1
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Wang K, Tao A, Zhang R, Yuan J. Microfluidic sperm trap array for single-cell flagellar analysis with unrestricted 2D flagellar movement. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:4827-4842. [PMID: 39291409 DOI: 10.1039/d4lc00515e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
Sperm capture techniques that immobilize sperm to halt their motility are essential for the long-term analysis of individual sperm. These techniques are beneficial in assisted reproductive technologies such as intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) by allowing selective screening of sperm. However, there is a notable lack of high-throughput and non-destructive sperm capture methods that allow the flagellum to beat freely, which is crucial for accurately reflecting the behavior of unfettered, freely swimming sperm. To bridge this gap, we introduce a novel microfluidic device specifically engineered to capture sperm without restricting flagellar motion. The design utilizes sperm's innate boundary-following behavior in both 3D and 2D environments to direct them into a capture zone. Once captured, the sperm head is restrained while the flagellum remains free to exhibit natural beating patterns. Utilizing this device, we explore the effects of hyperactivating agents, temperature, and their combined influence on the dynamics of bovine sperm flagella. The unrestricted flagellar motion offered by our device yields two prominent advantages: it mirrors the flagellar behavior of free-swimming sperm, ensuring research findings are consistent with natural sperm activity, and it prevents imaging overlap between the flagellum and the capture structures, simplifying the automation of flagellar tracking and analysis. This technological advancement facilitates the collection of waveform parameters along the entire flagellum, addressing inconsistencies that have arisen in previous research due to differing measurement sites, and enabling precise extraction of sperm behavioral properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiyu Wang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
| | - Antai Tao
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
| | - Rongjing Zhang
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
| | - Junhua Yuan
- Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale and Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China.
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2
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Bhat GR, Lone FA, Dalal J. Microfluidics-A novel technique for high-quality sperm selection for greater ART outcomes. FASEB Bioadv 2024; 6:406-423. [PMID: 39372125 PMCID: PMC11452445 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2024-00041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2024] [Revised: 07/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics represent a quality sperm selection technique. Human couples fail to conceive and this is so in a significant population of animals worldwide. Defects in male counterpart lead to failure of conception so are outcomes of assisted reproduction affected by quality of sperm. Microfluidics, deals with minute volumes (μL) of liquids run in small-scale microchannel networks in the form of laminar flow streamlines. Microfluidic sperm selection designs have been developed in chip formats, mimicking in vivo situations. Here sperms are selected and analyzed based on motility and sperm behavioral properties. Compared to conventional sperm selection methods, this selection method enables to produce high-quality motile sperm cells possessing non-damaged or least damaged DNA, achieve greater success of insemination in bovines, and achieve enhanced pregnancy rates and live births in assisted reproduction-in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). Besides, the concentration of sperm available to oocyte can be controlled by regulating the flow rate in microfluidic chips. The challenges in this technology are commercialization of chips, development of fully functional species-specific microfluidic tools, limited number of studies available in literature, and need of thorough understanding in reproductive physiology of domestic animals. In conclusion, incorporation of microfluidic system in assisted reproduction for sperm selection may promise a great success in IVF and ICSI outcomes. Future prospectives are to make this technology more superior and need to modify chip designs which is cost effective and species specific and ready for commercialization. Comprehensive studies in animal species are needed to be carried out for wider application of microfluidic sperm selection in in vitro procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghulam Rasool Bhat
- Division of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and ObstetricsSher‐e‐Kashmir Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of KashmirSrinagarIndia
| | - Farooz Ahmad Lone
- Division of Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology and ObstetricsSher‐e‐Kashmir Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of KashmirSrinagarIndia
| | - Jasmer Dalal
- Division of Veterinary Gynaecology and ObstetricsLala Lajpat Rai Veterinary and Animal Sciences UniversityHisarIndia
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3
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Abdul Halim MS, Dyson JM, Gong MM, O'Bryan MK, Nosrati R. Fallopian tube rheology regulates epithelial cell differentiation and function to enhance cilia formation and coordination. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7411. [PMID: 39198453 PMCID: PMC11358425 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51481-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The rheological properties of the extracellular fluid in the female reproductive tract vary spatiotemporally, however, the effect on the behaviour of epithelial cells that line the tract is unexplored. Here, we reveal that epithelial cells respond to the elevated viscosity of culture media by modulating their development and functionality to enhance cilia formation and coordination. Specifically, ciliation increases by 4-fold and cilia beating frequency decreases by 30% when cells are cultured at 100 mPa·s. Further, cilia manifest a coordinated beating pattern that can facilitate the formation of metachronal waves. At the cellular level, viscous loading activates the TRPV4 channel in the epithelial cells to increase intracellular Ca2+, subsequently decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential level for ATP production to maintain cell viability and function. Our findings provide additional insights into the role of elevated tubal fluid viscosity in promoting ciliation and coordinating their beating-a potential mechanism to facilitate the transport of egg and embryo, suggesting possible therapeutic opportunities for infertility treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melati S Abdul Halim
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer M Dyson
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Max M Gong
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Trine University, Angola, IN, USA
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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4
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Huang TK, Huang CH, Chen PA, Chen CH, Lu F, Yang WJ, Huang JYJ, Li BR. Development of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic device for motile spermatozoa sorting. Biosens Bioelectron 2024; 258:116353. [PMID: 38696966 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2024.116353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Male infertility is a pervasive global reproductive challenge, primarily attributed to a decline in semen quality. Addressing this concern, there has been a growing focus on spermatozoa sorting in assisted reproductive technology. This study introduces a groundbreaking development in the form of a thermotaxis and rheotaxis microfluidic (TRMC) device designed for efficient motile spermatozoa sorting within a short 15-min timeframe. The TRMC device mimics the natural sperm sorting mechanism of the oviduct, selecting spermatozoa with superior motility and DNA integrity. The experimental outcomes demonstrate a remarkable enhancement in the percentage of progressive spermatozoa following sorting, soaring from 3.90% to an impressive 96.11% when subjected to a temperature decrease from 38 °C to 35 °C. Notably, sperm motility exhibited a substantial 69% improvement. The TRMC device exhibited a commendable recovery rate of 60.93%, surpassing current clinical requirements. Furthermore, the sorted spermatozoa displayed a notable reduction in the DNA fragmentation index to 6.94%, signifying a substantial 90% enhancement in DNA integrity. This remarkable advancement positions the TRMC device as highly suitable for applications in in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), offering a promising solution to male infertility challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teng-Kuan Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Hsien Huang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Pei-An Chen
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Ching Hung Chen
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Farn Lu
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Ju Yang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jack Yu Jen Huang
- Taiwan IVF Group, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Ton Yen General Hospital, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Bor-Ran Li
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Electrical and Computer Engineering, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Center for Emergent Functional Matter Science, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan; Medical Device Innovation and Translation R&D Center, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
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5
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Yazdan Parast F, Veeraragavan S, Gaikwad AS, Powar S, Prabhakar R, O'Bryan MK, Nosrati R. Viscous Loading Regulates the Flagellar Energetics of Human and Bull Sperm. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2300928. [PMID: 38135876 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The viscoelastic properties of the female reproductive tract influence sperm swimming behavior, but the exact role of these rheological changes in regulating sperm energetics remains unknown. Using high-speed dark-field microscopy, the flagellar dynamics of free-swimming sperm across a physiologically relevant range of viscosities is resolved. A transition from 3D to 2D slither swimming under an increased viscous loading is revealed, in the absence of any geometrical or chemical stimuli. This transition is species-specific, aligning with viscosity variations within each species' reproductive tract. Despite substantial drag increase, 2D slithering sperm maintain a steady swimming speed across a wide viscosity range (20-250 and 75-1000 mPa s for bull and human sperm) by dissipating over sixfold more energy into the fluid without elevating metabolic activity, potentially by altering the mechanisms of dynein motor activity. This energy-efficient motility mode is ideally suited for the viscous environment of the female reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farin Yazdan Parast
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Shibani Veeraragavan
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Avinash S Gaikwad
- Institute of Reproductive Genetics, University of Münster, 48149, Münster, Germany
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Sushant Powar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ranganathan Prabhakar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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6
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Ma J, Xie Q, Zhang Y, Xiao Q, Liu X, Qiao C, Tian Y. Advances in microfluidic technology for sperm screening and in vitro fertilization. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:3717-3735. [PMID: 38189916 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-023-05120-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024]
Abstract
About 18% of reproductive-age adults worldwide are affected by infertility. In vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) are widely used assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) aimed at improving clinical outcomes. Efficient and noninvasive selection and isolation of highly motile sperm with intact DNA are essential for the success of IVF and ICSI and can potentially impact the therapeutic efficacy and the health of the offspring. Compared to traditional methods, microfluidic technology offers significant advantages such as low sample consumption, high efficiency, minimal damage, high integration, similar microenvironment, and high automation, providing a new platform for ARTs. Here, we review the current situation of microfluidic technology in the field of sperm motility screening and evaluation and IVF research. First, we focus on the working principle, structural design, and screening results of sperm selection microfluidic platforms. We then highlight how the multiple steps of the IVF process can be facilitated and integrated into a microfluidic chip, including oocyte capture, sperm collection and isolation, sperm sorting, fertilization, and embryo culture. Ultimately, we summarize how microfluidics can complement and optimize current sperm sorting and IVF protocols, and challenges and possible solutions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingtong Ma
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Qianlin Xie
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Yusongjia Zhang
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Qirui Xiao
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China
| | - Xiaoyu Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, 110003, China.
| | - Chong Qiao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110022, China.
- Key Laboratory of Maternal-Fetal Medicine of Liaoning Province, Shenyang, 110022, China.
| | - Ye Tian
- College of Medicine and Biological Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110169, China.
- Foshan Graduate School of Innovation, Northeastern University, Foshan, 528300, China.
