Development of Artificial Insemination Technique in Pig Production Based on the Evidence of Physiology and Molecular Biology in Reproductive Organs

© 2016 TERRAPUB, Tokyo. All rights reserved. doi:10.5047/agbm.2016.00602.0059 pean countries, more than 70% of pig farms carry out artificial insemination using liquid storage semen, and this rate reaches more than 98% in the Netherlands (Feitsma 2009). However, the diffusion of this technique has been still less than half in other countries including Japan. The improvements of both insemination technique and diluent extender of boar semen Abstract Reproductive technology in the animal production field not only improves the reproductive performance of swine but also reduces the production costs. However, the diffusion of this technique has been limited in most countries including Japan due to the reproductive characteristics of pig, such as multiple ovulations in female and large volume of semen in male. In females, the key mechanisms of oocyte maturation in pig are not different as compared with that of the rodent model. However, the timing and regulation of gene expression and enzyme activity are characterized in pig, which results in the longer duration of oocyte maturation and ovulation. In semen, seminal plasma has dual roles in sperm quality and successful implantation. The contaminating of bacteria in semen increases endotoxin activity and reduces the sperm quality. On the other hand, the seminal plasma contains factors to regulate immune activity to reduce the number of leukocytes to make an optimal condition for implantation and to maintain the pregnancy. Based on basic scientific information, we developed novel techniques for oocyte in vitro maturation, freezing and thawing sperm and artificial insemination. These technologies will be expanded to commercial farms to increase the production-efficiency all over the world. Development of Artificial Insemination Technique in Pig Production Based on the Evidence of Physiology and Molecular Biology in Reproductive Organs