de tratamento, porém houve efeito de estação do ano para todos os parâmetros e de temperatura para o percentual de espermatozóides vivos, pH e anormalidades morfológicas, não sendo verificado efeito para os demais parâmetros. Inferiuse com o estudo que, dada à condição metabólica diferencial dos animais híbridas, novas averiguações devem ser perseguidas para a relação nutrição e reprodução, uma vez que, os efeitos positivos da suplementação da vitamina A na espermatogênese foram evidenciados, principalmente nas características que mais se relacionam com a formação da célula espermática, as anormalidades morfológicas, percentual de espermatozóides vivos e número total de espermatozóides no ejaculado. / The objectives of the study were: (a) to evaluate the effect of vitamin A supplementation on boars? diet considering the parameters: volume, motility, spermatic vigor, seminal pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells and morphologic abnormalities during one year; (b) to investigate the variability founded against the temperature and seasons of the year on vitamin A supplemented animals seminal parameters. The research was developed in the Laboratory of Research in Swines, the FMVZUSP, using 10 boars of hybrid lineages. Two treatments were used having the control (level of 25.000 UI of vitamin A/animal/day) and vitamin A supplemented group (level of 40.000 UI of vitamin A/animal/day). The statistical design was random, with repeated measured in time. The analyzed data used was the statistical program Statistical Analysis System (SAS). The probabilities of the interactions in time were determined by Greenhouse-Geisser Epsilon test, considering the significant level 5%. None of the evaluated parameters was significantly different and no detected interaction in time was found treatment. In relation to the effects of the vitamin A on supplementation in one year period it wasn?t have differences among treatments on seminal parameters, and also there wasn?t interaction in time and at treatment, however for pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells and morphologic abnormalities it was detected effect on time. In relation to the variability there wasn?t treatment effect, however there was for all the parameters studied effect of the season. The effect of temperature was only for the percentage of living sperm cells, pH and morphologic abnormalities. It was concluded that at a given metabolic condition of the hybrid animals, new ascertainments must be inquired for the relation nutrition and reproduction, a time that, the positive effect of the suplementation of the vitamin in spermatogenesis had been evidenced, mainly in the characteristics that more become related with the formation of the espermática cell.

Os objetivos do estudo foram: (a) relatar os procedimentos no condicionamento dos machos reprodutores no período pré-pubere de criação, averiguando o percentual de montas com sucesso, volume do ejaculado e concentração espermática. (b) Avaliar o efeito da suplementação de vitamina A em machos reprodutores nos parâmetros: volume, motilidade, concentração espermática e alterações morfológicas. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida no Laboratório de Pesquisa em Suínos, da FMVZ-USP, utilizando-se de animais de linhagens híbridas sintéticas, provenientes de uma granja reprodutiva localizada no sudoeste de São Paulo, local este, onde foi realizada a seleção dos animais a partir de 70 dias de idade e com peso médio de 25,16 Kg. Aos 117 dias de idade foi realizada a inspeção dos aprumos, testículos, bolsa prepucial e pênis, sendo selecionados 12 animais, que foram transferidos para o referido laboratório, aos 193 dias de idade, com peso médio de 147,00 Kg. O condicionamento iniciou-se aos 210 dias de idade dos animais, e, após 8 semanas, todos os reprodutores já estavam saltando no manequim, havendo a estabilização das colheitas. A partir deste período os valores das características, volume e concentração tornaram-se estáveis, demonstrando-se a homogeneidade dos animais que serviram para a fase experimental subsequente, relativa à avalição dos efeitos da vitamina A em animais submetidos a suplementação de vitamina A e controle. Nesta segunda fase experimental, foram verificadas diferenças significativas (p< 0,05) quanto à motilidade, concentração espermática quantificada pela câmara de Neubauer e alterações