Sperm mobility denotes the net movement of a sperm population. Previous work implicated mitochondrial function as a basis underlying phenotypic variation in this quantitative trait. Our objective was to determine if mitochondrial function was indeed critical to expression of phenotype. Phenotype was assigned to roosters within a random bred population (n=242). A representative subpopulation (n=40) was used to correlate sperm mobility with oxygen consumption (r=0.83). In contrast, sperm mobility was independent of mitochondrial helix length in a sample of males (n=7) representing the range of phenotype observed within the population. Thus, mitochondrial function rather than number appeared to be critical to expression of phenotype. This hypothesis was tested by ultrastructural analysis of sperm midpieces. Males from the lower and upper tails of the distribution were characterized with high and low proportions of sperm containing aberrant mitochondria in 47 and 4% of the cells respectively. When sperm from average males were allowed to segregate into immobile and mobile subpopulations, 40% of immobile sperm contained aberrant mitochondria. In contrast, only 9% of sperm from the same males contained aberrant mitochondria in non-segregated populations. In conclusion, the mitochoridrion is an organelle that may account for phenotypic differences in sperm mobility. / Graduation date: 2002

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1984. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 84-92). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The objective of this research was to clarify the basis of subfertility in Delaware roosters. It was anticipated that a sensitive method would be needed to compare seminal plasma protein composition between subfertile and fertile roosters. Consequently, the applicability of two-dimensional electrophoresis was tested as a tool for the analysis of chicken seminal plasma proteins. Two-dimensional electrophoresis resolved 95 ± 4.4 derivative polypeptides from seminal plasma proteins of fertile roosters, whereas one-dimensional electrophoresis resolved only 23 ± 0.4. Thus, two-dimensional electrophoresis was found to be a useful tool for seminal plasma protein analysis. Seminal plasma composition was compared between subfertile Delaware and fertile roosters. Seminal plasma from subfertile roosters was characterized by an imbalance of proteins, electrolytes, and amino acids (P<0.05). Neither type of seminal plasma contained proteolytic activity. No difference (P>0.05) was observed in seminal plasma osmolality. Differences in seminal plasma composition were attributed to a dysfunction of the excurrent ducts of the testis. This realization lead to experiments designed to modulate subfertility. Hemicastration exacerbated (P<0.001) subfertility, whereas supplementation of spermatozoa with seminal plasma proteins from fertile roosters ameliorated (P<0.001) subfertility. Addition of seminal plasma proteins from subfertile roosters to spermatozoa from fertile roosters had no effect (P>0.05) on fertility. Therefore, subfertility was attributed to protein deficiency in seminal plasma rather than the presence of some agent that induces subfertility. The study of subfertile Delaware roosters has helped establish a link between seminal plasma proteins and fertility in the domestic fowl. / Graduation date: 1992

No description available.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2007. / Printout. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the World Wide Web.

No description available.

This research was conducted to establish a temporal hormone profile in genetically selected populations of roosters differing in sexual activity. Plasma levels of androstenedione (AE), dihydrotestosterone (DHT), testosterone (T), total androgens (Total A) and estradiol-17_β (E₂) were measured at 1, 56, 112 and 168 days of age by radioimmunoassay. No significant differences in mean hormone values were found between the lines at any age. Temporal hormonal patterns for each hormone were also similar for the lines. The levels of AE, T and Total A were observed to increase from Day 1 to 56, stabilize at Day 112, and rise again prior to Day 168. Dihydrotestosterone levels were relatively low throughout development but did show increases by Day 168. Estradiol-17_β concentration did not change significantly with age. The percentage of variation attributable to sire family was determined. No consistent differences between sire families within a line were observed. Within line correlation analyses were calculated between each of the hormonal traits. A higher incidence of significant correlations was observed among the high mating line suggesting these animals have a more uniform hormonal state throughout development as opposed to the low mating line. Packed cell volume and body weight measurements were obtained at the termination of the experiment. Significant differences were found between the mating lines for both characteristics; the high mating line exhibited a greater mean packed cell volume and a lesser mean body weight. / Master of Science