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7
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Deng R, Wu Z, He C, Lu C, He D, Li X, Duan Z, Zhao H. Exosomes from uterine fluid promote capacitation of human sperm. PeerJ 2024; 12:e16875. [PMID: 38680889 PMCID: PMC11056104 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16875] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bound vesicles containing various proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids. EVs are found in many body fluids, such as blood and urine. The release of EVs can facilitate intercellular communication through fusion with the plasma membrane or endocytosis into the recipient cell or through internalization of the contents. Recent studies have reported that EVs isolated from human endometrial epithelial cells (EECs) promote sperm fertilization ability. EVs from uterine flushing fluid more closely resemble the physiological condition of the uterus. However, it is unclear whether EVs derived directly from uterine flushing fluid have the same effect on sperm. This study aimed to research the effect of EVs from uterine flushing fluid on sperm. Methods EVs were isolated from the uterine flushing fluid. The presence of EVs was confirmed by nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), Western blot, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). EVs were incubated with human sperm for 2 h and 4 h. The effects of EVs on sperm were evaluated by analyzing acrosome reaction, sperm motility, and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results The EVs fractions isolated from the uterine fluid were observed in cup-shaped vesicles of different sizes by TEM. All isolated vesicles contained similar numbers of vesicles in the expected size range (30-200 nm) by NTA. CD9 and CD63 were detected in EVs by western blot. Comparing the motility of the two groups incubated sperm motility significantly differed at 4 h. The acrosome reactions were promoted by incubating with EVs significantly. ROS were increased in sperm incubated with EVs. Conclusion Our results showed EVs present in the uterine fluid. Acrosome reactions and ROS levels increased in human sperm incubated with EVs. EVs from uterine fluid can promote the capacitation of human sperm. The increased capacitation after sperm interaction with EVs suggests a possible physiological effect during the transit of the uterus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renbin Deng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhao Wu
- Department of Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chaoyong He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Danpeng He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Xi Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zhenling Duan
- Department of Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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8
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Bouloorchi Tabalvandani M, Saeidpour Z, Habibi Z, Javadizadeh S, Firoozabadi SA, Badieirostami M. Microfluidics as an emerging paradigm for assisted reproductive technology: A sperm separation perspective. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:23. [PMID: 38652182 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00705-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Millions of people are subject to infertility worldwide and one in every six people, regardless of gender, experiences infertility at some period in their life, according to the World Health Organization. Assisted reproductive technologies are defined as a set of procedures that can address the infertility issue among couples, culminating in the alleviation of the condition. However, the costly conventional procedures of assisted reproduction and the inherent vagaries of the processes involved represent a setback for its successful implementation. Microfluidics, an emerging tool for processing low-volume samples, have recently started to play a role in infertility diagnosis and treatment. Given its host of benefits, including manipulating cells at the microscale, repeatability, automation, and superior biocompatibility, microfluidics have been adopted for various procedures in assisted reproduction, ranging from sperm sorting and analysis to more advanced processes such as IVF-on-a-chip. In this review, we try to adopt a more holistic approach and cover different uses of microfluidics for a variety of applications, specifically aimed at sperm separation and analysis. We present various sperm separation microfluidic techniques, categorized as natural and non-natural methods. A few of the recent developments in on-chip fertilization are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zahra Saeidpour
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Zahra Habibi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Saeed Javadizadeh
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Seyed Ahmadreza Firoozabadi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran.
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9
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Nassir M, Levi M, Wiser A, Shaked NT. Evaluation of women's aging influence on sperm passage inside the fallopian tube using 3D dynamic mechanical modeling. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1324802. [PMID: 38712332 PMCID: PMC11070836 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1324802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The fallopian tubes play an important role in human fertility by facilitating the spermatozoa passage to the oocyte as well as later actively facilitating the fertilized oocyte transportation to the uterus cavity. The fallopian tubes undergo changes involving biological, physical, and morphological processes due to women aging, which may impair fertility. Here, we have modelled fallopian tubes of women at different ages and evaluated the chances of normal and pathological sperm cells reaching the fertilization site, the ampulla. By utilizing a unique combination of simulative tools, we implemented dynamic three-dimensional (3D) detailed geometrical models of many normal and pathological sperm cells swimming together in 3D geometrical models of three fallopian tubes associated with different women's age groups. By tracking the sperm cell swim, we found that for all age groups, the number of normal sperm cells in the ampulla is the largest, compared with the pathological sperm cells. On the other hand, the number of normal sperm cells in the fertilization site decreases due to the morphological and mechanical changes that occur in the fallopian tube with age. Moreover, in older ages, the normal sperm cells swim with lower velocities and for shorter distances inside the ampulla toward the ovary. Thus, the changes that the human fallopian tube undergoes due to women's aging have a significant influence on the human sperm cell motility. Our model of sperm cell motility through the fallopian tube in relation to the woman's age morphological changes provides a new scope for the investigation and treatment of diseases and infertility cases associated with aging, as well as a potential personalized medicine tool for evaluating the chances of a natural fertilization per specific features of a man's sperm and a woman's reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mayssam Nassir
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mattan Levi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Amir Wiser
- Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Natan T. Shaked
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
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10
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Bouloorchi Tabalvandani M, Javadizadeh S, Badieirostami M. Bio-inspired progressive motile sperm separation using joint rheotaxis and boundary-following behavior. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:1636-1647. [PMID: 38284817 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00893b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
Infertility, as a daunting ever-increasing challenge, poses a worldwide issue to both couples and the healthcare sector. According to the World Health Organization, half of infertility cases are attributed to male factor infertility, either partly or completely. Semen parameters of concern including sperm count, morphology, and motility are deemed to play a vital role in the insemination process. Density gradient centrifugation, being a clinically established procedure for improving on the mentioned parameters, has long been proven to inflict damage on the DNA content of the sperm cells, inducing DNA fragmentation. Herein, a bio-inspired microfluidic device is proposed that capitalizes on the geometry of the uterotubal junction (UTJ) of the female reproductive tract, which can act as a rheological barrier. The device leverages sperm rheotaxis and boundary-following behavior which have been considered as major migratory mechanisms used by sperm during the fertilization process in the female body. The device consists of a series of parallel channels that guide progressive motile sperms into the main sorting channel, where the hydrodynamic barriers created by two consecutive UTJ-like constrictions select sperms based on their propulsive velocity and linearity of motion. The sequential sorting employed here allows for the fractionation of the sperm population into two subpopulations with varying degrees of motility. Both sorted populations showed a significant increase in straight line velocity, reaching 63.4 ± 14.4 μm s-1 and 74 ± 13.8 μm s-1 in the first and second pools, respectively from 35.2 ± 27.2 μm s-1 in raw semen. Additionally, sorted populations demonstrated over 30% reduction in DNA fragmentation index, an indication that the proposed device selects for undamaged sperms with high quality. Apart from the biological superiority of the sorted sperms, this device presents itself as an easy and clinically-applicable method for the separation of progressive motile sperms, while at the same time, benefiting from a straightforward procedure for sperm retrieval.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Saeed Javadizadeh
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
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11
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Caraglio M, Kaur H, Fiderer LJ, López-Incera A, Briegel HJ, Franosch T, Muñoz-Gil G. Learning how to find targets in the micro-world: the case of intermittent active Brownian particles. SOFT MATTER 2024; 20:2008-2016. [PMID: 38328899 PMCID: PMC10900891 DOI: 10.1039/d3sm01680c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Finding the best strategy to minimize the time needed to find a given target is a crucial task both in nature and in reaching decisive technological advances. By considering learning agents able to switch their dynamics between standard and active Brownian motion, here we focus on developing effective target-search behavioral policies for microswimmers navigating a homogeneous environment and searching for targets of unknown position. We exploit projective simulation, a reinforcement learning algorithm, to acquire an efficient stochastic policy represented by the probability of switching the phase, i.e. the navigation mode, in response to the type and the duration of the current phase. Our findings reveal that the target-search efficiency increases with the particle's self-propulsion during the active phase and that, while the optimal duration of the passive case decreases monotonically with the activity, the optimal duration of the active phase displays a non-monotonic behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michele Caraglio
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Harpreet Kaur
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Lukas J Fiderer
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Andrea López-Incera
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Hans J Briegel
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Thomas Franosch
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
| | - Gorka Muñoz-Gil
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, A-6020, Innsbruck, Austria.
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12
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Miller DJ. Sperm in the Mammalian Female Reproductive Tract: Surfing Through the Tract to Try to Beat the Odds. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2024; 12:301-319. [PMID: 37906840 PMCID: PMC11149062 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-021022-040629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm are deposited in the vagina or the cervix/uterus at coitus or at artificial insemination, and the fertilizing sperm move through the female reproductive tract to the ampulla of the oviduct, the site of fertilization. But the destination of most sperm is not the oviduct. Most sperm are carried by retrograde fluid flow to the vagina, are phagocytosed, and/or do not pass barriers on the pathway to the oviduct. The sperm that reach the site of fertilization are the exceptions and winners of one of the most stringent selection processes in nature. This review discusses the challenges sperm encounter and how the few sperm that reach the site of fertilization overcome them. The sperm that reach the goal must navigate viscoelastic fluid, swim vigorously and cooperatively along the walls of the female tract, avoid the innate immune system, and respond to potential cues to direct their movement.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Miller
- Department of Animal Sciences and Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA;
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13
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Siljestam M, Martinossi-Allibert I. Anisogamy Does Not Always Promote the Evolution of Mating Competition Traits in Males. Am Nat 2024; 203:230-253. [PMID: 38306281 DOI: 10.1086/727968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
AbstractAnisogamy has evolved in most sexually reproducing multicellular organisms allowing the definition of male and female sexes, producing small and large gametes. Anisogamy, as the initial sexual dimorphism, is a good starting point to understand the evolution of further sexual dimorphisms. For instance, it is generally accepted that anisogamy sets the stage for more intense mating competition in males than in females. We argue that this idea stems from a restrictive assumption on the conditions under which anisogamy evolved in the first place: the absence of sperm limitation (assuming that all female gametes are fertilized). Here, we relax this assumption and present a model that considers the coevolution of gamete size with a mating competition trait, starting in a population without dimorphism. We vary gamete density to produce different scenarios of gamete limitation. We show that while at high gamete density the evolution of anisogamy always results in male investment in competition, gamete limitation at intermediate gamete densities allows for either females or males to invest more into mating competition. Our results thus suggest that anisogamy does not always promote mating competition among males. The conditions under which anisogamy evolves matter, as does the competition trait.
