Reduction of DNA fragmentation of freeze-dried boar sperm and elucidation of the repair mechanism for piglet production

2016 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26450462
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Integrative animal science
• Research Institution: National Agriculture and Food Research Organization (2016); National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences (2014-2015)
• Principal Investigator: KIKUCHI Kazuhiro 国立研究開発法人農業・食品産業技術総合研究機構, 生物機能利用研究部門 動物機能利用研究領域, 主席研究員 (20360456)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2017-03-31
• Keywords: ブタ / 精子 / 凍結乾燥 / DNA断片化 / 修復

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Freeze-drying causes DNA fragmentation in boar spermatozoa. Reduction of the fragmentation can be possible by the treatment with trehalose, however, this reduction does not affect fertilization and embryonic development. When we checked the expression of 6 kinds of DNA repair genes after the injection into matured oocyte, no clear evidence was detected. However, the expression of some kinds of the genes were expressed as the maturational stages progressed. These results suggest that the expression of these repair genes during maturation may contribute for the DNA repair of the freeze-dried sperm after the injection to matured oocytes.

Free Research Field

家畜繁殖学