The overall objective of this research was to define the cellular basis underlying heritable subfertility in roosters homozygous for the rose comb allele (R/R). Fertilization in the hen is preceded by the ascension of motile sperm through the vagina and sperm sequestration within sperm storage tubules (SST). The objective of the first set of experiments was to determine if reduced sperm sequestration could account for subfertility. Sperm sequestration differed between genotypes following intravaginal insemination (p<0.0001). However, sperm sequestration did not differ between genotypes when sperm were incubated with SST in vitro (p>0.05). Therefore, subfertility was attributed to reduced sperm transport within the vagina. To test this hypothesis, an assay was developed to evaluate fowl sperm motility in vitro. Based upon this assay, ejaculates from subfertile males contained smaller subpopulations of highly motile sperm than the ejaculates from controls (p<0.001). The objective of the next set of experiments was to characterize the motility of individual sperm and to identify a mechanism that could account for the genotypic difference in sperm cell motility. Computer-assisted sperm motion analysis evaluation revealed that ejaculates from controls contained 91% motile sperm whereas ejaculates from subfertile males contained 62% motile sperm (p<0.001). The ATP concentration in sperm from subfertile males was 63% less than that of sperm from controls (p<0.001). A link between sperm ATP concentration and immotility was investigated. First, sperm metabolism was evaluated using motility as an endpoint. The genotypic difference in sperm motility persisted when ATP synthesis was limited to glycolysis (p<0.001). Consequently, mitochondrial respiration could not account for the genotypic difference in sperm motility. In contrast, sperm uptake of [1,2-��H] 2-deoxy-D-glucose did differ between genotypes (p<0.001). The activity of key glycolytic enzymes, creatine kinase, and dynein ATPase did not differ between genotypes (p>0.05). Therefore reduced sperm motility did not appear to be due to ATP synthesis, allocation of high energy phosphate bonds along the axoneme, or ATP consumption (p>0.05). In conclusion, subfertility of roosters homozygous for the rose comb allele was attributed to decreased spermatozoal glucose transport. / Graduation date: 1997

Proefschrift Universiteit van Amsterdam. / Met lit. opg. - Met samenvatting in het Nederlands.