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14
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Yaghoobi M, Abdelhady A, Favakeh A, Xie P, Cheung S, Mokhtare A, Lee YL, Nguyen AV, Palermo G, Rosenwaks Z, Cheong SH, Abbaspourrad A. Faster sperm selected by rheotaxis leads to superior early embryonic development in vitro. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:210-223. [PMID: 37990939 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00737e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
To understand the impact of sperm speed as they swim against the flow on fertilization rates, we created conditions similar to the female reproductive tract (FRT) on a microfluidic platform for sperm selection. Selected sperm were evaluated based on early development of fertilized embryos. Bovine and human spermatozoa were selected at various fluid flow rates within the device. We found that the speed of bovine spermatozoa increases as the flow rate increases and that the amount of DNA fragmentation index is lowered by increasing the flow rate. Bovine spermatozoa selected by our platform at low (150 μL h-1, shear rate 3 s-1), medium (250 μL h-1, shear rate 5 s-1), and high flow rates (350 μL h-1, shear rate 7 s-1) were used for fertilization and compared to sperm sorted by centrifugation. The samples collected at the highest flow rate resulted in the formation of 23% more blastocysts compared to the control. While selecting for higher quality sperm by increasing the flow rate does result in lower sperm yield, quality improvement and yield may be balanced by better embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Yaghoobi
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Abdallah Abdelhady
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Amirhossein Favakeh
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Philip Xie
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Stephanie Cheung
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Amir Mokhtare
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Yoke Lee Lee
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Ann V Nguyen
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Gianpiero Palermo
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zev Rosenwaks
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Soon Hon Cheong
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Alireza Abbaspourrad
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
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15
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Ghosh C, Ghosh S, Chatterjee A, Bera P, Mampallil D, Ghosh P, Das D. Dual enzyme-powered chemotactic cross β amyloid based functional nanomotors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5903. [PMID: 37737223 PMCID: PMC10516904 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41301-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Nanomotor chassis constructed from biological precursors and powered by biocatalytic transformations can offer important applications in the future, specifically in emergent biomedical techniques. Herein, cross β amyloid peptide-based nanomotors (amylobots) were prepared from short amyloid peptides. Owing to their remarkable binding capabilities, these soft constructs are able to host dedicated enzymes to catalyze orthogonal substrates for motility and navigation. Urease helps in powering the self-diffusiophoretic motion, while cytochrome C helps in providing navigation control. Supported by the simulation model, the design principle demonstrates the utilization of two distinct transport behaviours for two different types of enzymes, firstly enhanced diffusivity of urease with increasing fuel (urea) concentration and secondly, chemotactic motility of cytochrome C towards its substrate (pyrogallol). Dual catalytic engines allow the amylobots to be utilized for enhanced catalysis in organic solvent and can thus complement the technological applications of enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandranath Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Souvik Ghosh
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Ayan Chatterjee
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India
| | - Palash Bera
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), Hyderabad, Telangana, 500046, India
| | - Dileep Mampallil
- Department of Physics, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Tirupati, Mangalam, Andhra Pradesh, 517507, India
| | - Pushpita Ghosh
- School of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695551, India
| | - Dibyendu Das
- Department of Chemical Sciences and Centre for Advanced Functional Materials, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Kolkata, Mohanpur, 741246, India.
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16
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Meng JG, Xu YJ, Wang WQ, Yang F, Chen SY, Jia PF, Yang WC, Li HJ. Central-cell-produced attractants control fertilization recovery. Cell 2023; 186:3593-3605.e12. [PMID: 37516107 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Animal fertilization relies on hundreds of sperm racing toward the egg, whereas, in angiosperms, only two sperm cells are delivered by a pollen tube to the female gametes (egg cell and central cell) for double fertilization. However, unsuccessful fertilization under this one-pollen-tube design can be detrimental to seed production and plant survival. To mitigate this risk, unfertilized-gamete-controlled extra pollen tube entry has been evolved to bring more sperm cells and salvage fertilization. Despite its importance, the underlying molecular mechanism of this phenomenon remains unclear. In this study, we report that, in Arabidopsis, the central cell secretes peptides SALVAGER1 and SALVAGER2 in a directional manner to attract pollen tubes when the synergid-dependent attraction fails or is terminated by pollen tubes carrying infertile sperm cells. Moreover, loss of SALs impairs the fertilization recovery capacity of the ovules. Therefore, this research uncovers a female gamete-attraction system that salvages seed production for reproductive assurance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang-Guo Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yin-Jiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Wei-Qi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fei Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Shu-Yan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Peng-Fei Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Wei-Cai Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hong-Ju Li
- State Key Laboratory of Plant Cell and Chromosome Engineering, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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17
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Zaferani M, Abbaspourrad A. Biphasic Chemokinesis of Mammalian Sperm. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2023; 130:248401. [PMID: 37390449 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.130.248401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
The female reproductive tract (FRT) continuously modulates mammalian sperm motion by releasing various clues as sperm migrate toward the fertilization site. An existing gap in our understanding of sperm migration within the FRT is a quantitative picture of how sperm respond to and navigate the biochemical clues within the FRT. In this experimental study, we have found that in response to biochemical clues, mammalian sperm display two distinct chemokinetic behaviors which are dependent upon the rheological properties of the media: chiral, characterized by swimming in circles; and hyperactive, characterized by random reorientation events. We used minimal theoretical modeling, along with statistical characterization of the chiral and hyperactive trajectories, to show that the effective diffusivity of these motion phases decreases with increasing concentration of chemical stimulant. In the context of navigation this concentration dependent chemokinesis suggests that the chiral or hyperactive motion refines the sperm search area within different FRT functional regions. Further, the ability to switch between phases indicates that sperm may use various stochastic navigational strategies, such as run and tumble or intermittent search, within the fluctuating and spatially heterogeneous environment of the FRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meisam Zaferani
- Department of Food Science, Cornell University, Ithaca 14850, New York, USA
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18
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Lawley SD, Johnson J. Slowest first passage times, redundancy, and menopause timing. J Math Biol 2023; 86:90. [PMID: 37148411 DOI: 10.1007/s00285-023-01921-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Biological events are often initiated when a random "searcher" finds a "target," which is called a first passage time (FPT). In some biological systems involving multiple searchers, an important timescale is the time it takes the slowest searcher(s) to find a target. For example, of the hundreds of thousands of primordial follicles in a woman's ovarian reserve, it is the slowest to leave that trigger the onset of menopause. Such slowest FPTs may also contribute to the reliability of cell signaling pathways and influence the ability of a cell to locate an external stimulus. In this paper, we use extreme value theory and asymptotic analysis to obtain rigorous approximations to the full probability distribution and moments of slowest FPTs. Though the results are proven in the limit of many searchers, numerical simulations reveal that the approximations are accurate for any number of searchers in typical scenarios of interest. We apply these general mathematical results to models of ovarian aging and menopause timing, which reveals the role of slowest FPTs for understanding redundancy in biological systems. We also apply the theory to several popular models of stochastic search, including search by diffusive, subdiffusive, and mortal searchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean D Lawley
- Department of Mathematics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA.
| | - Joshua Johnson
- Division of Reproductive Sciences, Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
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19
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Kirat D, Alahwany AM, Arisha AH, Abdelkhalek A, Miyasho T. Role of Macroautophagy in Mammalian Male Reproductive Physiology. Cells 2023; 12:cells12091322. [PMID: 37174722 PMCID: PMC10177121 DOI: 10.3390/cells12091322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Physiologically, autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and self-degradative process in cells. Autophagy carries out normal physiological roles throughout mammalian life. Accumulating evidence shows autophagy as a mechanism for cellular growth, development, differentiation, survival, and homeostasis. In male reproductive systems, normal spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis need a balance between degradation and energy supply to preserve cellular metabolic homeostasis. The main process of autophagy includes the formation and maturation of the phagophore, autophagosome, and autolysosome. Autophagy is controlled by a group of autophagy-related genes that form the core machinery of autophagy. Three types of autophagy mechanisms have been discovered in mammalian cells: macroautophagy, microautophagy, and chaperone-mediated autophagy. Autophagy is classified as non-selective or selective. Non-selective macroautophagy randomly engulfs the cytoplasmic components in autophagosomes that are degraded by lysosomal enzymes. While selective macroautophagy precisely identifies and degrades a specific element, current findings have shown the novel functional roles of autophagy in male reproduction. It has been recognized that dysfunction in the autophagy process can be associated with male infertility. Overall, this review provides an overview of the cellular and molecular basics of autophagy and summarizes the latest findings on the key role of autophagy in mammalian male reproductive physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doaa Kirat
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Mohamed Alahwany
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Ahmed Hamed Arisha
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig 44519, Egypt
- Department of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Adel Abdelkhalek
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Badr University in Cairo (BUC), Cairo, Badr City 11829, Egypt
| | - Taku Miyasho
- Laboratory of Animal Biological Responses, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Rakuno Gakuen University, Ebetsu, Hokkaido 069-8501, Japan
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20
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Pozdyshev DV, Kombarova NA, Muronetz VI. Biochemical Features of X or Y Chromosome-Bearing Spermatozoa for Sperm Sexing. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2023; 88:655-666. [PMID: 37331711 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297923050085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023]
Abstract
This review presents information on biochemical features of spermatozoa bearing X or Y chromosome, enabling production of a sperm fraction with pre-defined sex chromosome. The almost only technology currently used for such separation (called sexing) is based on the fluorescence-activated cell sorting of sperm depending on DNA content. In addition to the applied aspects, this technology made it possible to analyze properties of the isolated populations of spermatozoa bearing X or Y chromosome. In recent years, existence of the differences between these populations at the transcriptome and proteome level have been reported in a number of studies. It is noteworthy that these differences are primarily related to the energy metabolism and flagellar structural proteins. New methods of sperm enrichment with X or Y chromosome cells are based on the differences in motility between the spermatozoa with different sex chromosomes. Sperm sexing is a part of the widespread protocol of artificial insemination of cows with cryopreserved semen, it allows to increase proportion of the offspring with the required sex. In addition, advances in the separation of X and Y spermatozoa may allow this approach to be applied in clinical practice to avoid sex-linked diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Denis V Pozdyshev
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia.