morfológicas, não havendo significância quanto à concentração total e volume do ejaculado. Houve significância (p< 0,05) quanto ao tempo nas 25 colheitas, semanais, quanto a concentração, quantificada na câmara de Neubauer e total, não se evidenciando interação x tratamento. Inferiu-se com o estudo que, dada à condição metabólica diferencial dos animais de genéticas híbridas sintéticas, novas averiguações devem ser direcionada para a relação nutrição x reprodução, devem ser averiguadas, uma vez que, os efeitos positivos da suplementação da vitamina A na espermatogênese foram destacados, principalmente nas características que mais se relacionam com a formação da célula espermática / The objectives of the study were: (a) Report the procedures for the conditioning of boars in the pre pubescent period of the breeding, by checking the percentage of succeed mounts, semen\'s concentration and volume. (b) Evaluate the effect of the vitamin A supplementation in boars, related to the parameters: volume, motility, semen concentration and changes in the morphology of the spermatozoids. The research was developed in the Swine Research Laboratory from the FMVZ, University of São Paulo, Pirassununga campus. In the first phase of the trial, which corresponded to the conditioning of the boars to the semen\'s collection process, 12 boars were utilized. The boars for the experiment came from a breeding swine operation located at the southeast of the SP state and were born from a hybrid synthetic genetic line. They were 70 days old and weighted an average of 25.16 Kg. At 117 days of age the inspection of the legs, testicles, prepuce\'s bag and penis was done. 12 animals among the 24 were selected and, at 193 days of age and weighting an average of 147 kg, they were transferred to the boars\' unit of the referred Laboratory. The conditioning process started at 210 days of age and 8 weeks after all the boars were already mounting on the dummy, which completed the phase of the collections\' stabilization. From this period, the values of the characteristics (volume and concentration) become stable, showing the homogeneity of the animals, which were used in the next experimental phase, related to the evaluation of the vitamin A effects on both treatments (Control and Vitamin A supplementation). In this second experimental phase we found significant differences (p< 0.05) considering motility, semen concentration determined by the Neubauer chamber and changes in the morphology of the spermatozoids, while no significant differences were found considering semen\'s concentration and volume. There was significance (P<0.05) considering time in the 25 collections, weekly collections, concentrations, Neubauer chambers and the total, while the interaction time x movement was not significant. The study lead us to conclude that due to the differential condition of the animals which were born from the present hybrid genetics, it is necessary to study the relationship nutrition x reproduction, once the positive effects of the vitamin A supplementation in the semen production was emphasized, mostly in the characteristics that are related to the formation of the sperm cells.

No description available.

[EN] Cryopreserved boar sperm is not used extensively for artificial insemination due to poor fertility rates of the sperm after freezing and thawing. The sperm membrane is damaged when cooled from body temperature to 5 ºC (cold shock), as well as during the freeze-thaw process. Increasing the cholesterol content of boar sperm membranes could increase their post-thaw survival, similarly to other species that are cold shock sensitive. Cholesterol can be easily added to sperm membranes using cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins (CLC). Treating sperm from different species susceptible to cold-shock with CLC before cryopreservation improves sperm cryosurvival. Egg yolk and glycerol are common constituents of extenders used for boar sperm cryopreservation. However, conventional freezing extenders could not be the appropriate for CLC-treated sperm. The aim of this Thesis is to evaluate cryosurvival of CLC or cyclodextrin-treated boar sperm in three different conditions: using conventional freezing extenders, using extenders with alternative concentrations of glycerol and egg yolk and using amides as cryoprotectants. CLC or methyl- ß-cyclodextrin treatment (1 mg/120 x 