Submitted by MICHELE BERNARDINO DE LIMA null (michele_bernardino@yahoo.com.br) on 2016-05-16T15:00:37Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Michele_Bernardino_de _Lima.pdf: 1682251 bytes, checksum: febd0010dceb761ccc4f0391786d0513 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Juliano Benedito Ferreira (julianoferreira@reitoria.unesp.br) on 2016-05-17T13:36:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_mb_dr_jabo.pdf: 1682251 bytes, checksum: febd0010dceb761ccc4f0391786d0513 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-17T13:36:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 lima_mb_dr_jabo.pdf: 1682251 bytes, checksum: febd0010dceb761ccc4f0391786d0513 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-02-22 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) / Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) / Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa: 1) determinar as exigências de mantença de valina (Val), isoleucina (Ile) e triptofano (Trp) digestível utilizando diferentes sistemas de unidade; 2) avaliar as respostas de aves reprodutoras pesadas para diferentes ingestões de Val, Ile e Trp, determinar a eficiência de utilização e desenvolver um modelo fatorial; 3) calcular a ingestão ótima econômica de Val, Ile e Trp para aves reprodutoras pesadas utilizando o Modelo de Reading; 4) determinar as exigências de arginina digestível para manutenção utilizando diferentes sistemas de unidades; avaliar as respostas de aves reprodutoras pesadas para diferentes ingestões de arginina, estimar os parâmetros do Modelo de Reading pelo método da simulação e equação para aves reprodutoras pesadas e calcular a ingestão ótima econômica de arginina, considerando a relação entre custo-benefício e a variabilidade da população. Para o objetivo 1 foram realizados três ensaios utilizando 144 galos Cobb 500. A exigência de mantença foi obtida pela relação entre a ingestão do aminoácido e o nitrogênio retido. Os diferentes sistemas de unidade foram: mg/kg de peso corporal, mg/kg de peso metabólico e mg/kg de peso proteico. Para o objetivo 2 foram realizados três ensaios utilizando 192 aves reprodutoras pesadas. Os dados obtidos foram ingestão do aminoácido (IAA), peso corporal (PC) e massa de ovo (MO). O modelo modificado para calcular as exigências dos aminoácidos foi: IAA=[AAm×(PC×0,196)0,73]+[(Novo×MO×AAovo)/k], onde AAm é o aminoácido para mantença, Novo é o nitrogênio do ovo, AAovo é o aminoácido do ovo e k é a eficiência de utilização. Para o objetivo 3 utilizou-se os dados de AAI, MO e PC do objetivo 2 que foram ajustados pelo modelo de Reading. Para determinar as exigências dos aminoácidos pelo método da simulação foram utilizados 10.000 aves. Para o objetivo 4 foram realizados dois ensaios, o primeiro utilizando 42 galos Ross e o segundo utilizando 64 aves reprodutoras pesadas Ross. Os procedimentos utilizados foram semelhantes aos objetivos 1, 2 e 3. As conclusões obtidas foram: A exigência de manutenção é mais adequadamente expressa como teor de proteína corporal. A predição do modelo foi melhorado utilizando os coeficientes estimados com unidades fisiologicamente relevantes. O modelo de Reading pode ser utilizado para estimar as ingestões ótimas de aminoácidos para galinhas sob diferentes cenários genéticos e econômico e, dependendo dos ingredientes disponíveis e seus preços, o custo de cada um dos aminoácidos pode variar. / The objective of this research were: 1) determine the requirements for maintenance of valine (Val), isoleucine (Ile) and tryptophan (Trp) digestible using different unit systems; 2) evaluate the responses of broiler breeder hens to different intakes of Val, Ile and Trp, determine the efficiency of utilization and develop a factorial model; 3) calculate the economic optimum intake of Val, Ile and Trp for broiler breeder hens using the Reading Model; 4) determine the digestible arginine requirements for maintenance using different unit systems; evaluate the responses of broiler breeder hens to different intakes of arginine, estimate the parameters of the Reading Model by the method of simulation and equation for broiler breeder hens and calculate the economic optimum intake of arginine, considering the relationship between costbenefit and flock variability. For the objective 1 were conducted three trials using 144 Cobb 500 roosters. The requirement for maintenance was obtained by the relationship between amino acid intake and nitrogen retention. The different unit systems were: mg/kg of body weight, mg/kg of metabolic weight (BW0.75) and metabolic protein weight at maturity (BPm 0.73×u).For the objective 2 were conducted three trials using 192 Cobb 500 broiler breeder hens. The data obtained were: amino acid intake (AAI), body weight (BW) and the egg output (EO). The modified model to calculate the requirements of amino acids was: AAI=[AAm ×(BW×0.196)0.73]+[(Negg×EO×AAegg)/k] where AAm is the amino acid for maintenance, Negg is nitrogen egg, AAegg amino acid in egg, k is efficiency of utilization. For the objective 3 was used the AAI, EO and BW data from objective 2 that were adjusted by Reading Model. To determine the requirements of amino acids by the simulation method were used 10,000 birds. For objective 4 were conducted two trials, the first using 42 Ross roosters and the second trial using 64 Ross broiler breeder hens. The procedures used were similar to the objectives 1, 2 and 3. The conclusions obtained were: The maintenance requirement is more appropriately expressed as body protein content. The prediction of the model was improved using the coefficients estimated here with physiologically relevant units. The Reading Model could be used to estimate the optimum amino acid intakes for hens under different genetic and economic scenarios and depending on the ingredients available and their prices, the cost of each amino acid will vary. / FAPESP: 2013/13957-1