| | - Nina A Kombarova
- Head Center for Reproduction of Agricultural Animals, 142143 Bykovo, Moscow Region, Russia
| | - Vladimir I Muronetz
- Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
- Faculty of Bioengineering and Bioinformatics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, 119991, Russia
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21
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Pinto FM, Odriozola A, Candenas L, Subirán N. The Role of Sperm Membrane Potential and Ion Channels in Regulating Sperm Function. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:6995. [PMID: 37108159 PMCID: PMC10138380 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24086995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Revised: 04/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
During the last seventy years, studies on mammalian sperm cells have demonstrated the essential role of capacitation, hyperactivation and the acrosome reaction in the acquisition of fertilization ability. These studies revealed the important biochemical and physiological changes that sperm undergo in their travel throughout the female genital tract, including changes in membrane fluidity, the activation of soluble adenylate cyclase, increases in intracellular pH and Ca2+ and the development of motility. Sperm are highly polarized cells, with a resting membrane potential of about -40 mV, which must rapidly adapt to the ionic changes occurring through the sperm membrane. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the relationship between variations in the sperm potential membrane, including depolarization and hyperpolarization, and their correlation with changes in sperm motility and capacitation to further lead to the acrosome reaction, a calcium-dependent exocytosis process. We also review the functionality of different ion channels that are present in spermatozoa in order to understand their association with human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco M. Pinto
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC-University of Sevilla, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Ainize Odriozola
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Bizkaia, Spain; (A.O.); (N.S.)
- Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- MEPRO Medical Reproductive Solutions, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Luz Candenas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Químicas, CSIC-University of Sevilla, Avenida Américo Vespucio 49, 41092 Sevilla, Spain;
| | - Nerea Subirán
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine and Nursery, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), 48940 Bizkaia, Spain; (A.O.); (N.S.)
- Biocruces-Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
- MEPRO Medical Reproductive Solutions, 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
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22
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Zanovello L, Löffler RJG, Caraglio M, Franosch T, Hanczyc MM, Faccioli P. Survival strategies of artificial active agents. Sci Rep 2023; 13:5616. [PMID: 37024516 PMCID: PMC10079664 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-32267-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Artificial cells can be engineered to display dynamics sharing remarkable features in common with the survival behavior of living organisms. In particular, such active systems can respond to stimuli provided by the environment and undertake specific displacements to remain out of equilibrium, e.g. by moving towards regions with higher fuel concentration. In spite of the intense experimental activity aiming at investigating this fascinating behavior, a rigorous definition and characterization of such "survival strategies" from a statistical physics perspective is still missing. In this work, we take a first step in this direction by adapting and applying to active systems the theoretical framework of Transition Path Theory, which was originally introduced to investigate rare thermally activated transitions in passive systems. We perform experiments on camphor disks navigating Petri dishes and perform simulations in the paradigmatic active Brownian particle model to show how the notions of transition probability density and committor function provide the pivotal concepts to identify survival strategies, improve modeling, and obtain and validate experimentally testable predictions. The definition of survival in these artificial systems paves the way to move beyond simple observation and to formally characterize, design and predict complex life-like behaviors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luigi Zanovello
- Physics Department, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, Povo, Trento, 38123, Italy
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Richard J G Löffler
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, Povo, Trento, 38123, Italy
| | - Michele Caraglio
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Thomas Franosch
- Institut für Theoretische Physik, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 21A, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Martin M Hanczyc
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, Povo, Trento, 38123, Italy.
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87106, USA.
| | - Pietro Faccioli
- Physics Department, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 14, Povo, Trento, 38123, Italy.
- Trento Institute for Fundamental Physics and Applications (INFN-TIFPA), Via Sommarive 14, Povo, Trento, 38123, Italy.
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23
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Dil S, Ye J, Ma H, Unar A, Khan I, Ali A, Khan K, Menglei Y, Ma A, Shah B, Khan R, Liu Z, Shi Q. Cornichon protein CNIH4 is not essential for mice gametogenesis and fertility. Dev Biol 2023; 496:15-23. [PMID: 36657507 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cornichon is a functionally conserved transmembrane protein family that generally acts as a cargo-sorting receptor and cycles between the ER and the Golgi. Four Cornichon family members (CNIH1-4) have been identified. The key residues responsible for CNIH1-3 to bind to AMPA receptors are not conserved in CNIH4. Additionally, the function of CNIH1-3 in GPCR signaling is less established, while more established in case of CNIH4 protein that interact with GPCR and control their exportation. Many GPCRs are known for their essential roles in male and female gonad development. But whether CNIH4 plays a role in gametogenesis remains unknown. DESIGN Mice carrying the Cnih4 knockout allele (Cnih4tm1a-/-) were generated by insertion of a LacZ reporter and a polyadenylation site after exon 1. Western blot, Immunofluorescence, computer-aided sperm analysis and other methods were used in the functional analysis. RESULTS We identified that both Cnih4tm1a-/- male and female mice have normal fertility. Though, the sperm count, morphology, and motility of Cnih4tm1a-/- mice were slightly impaired compared to those of wild-type mice, the testes to body weight ratio and testicular histology were similar to those in control mice. Histological examination of Cnih4tm1a-/- ovaries detected follicles from primordial to antral stages and the numbers of follicles at each stage were also comparable to wild-type controls. Normal fertility was noticed after six-month fertility tests. That was likely due to the compensatory role of Chin3, which significantly upregulated in the Cnih4tm1a-/- mice to preserve the fertility role. CONCLUSION Despite CNIH4 showing enriched expression in mouse germ cells, our genetic knockout studies demonstrated that CNIH4 is not essential for gametogenesis and fertility in mice although with a slight reduction in count, motility and morphology of sperm in male mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sobia Dil
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Jingwei Ye
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Hui Ma
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ahsanullah Unar
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ihsan Khan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Asim Ali
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China; Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Khalid Khan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Yang Menglei
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Ao Ma
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Basit Shah
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China; Department of Biotechnology, COMSATS University Islamabad, Abbottabad Campus, Abbottabad, Pakistan
| | - Ranjha Khan
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China
| | - Zhiwei Liu
- Cambridge-Suda Genomic Research Center, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Qinghua Shi
- Division of Reproduction and Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230027, China.
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Miguel-Jiménez S, Borao S, Portolés-Bayod V, Casao A, Pérez-Pe R. In vitro approach points to a chemotactic effect of melatonin on ram spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2023; 198:36-46. [PMID: 36542876 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.12.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2021] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Sperm orientation mechanisms, such as chemotaxis, are essential for the sperm to reach the oocyte and fertilize it. Melatonin is secreted by the cumulus cells and is also present in the follicular fluid in mammals. The presence of membrane receptors for melatonin in ram spermatozoa, and its proven involvement in the sperm functionality, may suggest a possible role in the guided movement towards the oocyte. Hence, the objective of the present work is to study the in vitro potential chemotactic action of melatonin on ram spermatozoa, analysing the influence of the season (breeding and non-breeding) and the sperm capacitation state. The first experimental approach consisted in the inclusion of melatonin in the upper layer of a swim-up selection method. During the non-breeding season, the presence of melatonin at 100 pM and 1 μM concentrations significantly increased the cell recovery rate, and induced changes in the sperm location of the MT2 melatonin receptor, compared with the standard swim-up. Moreover, the selected sperm population with 100 pM melatonin presented a higher percentage of capacitated spermatozoa. The greater recovery rate obtained with melatonin could be due to the stimulation of sperm movement in random directions, i.e., a chemokinetic effect, or due to a guided movement (chemotaxis) towards the gradient of the melatonin. To elucidate this issue, together with the study of the influence of the sperm capacitation status, we performed a second experimental approach which consisted in the use of chemotaxis chambers and an open-source software (Open-CASA) that analyses the sperm trajectories towards the hormone gradient and calculates a chemotaxis index (SL index). There was a significant difference between the SL index in the presence of 1 μM melatonin and the control without hormone. This effect was only observed in capacitated spermatozoa with cAMP-elevating agents (Cap-CK samples) obtained during the non-breeding season. These results would point to an in vitro chemotactic effect of melatonin on ram spermatozoa, although chemokinesis cannot be ruled out. Nonetheless, the inclusion of this hormone in the swim-up procedure could enhance the sperm recovery rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Miguel-Jiménez
- Grupo BIOFITER-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular - Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Sonia Borao
- Grupo BIOFITER-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular - Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Virginia Portolés-Bayod
- Grupo BIOFITER-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular - Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adriana Casao
- Grupo BIOFITER-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular - Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosaura Pérez-Pe
- Grupo BIOFITER-Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Celular - Instituto Universitario de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain.