106 sperm) prior to cryopreservation using a conventional freezing extenders provided either slight or no benefit, respectively, to post-thaw sperm plasma membrane integrity (+ 8%; P < 0.05) and motility (P > 0.05). In addition, sperm from both, good and poor freezers, responded similarly to CLC treatment (P > 0.05). Reduction in egg yolk concentration from 20 to 10% was detrimental for post-thaw sperm viability, even in semen treated with CLC (- 12%; P < 0.05). On the other hand, it was observed that traditional concentration of glycerol (3%) was not the appropriate to freeze CLC-treated sperm (- 13% viable sperm compared to control; P < 0.05). Thus, CLC-treated sperm showed a higher tolerance (+ 13 % sperm viability; P < 0.05) to high glycerol concentrations (5%) than non-treated sperm. Regarding the efficacy of amides as cryoprotectants, three of the amides (lactamide, acetamide and formamide) produced deleterious effects in fresh boar sperm (P < 0.05). The other amides (methylformamide, dimethylacetamide and dimethylformamide) efficiently improved post-thaw sperm viability (+ 5 to 15 %; P < 0.05) but negatively affected the sperm motility (- 11 to 16% total motile sperm; P < 0.05) and the sperm fertilizing ability in vitro (dimethylformamide: - 64 % penetration rate; P < 0.05), irrespective of the sperm treatment. On the other hand, CLC-treated samples showed better in vitro fertilizing ability than control samples when glycerol was used as cryoprotectant (+ 2 penetrated spermatozoa/oocyte; P < 0.05). The results obtained in this Thesis suggest that conventional freezing protocols should be optimized for CLC-treated boar sperm in order to obtain the benefit of CLC treatment observed in other species sensitive to cold shock. / [ES] Las inseminaciones artificiales en la especie porcina se realizan habitualmente con semen refrigerado, debido a las bajas tasas de fertilidad obtenidas con el semen congelado-descongelado. La membrana del espermatozoide sufre importantes daños cuando es sometida a la fase de enfriamiento desde la temperatura corporal hasta alcanzar los 5 ºC (choque térmico), así como durante el proceso de congelación y descongelación. El aumento del contenido de colesterol en las membranas de los espermatozoides de cerdo podría mejorar su supervivencia tras la descongelación, como sucede en otras especies sensibles al choque térmico. Este incremento en la cantidad de colesterol se puede realizar fácilmente utilizando ciclodextrinas saturadas de colesterol (CLC). El tratamiento con CLC de espermatozoides de varias especies susceptibles al choque térmico antes de la congelación ha conseguido mejorar su supervivencia tras la descongelación. En los protocolos convencionales de congelación de semen porcino se utilizan habitualmente diluyentes de congelación compuestos por yema de huevo y glicerol, sin embargo, puede que estos diluyentes de congelación convencionales no sean los más apropiados para congelar espermatozoides tratados con CLC. El objetivo de esta Tesis es evaluar la supervivencia a la congelación de los espermatozoides porcinos tratados con CLC o ciclodextrinas utilizando diluyentes de congelación convencionales, utilizando concentraciones alternativas tanto de yema de huevo como de glicerol o utilizando amidas en lugar de glicerol como crioprotectores Utilizando diluyentes convencionales, el tratamiento con 1mg de CLC o de metil-ß-ciclodextrina/120 millones de espermatozoides previamente a la congelación proporcionó una leve mejora de la integridad de la membrana plasmática espermática (+ 8%; P < 0,05) y ningún beneficio sobre la movilidad espermática (P > 0,05). Además, la respuesta al tratamiento con CLC fue similar independientemente de si los espermatozoides procedían de verracos buenos o malos congeladores (P > 0,05). Una reducción de la concentración de yema de huevo de un 20 a un 10% fue perjudicial para la supervivencia de los espermatozoides tras la descongelación, incluidos aquellos que habían sido tratados previamente con CLC (- 12% espermatozoides vivos; P < 0,05). Por otro lado, observamos que las concentraciones de glicerol utilizadas habitualmente (3%) no son las más apropiadas para congelar espermatozoides tratados con CLC (- 13 % viabilidad espermática comparando con las muestras control; P < 0,05), ya que éstos mostraron una mayor tolerancia (+ 13 % espermatozoides vivos; P < 0,05) que las muestras control