Caffeine, pentoxifylline, and kallikrein are substances that affect the efficiency of sperms in the fertilization process; however, they have not been adequately studied. The present study aimed to examine the influence of caffeine, kallikrein, and pentoxifylline on sperm motility in bovine as well as investigate their optimum concentrations for increasing the movement of sperms in bovine. Frozen bovine sperms were thawed in universal IVF medium supplemented with 1, 5, and 10 mM caffeine or pentoxifylline or 1, 4, and 8 U/mL kallikrein and were then incubated for 30 min. Treated semen parameters were analyzed using a computer assisted semen analyzer (CASA). Data analysis showed that the mean values concerning progression and motility of sperm increased in caffeine and pentoxifylline treatments when compared with the kallikrein group. The obtained results revealed that kallikrein is not necessary for the improvement of bovine sperm motility. Additionally, our results revealed that 5 mM from caffeine was the best concentration added to the medium, followed by 1 or 5 mM from pentoxifylline. Therefore, it is concluded from the present study that caffeine has hyperactivation efficacy at 5 mM concentration compared to other treatments.

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Any improvements in assisted reproduction techniques at experimental level are important in in vitro production of large animal and human embryos. The in vitro embryo production system includes three major steps, namely in vitro maturation of the primary oocytes, in vitro fertilization of the matured oocytes, and in vitro culture of presumptive embryos. The success of in vitro fertilization and embryo culture depends on the success of in vitro maturation. Fenugreek seed extract (FSE) is an important source of steroid hormones, antioxidants, and anti-inflammatories. This study aims to investigate the effect of FSE on the maturation progression, glutathione (GSH) concentration, and expression of certain genes controlling maturation such as growth differentiation factor-9 (GDF-9), transforming growth factor beta receptor 1 (TGFβR1), activin A receptor type II-like 1 (ACVRL1), hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2), C-Myc, B-cell leukaemia/lymphoma gene-2 (BCL-2), and BCL2-associated X protein (Bax) of matured sheep oocytes. To carry out this study, cumulusoocyte complexes (COCs) aspirated from sheep ovaries were cultured in TCM-199 medium supplemented with various concentrations of FSE (0, 1 and 10 µg/mL). The results indicated that the mean values of matured oocytes were 65.2 compared with 47.8 in the control group. Concerning the candidate genes, expression was improved in oocytes matured with FSE when compared with oocytes cultured without extract. In conclusion, the addition of FSE to the maturation medium at 1 or 10 µg/mL concentrations improved the maturation of oocytes. ______________________________________________________________________________________

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the addition of Origanum vulgare extract to in vitro capacitation sperm medium (IVCSM). This study investigated the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of O. vulgare extracts at different concentrations (0.3, 0.6, 1.2 μg/ml and 25.0, 50.0, 100.0 μg/ml, respectively) in IVCSM. Significant enhancements in semen quality parameters such as total motility, live and live capacitated sperm were found when O. vulgare extract was added as an antioxidant source (1.2 µg/ml). The treatment of spermatozoa with O. vulgare extract at the highest concentration (100 μg/ml) for 2 hrs without antibiotics improved sperm characteristics. In conclusion, incubation of sperm with O. vulgare extract in capacitation medium had beneficial effects on the characteristics of ram sperm.

Heads of sheep (n = 600) and goats (n = 800) slaughtered at Al-Aziziah Abattoir in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were inspected for the presence of O. ovis larvae (L). Heads were split along the longitudinal axes, and larvae (L1, L2, and L3) were gathered. The infestation rate was significantly higher in goats (44.5%; 356/800) than that in sheep (22.3%; 134/600). Out of the 151 collected larvae from sheep, 0% were L1, 1.3% were L2, and 98.7% were L3. Out of the total of 468 larvae from goats, 0% were L1, 1.2% were L2, and 98.8% were L3. The infestation rate was significantly higher in males than that in females. Myiasis-causing larvae collected from Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were authenticated as O. ovis, according to morphological characteristics. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of a partial fragment (600 bp) of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (mtCOI) gene further confirmed the species. Phylogenetic analysis based on the partial mtCOI gene sequence demonstrated that 23 unique sequences showed high similarity based on nucleotide pairs of O. ovis accessions retrieved from GenBank.

Light is an important environmental factor that controls the regulation of physiological functions of organisms. Melatonin is considered as one of the major hormones that play an important role in protecting body from many harmful effects and acts as a powerful anti-oxidant source to controlling the levels of antioxidant enzymes within the body. The main objectives of this work were to study the effect of 1) photoperiod changes and 2) exogenous melatonin hormone treatment on the sperm properties, body and testis weight, embryo characteristics, and concentration level of melatonin and testosterone in treated rat serum. This study has been conducted using thirty-six male rats and one hundred and twenty female rats. Animals were divided into six groups, each group containing six males and twenty female rats. Our results showed a significant influence of photoperiod changes on the melatonin and testosterone hormones concentration in rats’ serum, body weight only, while the other characteristics not affected. As for the effect of melatonin it has been found that the movement of sperm in GIII and IV, as well as embryos absorbed and newborns weight traits has been significantly affected, while the rest of the properties were not significantly affected by melatonin treatment.