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25
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Yu SX, Wu Y, Luo H, Liu Y, Chen YC, Wang YJ, Liu W, Tang J, Shi H, Gao H, Jing G, Liu YJ. Escaping Behavior of Sperms on the Biomimetic Oviductal Surface. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2366-2374. [PMID: 36655581 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c04338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Before fertilization, sperms adhere to oviductal epithelium cells, and only a restrictive number of winner sperms can escape to reach the egg. To study the sperm escape behavior from the oviductal surface, we developed a microfluidic chip to fabricate an adhesive surface and to create a gradient of progesterone (P4) for mimicking the oviduct microenvironment in vivo. We identified three sperm motion patterns in such a microenvironment─anchored spin, run-and-spin, and escaped mode. By using kinetic analysis, we verified the hypothesis that the responsive rotation energy anchored with the adhered sperm head determines whether the sperm is trapped or detaching, which is defined as the hammer flying strategy of successful escape after accumulating energy in the process of rotating. Intriguingly, this hammer-throw escaping is able to be triggered by the P4 biochemical stimulation. Our results revealed the tangled process of sperm escape before fertilization in the ingenious microfluidic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sai-Xi Yu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Hao Luo
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Photon Technology in Western China Energy, Northwest University, Xi'an710069, China
| | - Yanan Liu
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Photon Technology in Western China Energy, Northwest University, Xi'an710069, China
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Ya-Jun Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Jianan Tang
- NHC Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Huijuan Shi
- NHC Key Lab. of Reproduction Regulation (Shanghai Institute for Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Technologies), Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Hai Gao
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
| | - Guangyin Jing
- School of Physics, State Key Laboratory of Photon Technology in Western China Energy, Northwest University, Xi'an710069, China
| | - Yan-Jun Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Shanghai Stomatological Hospital, Department of Systems Biology for Medicine, Fudan University, Shanghai200032, China
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26
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Graziano M, Palit S, Yethiraj A, Immler S, Gage MJG, Purchase CF. Frequency-dependent viscosity of salmon ovarian fluid has biophysical implications for sperm-egg interactions. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb244712. [PMID: 36511132 PMCID: PMC10086386 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Gamete-level sexual selection of externally fertilising species is usually achieved by modifying sperm behaviour with mechanisms that alter the chemical environment in which gametes perform. In fish, this can be accomplished through the ovarian fluid, a substance released with the eggs at spawning. While the biochemical effects of ovarian fluid in relation to sperm energetics have been investigated, the influence of the physical environment in which sperm compete remains poorly explored. Our objective was therefore to gain insights on the physical structure of this fluid and potential impacts on reproduction. Using soft-matter physics approaches of steady-state and oscillatory viscosity measurements, we subjected wild Atlantic salmon ovarian fluids to variable shear stresses and frequencies resembling those exerted by sperm swimming through the fluid near eggs. We show that this fluid, which in its relaxed state is a gel-like substance, displays a non-Newtonian viscoelastic and shear-thinning profile, where the viscosity decreases with increasing shear rates. We concurrently find that this fluid obeys the Cox-Merz rule below 7.6 Hz and infringes it above this level, thus indicating a shear-thickening phase where viscosity increases provided it is probed gently enough. This suggests the presence of a unique frequency-dependent structural network with relevant implications for sperm energetics and fertilisation dynamics. This article has an associated ECR Spotlight interview with Marco Graziano.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Graziano
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Swomitra Palit
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Soft Matter Lab, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Anand Yethiraj
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Soft Matter Lab, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Simone Immler
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
| | - Matthew J. G. Gage
- Department of Biological Sciences, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, United Kingdom
- Deceased
| | - Craig F. Purchase
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador, A1B 3X9, Canada
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27
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Acharya D, Das DK. A novel Human Conception Optimizer for solving optimization problems. Sci Rep 2022; 12:21631. [PMID: 36517488 PMCID: PMC9751073 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25031-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Computational techniques are widely used to solve complex optimization problems in different fields such as engineering, finance, biology, and so on. In this paper, the Human Conception Optimizer (HCO) is proposed as a novel metaheuristic algorithm to solve any optimization problems. The idea of this algorithm is based on some biological principles of the human conception process, such as the selective nature of cervical gel in the female reproductive system to allow only healthy sperm cells into the cervix, the guidance nature of mucus gel to help sperm track a genital tracking path towards the egg in the Fallopian tube, the asymmetric nature of flagellar movement which allows sperm cells to move in the reproductive system, the sperm hyperactivation process to make them able to fertilize an egg. Thus, the strategies pursued by the sperm in searching for the egg in the Fallopian tube are modeled mathematically. The best sperm which will meet the position of the egg will be the solution of the algorithm. The performance of the proposed HCO algorithm is examined with a set of basic benchmark test functions called IEEE CEC-2005 and IEEE CEC-2020. A comparative study is also performed between the HCO algorithm and other available algorithms. The significance of the results is verified with statistical test methods. To validate the proposed HCO algorithm, two real-world engineering optimization problems are examined. For this purpose, a complex 14 over-current relay based IEEE 8 bus distribution system is considered. With the proposed algorithm, an improvement of 50% to 60% in total relay operating times is observed comparing with some existing results for the same system. Another engineering problem of designing an optimal proportional integral derivative (PID) controller for a blower driven patient hose mechanical ventilator (MV) is examined. A significant improvement in terms of response time, settling time is observed in the MV system by comparing with existing results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Debasis Acharya
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology Nagaland, Dimapur, 797103, India
| | - Dushmanta Kumar Das
- Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, National Institute of Technology Nagaland, Dimapur, 797103, India.
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28
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Liu T, Xie L, Price CAH, Liu J, He Q, Kong B. Controlled propulsion of micro/nanomotors: operational mechanisms, motion manipulation and potential biomedical applications. Chem Soc Rev 2022; 51:10083-10119. [PMID: 36416191 DOI: 10.1039/d2cs00432a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Inspired by natural mobile microorganisms, researchers have developed micro/nanomotors (MNMs) that can autonomously move by transducing different kinds of energies into kinetic energy. The rapid development of MNMs has created tremendous opportunities for biomedical fields including diagnostics, therapeutics, and theranostics. Although the great progress has been made in MNM research, at a fundamental level, the accepted propulsion mechanisms are still a controversial matter. In practical applications such as precision nanomedicine, the precise control of the motion, including the speed and directionality, of MNMs is also important, which makes advanced motion manipulation desirable. Very recently, diverse MNMs with different propulsion strategies, morphologies, sizes, porosities and chemical structures have been fabricated and applied for various uses. Herein, we thoroughly summarize the physical principles behind propulsion strategies, as well as the recent advances in motion manipulation methods and relevant biomedical applications of these MNMs. The current challenges in MNM research are also discussed. We hope this review can provide a bird's eye overview of the MNM research and inspire researchers to create novel and more powerful MNMs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyi Liu
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China. .,DICP-Surrey Joint Centre for Future Materials, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Lei Xie
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China.
| | - Cameron-Alexander Hurd Price
- DICP-Surrey Joint Centre for Future Materials, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK.
| | - Jian Liu
- DICP-Surrey Joint Centre for Future Materials, Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7XH, UK. .,State Key Laboratory of Catalysis, Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Dalian 116023, Liaoning, China.,College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, 010021, PR China
| | - Qiang He
- Key Laboratory of Microsystems and Microstructures Manufacturing (Ministry of Education), Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.
| | - Biao Kong
- Department of Chemistry, Shanghai Key Lab of Molecular Catalysis and Innovative Materials, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemistry for Energy Materials, Fudan University, Shanghai 200438, China. .,Yiwu Research Institute of Fudan University, Yiwu, Zhejiang 322000, China
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29
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β-Defensin 19/119 mediates sperm chemotaxis and is associated with idiopathic infertility. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100825. [PMID: 36513070 PMCID: PMC9797948 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm chemotaxis is required for guiding sperm toward the egg. However, the molecular identity of physiological chemoattractant and its involvement in infertility remain elusive. Here, we identify DEFB19/119 (mouse/human orthologs) as a physiological sperm chemoattractant. The epithelia of the female reproductive tract and the cumulus-oocyte complex secrete DEFB19/119 that elicits calcium mobilization via the CatSper channel and induces sperm chemotaxis in capacitated sperm. Manipulating the level of DEFB19 in mice determines the number of sperm arriving at the fertilization site. Importantly, we identify exon mutations in the DEFB119 gene in idiopathic infertile women with low level of DEFB119 in the follicular fluid. The level of DEFB119 correlates with the chemotactic potency of follicular fluid and predicts the infertile outcome with positive correlation. This study reveals the pivotal role of DEFB19/119 in sperm chemotaxis and demonstrates its potential application in the diagnosis of idiopathic infertility.
