Dr. Muhammad Anzar

Research Scientist

Dr. Anzar is a Research Scientist (Cryobiology), Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Saskatoon Research Center; and Adjunct Professor, Dept. of Biomedical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada. He is focussing on cryopreservation of mammalian semen, oocytes, embryos and reproductive tissues for long term fertility preservation and conservation of Animal Genetic Resources of Canada.

Dr. Anzar teaches Reproductive Physiology to Biomedical Science, Biology and Animal Science students at University of Saskatchewan.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Saskatoon Research and Development Centre & Western College of Veterinary Medicine

Current research and/or projects

I am mainly focussing on bio-secure cryopreservation of dairy, beef and bsion semen, oocytes and embryos, investigating the microbial causes of bulls' and cows' infertility, and developing fertility markers for breeding bulls.

Research and/or project statements

A genomic and metagenomic approach to quantifying the effect of climate change and environmental comtaminants on bison health ecology. A shared priority project "Genomic Adaptation and Resilience to Climate Change" among seven federal departments.
Seminal microbiome and bull fertility
Enhancement of mammalian gamete cryopreservation methods
Bison Integrated genomics for recovery, resistance, and reconciliation (Big3R).
Integrated Genomics for Sustainable Animal Agriculture and Environmental Stewardship

Professional activities / interests

Research and Development
Teaching
Graduate student supervision

Education and awards

D.V.M. College of Veterinary Medicine, Lahore, Pakistan

M.Sc. College of Veterinary Medicine, Lahore, Pakistan.

Ph.D. University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA

International experience and/or work

Lecturer, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lahore, Pakistan

Research Scientist, Pakistan Agricutural Research Council, Islamabad, Pakistan

Additional links

https://wcvm.usask.ca/departments/biomedical/biomedical-people/muhammad-anzar.php

Key publications

Chohan, M.R., Munro, B.J., Cowan, V.E., Anzar, M., Blakley, B., McKinnon, J., Kastelic, J.P., Rivera-Acuña, F., Singh, J. (2021). Feeding yearling Angus bulls low-level ergot daily for 9 weeks decreased serum prolactin concentrations and had subtle effects on sperm end points. Theriogenology, [online] 161 187-199. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.11.025
2021 - View publication details
Yang, S.X., Adams, G.P., Zwiefelhofer, E.M., Rajapaksha, K., Anzar, M. (2021). Cholesterol-cyclodextrin complex as a replacement for egg yolk in bull semen extender: sperm characteristics post-thawing and in vivo fertility. Animal Reproduction Science, [online] 225 http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106691
2021 - View publication details
Anzar, M., Rajapaksha, K., Boswall, L. (2019). Egg yolk-free cryopreservation of bull semen. PLoS ONE, [online] 14(10), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0223977
2019 - View publication details
Beck, K., Singh, J., Dar, M.A., Anzar, M. (2018). Short-term culture of adult bovine ovarian tissues: Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) vs. traditional in vitro culture systems. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, [online] 16(1), http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0337-y
2018 - View publication details
Gupta, A., Singh, J., Dufort, I., Robert, C., Dias, F.C.F., Anzar, M. (2017). Transcriptomic difference in bovine blastocysts following vitrification and slow freezing at morula stage. PLoS ONE, [online] 12(11), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0187268
2017 - View publication details
Arcarons, N., Morató, R., Vendrell, M., Yeste, M., López-Bejar, M., Rajapaksha, K., Anzar, M., Mogas, T. (2017). Cholesterol added prior to vitrification on the cryotolerance of immature and in vitro matured bovine oocytes. PLoS ONE, [online] 12(9), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0184714
2017 - View publication details
Cervantes, M.P., Palomino, J.M., Anzar, M., Mapletoft, R.J., Mastromonaco, G.F., Adams, G.P. (2017). In vitro-production of embryos using immature oocytes collected transvaginally from superstimulated wood bison (Bison bison athabascae). Theriogenology, [online] 92 103-110. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.017
2017 - View publication details
Cervantes, M.P., Palomino, J.M., Anzar, M., Mapletoft, R.J., Mastromonaco, G.F., Adams, G.P. (2017). In vitro embryo production in wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) using in vivo matured cumulus-oocyte complexes. Theriogenology, [online] 89 122-130. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.10.017
2017 - View publication details
Cervantes, M.P., Palomino, J.M., Anzar, M., Mapletoft, R.J., Adams, G.P. (2016). In vivo and in vitro maturation of oocytes collected from superstimulated wood bison (Bison bison athabascae) during the anovulatory and ovulatory seasons. Animal Reproduction Science, [online] 173 87-96. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.09.001
2016 - View publication details
Erickson, L., Kroetsch, T., Anzar, M. (2016). Relationship between sperm apoptosis and bull fertility: In vivo and in vitro studies. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, [online] 28(9), 1369-1375. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD14417
2016 - View publication details
Gupta, A., Singh, J., Anzar, M. (2016). Effect of cryopreservation technique and season on the survival of in vitro produced cattle embryos. Animal Reproduction Science, [online] 164 162-168. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.11.026
2016 - View publication details
Kumar, A., Kroetsch, T., Blondin, P., Anzar, M. (2015). Fertility-associated metabolites in bull seminal plasma and blood serum: 1H nuclear magnetic resonance analysis. Molecular Reproduction and Development, [online] 82(2), 123-131. http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/mrd.22450
2015 - View publication details
Ahmad, M., Ahmad, N., Riaz, A., Anzar, M. (2015). Sperm survival kinetics in different types of bull semen: Progressive motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal status and reactive oxygen species generation. Reproduction, Fertility and Development, [online] 27(5), 784-793. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/RD13400
2015 - View publication details
Anzar, M., Grochulski, P., Bonnet, B. (2014). Synchrotron X-Ray diffraction to detect glass or ice formation in the vitrified bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes and morulae. PLoS ONE, [online] 9(12), http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114801
2014 - View publication details
Hussain, S.A., Lessard, C., Anzar, M. (2013). A strategy for improvement of postthaw quality of bison sperm. Theriogenology, [online] 79(1), 108-115. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.09.015
2013 - View publication details
Prentice-Biensch, J.R., Singh, J., Alfoteisy, B., Anzar, M. (2012). A simple and high-throughput method to assess maturation status of bovine oocytes: Comparison of anti-lamin A/C-DAPI with an aceto-orcein staining technique. Theriogenology, [online] 78(7), 1633-1638. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2012.07.013
2012 - View publication details
Prentice-Biensch, J.R., Singh, J., Mapletoft, R.J., Anzar, M. (2012). Vitrification of immature bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes: Effects of cryoprotectants, the vitrification procedure and warming time on cleavage and embryo development. Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, [online] 10 http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1477-7827-10-73
2012 - View publication details
Hussain, S.A., Lessard, C., Anzar, M. (2011). Quantification of damage at different stages of cryopreservation of endangered North American bison (Bison bison) semen and the effects of extender and freeze rate on post-thaw sperm quality. Animal Reproduction Science, [online] 129(3-4), 171-179. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.12.002
2011 - View publication details
Anzar, M., Kroetsch, T., Boswall, L. (2011). Cryopreservation of bull semen shipped overnight and its effect on post-thaw sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and normal acrosomes. Animal Reproduction Science, [online] 126(1-2), 23-31. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2011.04.018
2011 - View publication details
Prentice, J.R., Singh, J., Dochi, O., Anzar, M. (2011). Factors affecting nuclear maturation, cleavage and embryo development of vitrified bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes. Theriogenology, [online] 75(4), 602-609. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.09.027
2011 - View publication details