a las concentraciones de glicerol más altas (5%). Con respecto a la eficacia de las amidas como crioprotectores para semen porcino, tres de las amidas (lactamida, acetamida y formamida) produjeron efectos perjudiciales durante su incubación con semen fresco (P < 0,05). El resto de amidas evaluadas (metilformamida, dimetilacetamida y dimetilformamida) mejoraron eficientemente la viabilidad espermática tras la congelación (+ 5 a 15 %; P < 0,05), sin embargo, afectaron negativamente tanto la movilidad espermática (- 11 a 16% móviles totales; P < 0,05) como la capacidad de fecundación in vitro (dimetilformamida: - 64 % en la tasa de penetración; P < 0,05), independientemente de si el semen fue tratado con CLC o no. Por otro lado, las muestras tratadas con CLC mostraron mejor capacidad de fecundación in vitro que las muestras control cuando se utilizó el glicerol como crioprotector (+ 2 espermatozoides penetrados/ovocito; P < 0,05). Los resultados obtenidos en esta Tesis sugieren que sería necesaria la adecuación de los protocolos de congelación convencionales para congelar semen porcino tratado con CLC con el propósito de alcanzar los claros beneficios obtenidos con dicho tratamiento cuando ha sido evaluado en otras especies sensibles al choque térmico. / [CAT] Les inseminacions artificials en l'espècie porcina es realitzen habitualment amb semen refrigerat, a causa de les baixes taxes de fertilitat obtingudes amb el semen congelat-descongelat. La membrana de l'espermatozoide pateix importants danys quan és sotmesa a la fase de refredament des de la temperatura corporal fins a arribar als 5 ºC (xoc tèrmic), així com durant el procés de congelació i descongelació. L'augment del contingut de colesterol a les membranes dels espermatozoides de porc podria millorar la seva supervivència després de la descongelació, com succeeix en altres espècies sensibles al xoc tèrmic. Aquest increment en la quantitat de colesterol es pot realitzar fàcilment utilitzant ciclodextrines saturades de colesterol (CLC). El tractament amb CLC d'espermatozoides de diverses espècies susceptibles al xoc tèrmic abans de la congelació ha aconseguit millorar la seva supervivència després de la descongelació. En els protocols convencionals de congelació de semen porcí s'utilitzen habitualment diluents de congelació compostos per rovell d'ou i glicerol, però, pot ser que aquests diluents de congelació convencionals no siguin els més apropiats per congelar espermatozoides tractats amb CLC. L'objectiu d'aquesta Tesi és avaluar la supervivència a la congelació dels espermatozoides porcins tractats amb CLC o ciclodextrines utilitzant diluents de congelació convencionals, utilitzant concentracions alternatives tant de rovell d'ou com de glicerol o utilitzant amides en lloc de glicerol com crioprotectors Utilitzant diluents convencionals, el tractament amb 1 mg de CLC o de metil-ß-ciclodextrina / 120 milions d'espermatozoides prèviament a la congelació va proporcionar una lleu millora de la integritat de la membrana plasmàtica espermàtica (+ 8%; P <0,05) i cap benefici sobre la mobilitat espermàtica (P> 0,05). A més, la resposta al tractament amb CLC va ser similar independentment de si els espermatozoides procedien de verros bons o dolents congeladors (P> 0,05). Una reducció de la concentració de rovell d'ou d'un 20 a un 10% va ser perjudicial per a la supervivència dels espermatozoides després de la descongelació, inclosos aquells que havien estat tractats prèviament amb CLC (- el 12% espermatozoides vius; P <0,05) . D'altra banda, observem que les concentracions de glicerol utilitzades habitualment (3%) no són les més apropiades per congelar espermatozoides tractats amb CLC (- 13% viabilitat espermàtica comparant amb les mostres control; P <0,05), ja que aquests van mostrar una major tolerància (+ 13% espermatozoides vius; P <0,05) que les mostres control a les concentracions de glicerol més altes (5%). Pel que fa a l'eficàcia de les amides com crioprotectors per semen porcí, tres de les amides (lactamida, acetamida i formamida) van produir efectes perjudicials durant la seva incubació amb semen fresc (P <0,05). La resta de amides avaluades (metilformamida, dimetilacetamida i dimetilformamida) van millorar eficientment la viabilitat espermàtica després de la congelació (+ 5 a 15%, P <0,05), però, van afectar negativament tant la mobilitat espermàtica (- 11 a 16% mòbils totals; P <0,05) com la capacitat de fecundació in vitro (dimetilformamida: - el 64% en la taxa de penetració; P <0,05), independentment de si el semen va ser tractat amb CLC o no. D'altra banda, les mostres tractades amb CLC van mostrar millor capacitat de fecundació in vitro que les mostres control quan es va utilitzar el glicerol com crioprotector (+ 2 espermatozous penetrats / oòcit; P <0,05). Els resultats obtinguts en aquesta Tesi suggereixen que seria necessària l'adequació dels protocols de congelació convencionals per congelar semen porcí tractat amb CLC amb el propòsit d'assolir els clars beneficis obtinguts amb el tractament quan ha estat avaluat en altres espècies sensibles al xoc tèrmic. / Blanch Torres, E. (2015). Treating boar sperm with cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrins or cyclodextrins prior to cryopreservation: effects on post-thaw in vitro sperm quality of sperm cryopreserved in different freezing extenders [Tesis doctoral no publicada]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/58773 / TESIS

This dissertation explores the construction of masculine identity at the intersection between early modern English drama and competitively violent entertainment. It argues that early modern Englishmen navigated a complex system of dangers and rewards associated with violent self-assertion, and that the playhouse represented a space uniquely suited to the embodying and interrogating of that system. Spaces used for performing plays frequently doubled as venues for cockfights, animal baitings, and fencing exhibitions, and the violence of such entertainments often appeared, either physically or rhetorically, in the period's drama. The project of the dissertation will be to provide a historicizing lens through which to view this violence "in play" in order to understand how early modern English drama refracted and participated in shaping the period's highly contested norms of violent self-assertion in the performance of male identity. Chapter One maps the cultural disruptions precipitated by the importation of the Italian rapier into late-sixteenth century England. It argues that the secretive exclusivity of rapier culture rendered its novel form of violent masculinity fundamentally "untheatrical" in comparison to more traditional male identities, leading playwrights to caricature the duelist as either a cowardly braggart or a treacherous assassin. Chapter Two examines Shakespeare's plays in light of the discourses described in Chapter One. Shakespeare's work consistently associates traditional weaponry with a threatened male honor culture while associating rapiers with the undermining of male identity through cowardice or treachery. Chapter Three considers the English hunt as a means of asserting a capacity for violence, focusing on attempts to use the wild boar as a means of restoring the hunt's fading masculine associations. The chapter ends with an extended reading of Thomas Heywood's Age plays, the English Renaissance theater's richest staging of hunting culture. Chapter Four offers an historically informed understanding of the interconnections between bearbaiting and theater by addressing the early modern image of the bear as both a terrifying representative of a threatening natural world and a figure of courageous self-defense in the face of overwhelming odds. / 2016-11-18T00:00:00Z

First, a preliminary study was conducted looking for the optimum sperm concentration to be used for analysis with the Computer-Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA). Results showed that 75x106 sperm cells/mL is the optimum one. Then, the actions of relaxin on sperm motility were evaluated by determining the effect of relaxin on full motility characteristics of spermatozoa during storage, using CASA; then identifying the relaxin receptors on spermatozoa, and finally establishing actions of relaxin in intraspermatic cAMP content. Motile spermatozoa were selected through percoll gradient and incubated for 1 hour with 4 relaxin concentrations at 37°C, during four days. Relaxin affected sperm motility (P<0.05). This action appears associated with the presence of relaxin receptors RXFP1 and RXFP2 that were found in spermatozoa. However, the cAMP levels were not affected by relaxin (P<0.05). This study indicates a beneficial action of relaxin on sperm motility; however, its mechanism of action requires further research.