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30
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Doostabadi MR, Mangoli E, Marvast LD, Dehghanpour F, Maleki B, Torkashvand H, Talebi AR. Microfluidic devices employing chemo- and thermotaxis for sperm selection can improve sperm parameters and function in patients with high DNA fragmentation. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14623. [PMID: 36379719 DOI: 10.1111/and.14623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional sperm processing uses centrifugation has a negative effect on sperm parameters and DNA integrity. We designed and fabricated a novel microfluid device based on chemotaxis and thermotaxis, and compared it with the swim-up method. Twenty normal samples with high DNA fragmentation were included. Each sample was divided into four groups: Group 1, control, Group 2: sperm selection by thermotaxis, Group 3: sperm selection by chemotaxis, and Group 4: sperm selection with thermotaxis and chemotaxis. We used cumulus cells in a microfluid device to create chemotaxis, and, two warm stages to form a temperature gradient for thermotaxis. The spermatozoa were assessed based on the concentration, motility, and fine morphology using Motile Sperm Organelle Morphology Examination, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), acrosome reaction (AR), and sperm DNA fragmentation. Concentration (22.40 ± 5.39 vs. 66.50 ± 19.21; p < 0.001) and DNA fragmentation (12.30 ± 3.96% vs. 17.95 ± 2.89%; p < 0.001) after selection in the chemotaxis and thermotaxis microfluid device were significantly lower than control group. The progressive motility (93.75 ± 4.39% vs. 75.55 ± 5.86%, p < 0.001), normal morphology (15.45 ± 2.50% vs. 10.35 ± 3.36, p < 0.001), MMP (97.65 ± 1.81% vs. 94 ± 3.89%, p = 0.02), and AR status (79.20 ± 5.28% vs. 31.20 ± 5.24%, p < 0.001) in the chemotaxis and thermotaxis microfluid device were significantly increased compared to control group. According to these findings, spermatozoa that have penetrated the cumulus oophorus have better morphology and motility, as well as acrosome reactivity and DNA integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Reza Doostabadi
- International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
- Royesh Infertility Center, Birjand University of Medical Science, Birjand, Iran
| | - Esmat Mangoli
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Laleh Dehghan Marvast
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Dehghanpour
- Research and Clinical Center for Infertility, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Department of Reproductive Biology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Behnam Maleki
- Infertility Center, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Hossein Torkashvand
- Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Reza Talebi
- International Campus, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
- Andrology Research Center, Yazd Reproductive Sciences Institute, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
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31
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Kekäläinen J. Cryptic female choice within individual males - A neglected component of the postmating sexual selection? J Evol Biol 2022; 35:1407-1413. [PMID: 35988118 PMCID: PMC9804180 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.14081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Cryptic female choice (CFC) is commonly assumed to act only in polyandrous mating systems, which allows females to bias fertilization towards the sperm of particular males. However, accumulated evidence has demonstrated that sperm show significant phenotypic and genotypic variation also within single ejaculates, which have important consequences for offspring phenotype and fitness. Here, I argue that these neglected sources of intra-male sperm variation often allow CFC to act also within individual males and facilitate fertilization bias towards genetically compatible (or otherwise preferred) sperm haplotypes. In this article, I explain prerequisites for within-male CFC, the criteria for demonstrating it and summarize accumulated evidence for this emerging selection process. Then, I evaluate prevalence of within-male CFC and review its potential evolutionary consequences. The aim of this article is to broaden the current definition of CFC by demonstrating that CFC has potential to act in all mating systems, in both internally and externally fertilizing species. Incorporation of the within-male CFC concept into the current models of sexual selection may provide novel insights into the deeper understanding of selective factors driving the evolution of mating systems and reproductive proteins. Finally, within-male CFC towards particular sperm haplotypes may increase our understanding of non-Mendelian inheritance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological SciencesUniversity of Eastern FinlandJoensuuFinland
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32
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Birch MR, Johansen M, Skakkebæk NE, Andersson AM, Rehfeld A. In vitro investigation of endocrine disrupting effects of pesticides on Ca 2+-signaling in human sperm cells through actions on the sperm-specific and steroid-activated CatSper Ca 2+-channel. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107399. [PMID: 35853389 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ca2+-signaling controls sperm cell functions necessary for successful fertilization. Multiple endocrine disrupting chemicals have been found to interfere with normal Ca2+-signaling in human sperm cells through an activation of the sperm-specific CatSper Ca2+-channel, which is vital for normal male fertility. OBJECTIVES We investigated 53 pesticides for their ability to interfere with CatSper mediated Ca2+-signaling and function in human sperm cells. METHODS Effects of the pesticides on Ca2+-signaling in human sperm cells were evaluated using a Ca2+-fluorometric assay. Effects via CatSper were assessed using the specific CatSper inhibitor RU1968. Effects on human sperm function and viability were assessed using an image cytometry-based acrosome reaction assay and the modified Kremer's sperm-mucus penetration assay. RESULTS 28 of 53 pesticides were found to induce Ca2+-signals in human sperm cells at 10 µM. The majority of these 28 active pesticides induced Ca2+-signals through CatSper and interfered with subsequent Ca2+-signals induced by the two endogenous CatSper ligands progesterone and prostaglandin E1. Multiple active pesticides were found to affect Ca2+-mediated sperm functions and viability at 10 µM. Low nM dose mixtures of the active pesticides alone or in combination with other environmental chemicals were found to significantly induce Ca2+-signals and inhibit Ca2+-signals induced subsequently by progesterone and prostaglandin E1. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that pesticides, both alone and in low nM dose mixtures, interfere with normal Ca2+-signaling in human sperm cells in vitro in low nM concentrations. Biomonitoring of the active pesticides in relevant matrices such as blood and reproductive fluids is very limited and the effects of real time human pesticide exposure on human sperm cells and fertility thus remains largely unknown. To which extent human pesticide exposure affects the chances of a successful fertilization in humans in vivo needs further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michala R Birch
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Mathias Johansen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels E Skakkebæk
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anders Rehfeld
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark; International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
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33
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Ali AH, Ajina T, Ali MB, Mehdi M. Efficacy of density gradient centrifugation technique (DGC) in enhancing sperm cell DNA quality for assisted reproductive technique. MIDDLE EAST FERTILITY SOCIETY JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1186/s43043-022-00108-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Objective
Density gradient centrifugation (DGC) is commonly used for sperm preparation before assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. This technique separates superior motile spermatozoa with normal morphology from the total sperm population. However, there is still controversy as to the effects of this sperm separation technique on sperm cell DNA integrity which is a determining element in the process of fertilization and embryonic development.
The objective of this study was to determine the effects of DGC on sperm cell DNA integrity as assessed by a novel association between two cytogenetic tests.
Study designs
Semen samples were collected from 30 fertile donors and 40 patients being candidates for ART treatment. Each sample was divided into two parts: the first portion was subjected to selection by two layers of DGC (45% and 90%) and the second fraction was rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline solution and centrifuged without density gradient.
Abnormal sperm chromatin structure as evaluated by a sperm chromatin dispersion (SCD) test and DNA denaturation as assessed by an acridine orange (AO) test were monitored in the initially washed sample and in the different layers of the density gradient centrifugation.
Results
DGC significantly improved the proportion of sperm progressive motility, total motility, and sperm morphology. Moreover, following density gradient centrifugation, the proportion of spermatozoa with denaturated DNA significantly decreased when compared with whole semen (p < 0.001). In addition, we found that spermatozoa isolated in the 90% layer possessed a significantly lower percentage of sperm chromatin decondensation when compared with those remaining in the 45% layer and unprocessed semen (p < 0.001).
Conclusions
Using double cytogenetic tests, our study shows that semen processing by density gradient centrifugation is useful in selecting sperm with higher double-strand DNA integrity and recommended to be used in sperm preparation for assisted reproduction.
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Genetically-biased fertilization in APOBEC1 complementation factor (A1cf) mutant mice. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13599. [PMID: 35948620 PMCID: PMC9365768 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17948-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Meiosis, recombination, and gametogenesis normally ensure that gametes combine randomly. But in exceptional cases, fertilization depends on the genetics of gametes from both females and males. A key question is whether their non-random union results from factors intrinsic to oocytes and sperm, or from their interactions with conditions in the reproductive tracts. To address this question, we used in vitro fertilization (IVF) with a mutant and wild-type allele of the A1cf (APOBEC1 complementation factor) gene in mice that are otherwise genetically identical. We observed strong distortion in favor of mutant heterozygotes showing that bias depends on the genetics of oocyte and sperm, and that any environmental input is modest. To search for the potential mechanism of the 'biased fertilization', we analyzed the existing transcriptome data and demonstrated that localization of A1cf transcripts and its candidate mRNA targets is restricted to the spermatids in which they originate, and that these transcripts are enriched for functions related to meiosis, fertilization, RNA stability, translation, and mitochondria. We propose that failure to sequester mRNA targets in A1cf mutant heterozygotes leads to functional differences among spermatids, thereby providing an opportunity for selection among haploid gametes. The study adds to the understanding of the gamete interaction at fertilization. Discovery that bias is evident with IVF provides a new venue for future explorations of preference among genetically distinct gametes at fertilization for A1cf and other genes that display significant departure of Mendelian inheritance.
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Xiao W, Yu M, Yuan Y, Liu X, Chen Y. Thermotaxis of mammalian sperm. Mol Hum Reprod 2022; 28:6650698. [PMID: 35894944 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaac027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm are guided through the female reproductive tract. A temperature difference of about 2 °C exists between the storage site and fertilization site of the mammalian oviduct, leading to the hypothesis that sperm can sense and swim towards the oocyte along a rising temperature gradient, known as thermotaxis. Research over the past two decades has reported that sperm feature a sophisticated thermal detection system to detect and track ambient temperature gradients. More recently, thermotaxis is expected to be added to the microfluidic isolation method based on sperm tactic responses for sperm selection. In this paper, mammalian sperm thermotaxis is discussed, explaining the underlying behavioral mechanisms and molecular basis, according to the latest research. Finally, this paper explores the possible application of sperm thermotaxis in assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanglong Xiao
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, P. R. China
| | - Mengdi Yu
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, P. R. China
| | - Yan Yuan
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, P. R. China
| | - Xingzhu Liu
- Queen Mary College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, P. R. China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330031, P. R. China.,Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology in Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, P. R. China
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He C, Li J, Wu Z, Lu C, Huang Z, Luo N, Fan S, Shen J, Liu X, Zhao H. The semenogelin I-derived peptide SgI-52 in seminal plasma participates in sperm selection and clearance by macrophages. Peptides 2022; 153:170799. [PMID: 35427699 DOI: 10.1016/j.peptides.2022.170799] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Macrophages can phagocytose sperm, especially damaged spermatozoa, in the female genital tract. The semenogelin I-derived peptide SgI-52 in seminal plasma exhibits seminal plasma motility inhibitor (SPMI) activity and can inhibit sperm motility. This raises the question of the role played by SPMIs in macrophage-mediated phagocytosis of sperm. We speculated that SgI-52 promotes sperm clearance by macrophages. Therefore, we investigated the phagocytosis of sperm in different states using this peptide. METHODS SgI-52 was fluorescently labeled, and its binding site for sperm was observed. The ability of macrophages to phagocytose sperm was observed using fluorescence confocal microscopy. Spermatozoa from different sources were co-cultured with SgI-52 in BWW medium for 4 and 22 h to compare the differences in their phagocytosis by macrophages. Sperm motility, induced acrosome reaction, mitochondrial membrane potential, and ATP content were examined after incubation with SgI-52. RESULTS SgI-52 could bind to spermatozoa in different states, mainly to the tail, and then spread to the acrosome. This effect was more pronounced in demembranated spermatozoa. SgI-52 promoted phagocytosis of spermatozoa by macrophages, decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, and increased the average ATP content of spermatozoa (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS We found for the first time that SgI-52 can bind to spermatozoa in different states and promote their phagocytosis by macrophages. Therefore, we speculate that SgI-52 is involved in the screening of sperm in the female reproductive tract and has potential value in improving assisted reproductive technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaoyong He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Jiankai Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Zhao Wu
- Department of Reproductive Genetics, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Chuncheng Lu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Zhuo Huang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Ning Luo
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Shipeng Fan
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Jihong Shen
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Xiaodong Liu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China
| | - Hui Zhao
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China; Yunnan Province Clinical Research Center for Chronic Kidney Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650032, China.
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Xiao W, Chen Y. TRPV1 in male reproductive system: focus on sperm function. Mol Cell Biochem 2022; 477:2567-2579. [PMID: 35595954 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) is a receptor used to perceive external noxious stimuli and participates in the regulation of various pathophysiological mechanisms in vivo by integrating multiple signals. The explosive growth in knowledge of TRPV1 stemmed from research on neuronal pain and heat sensation over the last decades and is being expanded tremendously in peripheral tissue research. The discovery that TRPV1 is functionally active in male animal and human reproductive tissues have attracted increasing attention in recent years. Indeed, many studies have indicated that TRPV1 is an endocannabinoid receptor that mediates Anandamide's regulation of sperm function. Other characteristics of the TRPV1 channel itself, such as calcium penetration and temperature sensitivity, have also been investigated, especially the possibility that TRPV1 could act as a mediator for sperm thermotaxis. In addition, some reproductive diseases appear to be related to the protective effects of TRPV1 on oxidative stress and heat stress. A better understanding of TRPV1 in these areas should provide strategies for tackling male infertility. This paper is the first to review the expression and mechanism of TRPV1 in the male reproductive system from molecular and cellular perspectives. A focus is given on sperm function, including calcium homeostasis, crosstalk with endocannabinoid system, participation in cholesterol-related sperm maturation, and thermotaxis, hoping to capture the current situation of this rapidly developing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanglong Xiao
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, No. 999 Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang, 330031, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Life Science and School of Life Science, Nanchang University, No. 999 Xuefu Avenue, Honggutan District, Nanchang, 330031, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Physiology and Pathology in Jiangxi Province, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People's Republic of China.
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Nosrati R. Lab on a chip devices for fertility: from proof-of-concept to clinical impact. LAB ON A CHIP 2022; 22:1680-1689. [PMID: 35417508 DOI: 10.1039/d1lc01144h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microfluidics offers tremendous opportunities to understand the underlying biology of fertilization at the single-cell level and improve infertility management, however, its true clinical impact is yet to be realized. Lab-on-a-chip devices have generally failed to diffuse into clinical practice due to issues associated with their translation or their practicality and performance in clinical settings. In this perspective, I reflect on how the full potential of microfluidic technologies for fertility can be realized by considering regulatory and manufacturing considerations at the development stage and by redefining our developmental goals to directly target the ultimate clinical needs. I also challenge the common rationale around developing technologies for infertility treatment based on reducing cost and complexity in operation as the ultimate outcome is invaluable, human life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton Campus, VIC 3800, Australia.
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Isolating motile sperm cell sorting using biocompatible electrospun membranes. Sci Rep 2022; 12:6057. [PMID: 35411022 PMCID: PMC9001631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-10042-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Motility is an indicator of sperm cell viability due to higher probability in swimming through the female reproductive tract and undergo fertilization with the egg cell. Centrifugation method is a technique to process high volume semen and isolate motile sperm cells but decreases the biochemical integrity of spermatozoa due to the contact with reactive oxygen species (ROS) from dead cells released during centrifugation. This study uses solution electrospun poly(ε-caprolactone) membranes as an alternative in isolating motile spermatozoa by utilizing a rationally designed 3D printed module set up, providing the same benefits as commercially available techniques with minimal processing time, and bypassing the centrifugation step to provide higher quality sperm cells. The membranes, with nominal pore size distributions ranging from 5 to 6 µm are highly porous structures suitable for establishing baseline data for sperm cell sorting by motility. The proposed method allows for isolation of motile sperm cells with 74% purity, while decreasing the processing time by 98% when compared to centrifugation techniques. This novel approach provides a facile method for isolating motile spermatozoa directly from frozen semen samples without any pretreatments and is easily scalable for small and medium scale farms as well as larger industries.
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Released ATP Mediates Spermatozoa Chemotaxis Promoted by Uterus-Derived Factor (UDF) in Ascaris suum. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23074069. [PMID: 35409429 PMCID: PMC8999757 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23074069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization requires sperm migration toward oocytes and subsequent fusion. Sperm chemotaxis, a process in which motile sperm are attracted by factors released from oocytes or associated structures, plays a key role in sperm migration to oocytes. Here, we studied sperm chemotaxis in the nematode Ascaris suum. Our data show that uterus-derived factor (UDF), the protein fraction of uterine extracts, can attract spermatozoa. UDF is heat resistant, but its activity is attenuated by certain proteinases. UDF binds to the surface of spermatozoa but not spermatids, and this process is mediated by membranous organelles that fuse with the plasma membrane. UDF induces spermatozoa to release ATP from intracellular storage sites to the extracellular milieu, and extracellular ATP modulates sperm chemotaxis. Moreover, UDF increases protein serine phosphorylation (pS) levels in sperm, which facilitates sperm chemotaxis. Taken together, we revealed that both extracellular ATP and intracellular pS signaling are involved in Ascaris sperm chemotaxis. Our data provide insights into the mechanism of sperm chemotaxis in Ascaris suum.
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Rao M, Tang L, Wang L, Chen M, Yan G, Zhao S. Cumulative live birth rates after IVF/ICSI cycles with sperm prepared by density gradient centrifugation vs. swim-up: a retrospective study using a propensity score-matching analysis. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2022; 20:60. [PMID: 35361225 PMCID: PMC8969370 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-022-00933-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Density gradient centrifugation (DGC) and swim-up (SU) are the two most widely used sperm preparation methods for in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI). However, existing comparisons of IVF/ICSI outcomes following these sperm preparation methods are insufficient and controversial. METHODS This retrospective study included all first autologous IVF and ICSI cycles performed between March 1, 2016, and December 31, 2020 in a single university-based center. A total of 3608 cycles were matched between DGC and SU using propensity score (PS) matching for potential confounding factors at a ratio of 1:1. The primary outcome was the cumulative live birth rate (cLBR) per aspiration. RESULTS PS matching provided 719 cycles after DGC and 719 cycles after SU. After adjusting for confounders, the recovery rate, progressive motility rate after sperm preparation, fertilization rate, good-quality embryo rate, and blastocyst formation rate were similar between the DGC and SU groups. The cLBR (odds ratio [OR] = 1.143, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.893-1.461) and LBR per transfer (OR = 1.082, 95% CI: 0.896-1.307) were also not significantly different between the groups. Furthermore, no significant differences were found in all of the laboratory and clinical outcomes following conventional IVF or ICSI cycles between the two groups. However, a significantly higher fertilization rate (β = 0.074, 95% CI: 0.008-0.140) was observed when using poor-quality sperm in the DGC group than in the SU group. CONCLUSIONS Sperm preparation using DGC and SU separately resulted in similar IVF/ICSI outcomes. Further studies are warranted to compare the effects of these methods on IVF/ICSI outcomes when using sperm from subgroups of different quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Rao
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Li Tang
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Longda Wang
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Mengxiang Chen
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Gaofeng Yan
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Shuhua Zhao
- Department of Reproduction and Genetics, First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650032, Yunnan Province, China.
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Sperm Physiological Response to Female Serum-Potential New Insights into the Reproductive Incompatibility Diagnostics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23073428. [PMID: 35408797 PMCID: PMC8998597 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23073428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Infertility is assumed to arise exclusively from male- and female-dependent pathological factors. However, recent studies have indicated that reproductive failure may also result from the reproductive incompatibility of the partners. Selection against such incompatibilities likely occurs via female-derived reproductive secretions, including follicular fluid (FF), that mediate gamete-level mate choice towards the sperm of specific males. To facilitate potential development of diagnostic tests for human reproductive incompatibility, we examined whether sperm physiological response to female serum indicate male–female compatibility in the presence of FF. We performed a full-factorial experiment, in which the sperm of 10 males were treated with the FF and serum of 6 healthy females. We found that sperm motility and viability in both biofluids were highly similar and that in 70% of the males, sperm serum treatment predicted male–female compatibility. We also identified male human leucocyte antigen (HLA) alleles and female (FF and serum) anti-HLA antibodies and tested whether the number of allele–antibody matches predict sperm physiological response to female fluids. However, no association was found between measured sperm traits and the number of allele–antibody matches. Overall, the present results may open novel possibilities for the future development of reproductive incompatibility tests and may pave the way towards more accurate infertility diagnostics and treatments.