The objectives were to: 1) determine if im treatments of Lutalyse expedited the training of sexually inexperienced boars for semen collection and increased spermatozoal output, and 2) determine the effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on boar libido, semen quality, sperm production, and maintenance of sperm motility during liquid storage. Experiment 1 utilized lean-type, terminal-line boars (National Pig Development, Roanoke Rapids, NC) (n = 40; 177.4 ± 2.4 d of age and 112.8 ± 2.0 kg body weight) that had not previously experienced natural mating. Boars were individually moved twice weekly for 6 weeks (total of 12 training sessions) to a semen collection room equipped with an artificial sow. Upon entering the semen collection room, boars received in treatments of either deionized water (4 mL, n = 10) or Lutalyse at doses of 5 mg (n = 10), 10 mg (n = 10), or 20 mg (n = 10), and subsequently received a libido score of 1 to 5 (1 = no interest in the artificial sow; 5 = mounting the artificial sow and allowing semen collection). The percentages of boars successfully trained for semen collection during the experimental period were similar (P > 0.05) for controls (20%) and boars receiving 5 mg (30%), 10 mg (20%), or 20 mg (10%) of Lutalyse. Average libido score for boars receiving 10 mg Lutalyse (2.35 ± 0.08) was greater (P < 0.05) than for controls (2.14 ± 0.06). Libido score for the 20 mg treatment group were (1.78 ± 0.06) lower (P < 0.05) compared to the other treatment groups. Characteristics of ejaculates (volume, gel weight, sperm concentration, total spermatozoa) from control boars and boars treated with Lutalyse at doses of 5, 10, or 20 mg were similar (P > 0.05). For Exp. 2, the same group of boars was utilized in two similar trials (Trial 1, 1a, 1b: n = 9 for control and L-carnitine-treated boars; Trial 2, 2a, 2b: n = 10 for control and L-carnitine-treated boars). Boars were fed a fortified, corn and soybean meal-based diet at a rate of 2 kg/d. Boars that were randomly selected for L-carnitine treatment received the same diet mixed with L-carnitine to achieve supplementation of 500 mg/d. For 16 wk, semen was collected weekly via the gloved hand method and was analyzed for gel-free volume, gel weight, sperm concentration, sperm per ejaculate, and characteristics of sperm motility. Time to ejaculation (reaction time), duration of ejaculation, and number of false mounts were also recorded for each collection. Trials 1a and 2a were conducted during weeks 16 and 17 for each respective trial. Boars were collected once on 4 consecutive days, allowed 4 d of rest, and then collected again, to estimate daily spermatozoal production. At the end of 16 wk, a semen sample was also processed and extended in Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS) to achieve a dilution of 3 x 109 spermatozoa/100 mL-dose for Trials 1b and 2b. The extended semen was stored in plastic bottles at 18°C and motility was evaluated daily for 7 d post collection. L-carnitine supplementation for 16 wk had no effects on semen volume, gel weight, total number of sperm cells per ejaculate, reaction time, or sperm motility (P > 0.1). Boars receiving the L-carnitine-supplemented diet displayed an increase in the number of false mounts before ejaculating and an increase in sperm concentration (P < 0.05) in Trial 2. A treatment by week interaction was detected for sperm concentration in Trial 2 (P < 0.005). Increased sperm concentrations in L-carnitine-treated boars were demonstrated after only one week of feeding the respective diets. Given that the production of a mature sperm cell requires 7 to 8 wk in boars, it is therefore difficult to conclude that differences in sperm concentration were due solely to treatment. Daily spermatozoal production was similar between control boars and boars supplemented with L-carnitine (P > 0.1) for both Trials 1a and 2a. L-carnitine supplementation did not affect percent motility in Trials 1b and 2b or sperm progressive motility in Trial 2b during 7 d storage (P > 0.1). A treatment by day interaction was determined for sperm velocity (P < 0.05) in Trial 2b. L-carnitine supplementation decreased mean sperm velocity significantly after 2 d of storage. Overall, L-carnitine had no beneficial effects on boar libido, semen quality, sperm production, or maintenance of sperm motility during liquid storage. However, Lutalyse increased libido scores, but did not affect the number of boars trained for semen collection or number of spermatozoa ejaculated. / Master of Science