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Yang Y, Chen F, Qiao K, Zhang H, Chen HY, Wang KJ. Two Male-Specific Antimicrobial Peptides SCY2 and Scyreprocin as Crucial Molecules Participated in the Sperm Acrosome Reaction of Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:3373. [PMID: 35328805 PMCID: PMC8952799 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23063373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) identified in the reproductive system of animals have been widely studied for their antimicrobial activity, but only a few studies have focused on their physiological roles. Our previous studies have revealed the in vitro antimicrobial activity of two male gonadal AMPs, SCY2 and scyreprocin, from mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Their physiological functions, however, remain a mystery. In this study, the two AMPs were found co-localized on the sperm apical cap. Meanwhile, progesterone was confirmed to induce acrosome reaction (AR) of mud crab sperm in vitro, which intrigued us to explore the roles of the AMPs and progesterone in AR. Results showed that the specific antibody blockade of scyreprocin inhibited the progesterone-induced AR without affecting intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, while the blockade of SCY2 hindered the influx of Ca2+. We further showed that SCY2 could directly bind to Ca2+. Moreover, progesterone failed to induce AR when either scyreprocin or SCY2 function was deprived. Taken together, scyreprocin and SCY2 played a dual role in reproductive immunity and sperm AR. To our knowledge, this is the first report on the direct involvement of AMPs in sperm AR, which would expand the current understanding of the roles of AMPs in reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Kun Qiao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
| | - Hui-Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China; (Y.Y.); (F.C.); (K.Q.); (H.Z.); (H.-Y.C.)
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
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Powar S, Parast FY, Nandagiri A, Gaikwad AS, Potter DL, O'Bryan MK, Prabhakar R, Soria J, Nosrati R. Unraveling the Kinematics of Sperm Motion by Reconstructing the Flagellar Wave Motion in 3D. SMALL METHODS 2022; 6:e2101089. [PMID: 35138044 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202101089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Sperm swim through the female reproductive tract by propagating a 3D flagellar wave that is self-regulatory in nature and driven by dynein motors. Traditional microscopy methods fail to capture the full dynamics of sperm flagellar activity as they only image and analyze sperm motility in 2D. Here, an automated platform to analyze sperm swimming behavior in 3D by using thin-lens approximation and high-speed dark field microscopy to reconstruct the flagellar waveform in 3D is presented. It is found that head-tethered mouse sperm exhibit a rolling beating behavior in 3D with the beating frequency of 6.2 Hz using spectral analysis. The flagellar waveform bends in 3D, particularly in the distal regions, but is only weakly nonplanar and ambidextrous in nature, with the local helicity along the flagellum fluctuating between clockwise and counterclockwise handedness. These findings suggest a nonpersistent flagellar helicity. This method provides new opportunities for the accurate measurement of the full motion of eukaryotic flagella and cilia which is essential for a biophysical understanding of their activation by dynein motors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushant Powar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Farin Yazdan Parast
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ashwin Nandagiri
- IITB-Monash Research Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, 400076, India
| | - Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David L Potter
- Monash Micro-Imaging, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences, Faculty of Science, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Ranganathan Prabhakar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Julio Soria
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
- Laboratory for Turbulence Research in Aerospace & Combustion (LTRAC), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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DEVELOPMENT OF A MICROFLUIDIC SYSTEM STRUCTURED ON A MODIFIED POLYDIMETHYLSILOXANE DEVICE FOR THE SELECTION OF BOVINE EPIDIDYMAL SPERMATOZOA. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 110:1-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Kekäläinen J, Hiltunen J, Jokiniemi A, Kuusipalo L, Heikura M, Leppänen J, Malinen M. Female-induced selective modification of sperm protein SUMOylation-potential mechanistic insights into the non-random fertilization in humans. J Evol Biol 2022; 35:254-264. [PMID: 35000241 PMCID: PMC9305144 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
In many species, mate choice continues after the mating via female‐ or egg‐derived biochemical factors that induce selective changes in sperm pre‐fertilization physiology and behaviour. Recent studies have indicated that gamete‐mediated mate choice likely occurs also in humans, but the mechanistic basis of the process has remained virtually unexplored. Here, we investigated whether female‐induced modifications in sperm protein SUMOylation (post‐translational modification of the proteome) could serve as a novel mechanism for gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans. We treated the sperm of ten males with the oocyte‐surrounding bioactive liquid (follicular fluid) of five females and investigated motility, viability and global protein SUMOylation status of the sperm in all (n = 50) of these male–female combinations (full‐factorial design). All the measured sperm traits were affected by male–female combinations, and sperm protein SUMOylation status was also negatively associated with sperm motility. Furthermore, our results indicate that female‐induced sperm protein SUMOylation is selective, potentially allowing females to increase sperm motility in some males, whereas decreasing it in the others. Consequently, our findings suggest that follicular fluid may non‐randomly modify the structure and function of sperm proteome and in this way facilitate gamete‐mediated mate choice in humans and possibly many other species. However, due to the relatively low number of female subjects and their potential infertility problems, our results should be replicated with larger subset of fully fertile women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jukka Kekäläinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Johannes Hiltunen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | - Annalaura Jokiniemi
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
| | | | - Marjo Heikura
- Eastern Finland Laboratory Centre Joint Authority (ISLAB), North Savonia Regional Laboratory, Kuopio, Finland
| | | | - Marjo Malinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Joensuu, Finland
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Morcillo i Soler P, Hidalgo C, Fekete Z, Zalanyi L, Khalil ISM, Yeste M, Magdanz V. Bundle formation of sperm: Influence of environmental factors. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2022; 13:957684. [PMID: 36299459 PMCID: PMC9591104 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2022.957684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooperative behaviour of sperm is one of the mechanisms that plays a role in sperm competition. It has been observed in several species that spermatozoa interact with each other to form agglomerates or bundles. In this study, we investigate the effect of physical and biochemical factors that will most likely promote bundle formation in bull sperm. These factors include fluid viscosity, swim-up process, post-thaw incubation time and media additives which promote capacitation. While viscosity does not seem to influence the degree of sperm bundling, swim-up, post-thaw migration time and suppressed capacitation increase the occurrence of sperm bundles. This leads to the conclusion that sperm bundling is a result of hydrodynamic and adhesive interactions between the cells which occurs frequently during prolonged incubation times.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Hidalgo
- Centro de Biotecnológia Animal SERIDA-DEVA-GIJON, Gijón, Spain
| | - Zoltán Fekete
- ONGO Vettech Ltd., Martonvásár, Hungary
- Faculty of Information Technology & Bionics, Pazmany Peter Catholic University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Laszlo Zalanyi
- ONGO Vettech Ltd., Martonvásár, Hungary
- Department of Computational Sciences, Wigner Research Centre for Physics, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Islam S. M. Khalil
- Department of Biomechanical Engineering, University of Twente, Enschede, Netherlands
| | - Marc Yeste
- University of Girona, Girona, Spain
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Veronika Magdanz
- Smart Nanobiodevices Group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, Barcelona, Spain
- Systems Design Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
- *Correspondence: Veronika Magdanz,
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André GI, Firman RC, Simmons LW. The effect of baculum shape and mating behavior on mating-induced prolactin release in female house mice. Behav Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arab083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Male genitalia are subject to rapid divergent evolution, and sexual selection is believed to be responsible for this pattern of evolutionary divergence. Genital stimulation during copulation is an essential feature of sexual reproduction. In mammals, the male intromittent genitalia induces a cascade of physiological and neurological changes in females that promote pregnancy. Previous studies of the house mouse have shown that the shape of the baculum (penis bone) influences male reproductive success and responds to experimentally imposed variation in sexual selection. Here, we test the hypothesis that the baculum is subject to sexual selection due to a stimulatory function during copulation. We selected male and female house mice (Mus musculus domesticus) from families with breeding values at the extremes of baculum shape and performed two series of experimental matings following which we examined the concentration of prolactin in the blood of females either 15 (“early”) or 75 (“late”) min after ejaculation. Our results provide evidence of a mating-induced release of prolactin in the female house mouse early after ejaculation, the level of which is dependent on an interaction between the shape of the baculum and male sexual behavior. Our data thereby provide novel insight into the mechanism(s) of sexual selection acting on the mammalian baculum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonçalo I André
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Renée C Firman
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
| | - Leigh W Simmons
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences (M092), The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Australia
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Tiwary E, Hu M, Prasain JK. Sperm-Guiding Unconventional Prostaglandins in C. elegans: Synthesis and Signaling. Metabolites 2021; 11:metabo11120853. [PMID: 34940611 PMCID: PMC8705762 DOI: 10.3390/metabo11120853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Prostaglandins comprise a family of lipid signaling molecules derived from polyunsaturated fatty acids and are involved in a wide array of biological processes, including fertilization. Prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase (a.k.a. cyclooxygenase or Cox) initiates prostaglandin synthesis from 20-carbon polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid. Oocytes of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) have been shown to secrete sperm-guidance cues prostaglandins, independent of Cox enzymes. Both prostaglandin synthesis and signal transduction in C. elegans are environmentally modulated pathways that regulate sperm guidance to the fertilization site. Environmental factors such as food triggers insulin and TGF-β secretion and their levels regulate tissue-specific prostaglandin synthesis in C. elegans. This novel PG pathway is abundant in mouse and human ovarian follicular fluid, where their functions, mechanism of synthesis and pathways remain to be established. Given the importance of prostaglandins in reproductive processes, a better understanding of how diets and other environmental factors influence their synthesis and function may lead to new strategies towards improving fertility in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ekta Tiwary
- Department of Medicines, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA;
| | - Muhan Hu
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35205, USA;
| | - Jeevan K. Prasain
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(205)-996-2612
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50
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Cajas YN, Cañón-Beltrán K, de la Blanca MGM, Sánchez JM, Fernandez-Fuertes B, González EM, Rizos D. Role of reproductive fluids and extracellular vesicles in embryo–maternal interaction during early pregnancy in cattle. Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:117-138. [PMID: 35231231 DOI: 10.1071/rd21275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The coordinated interaction between the developing embryo and the maternal reproductive tract is essential for the establishment and maintenance of pregnancy in mammals. An early cross-talk is established between the oviduct/uterus and the gametes and embryo. This dialogue will shape the microenvironment in which gamete transport, fertilisation, and early embryonic development occur. Due to the small size of the gametes and the early embryo relative to the volume of the oviductal and uterine lumina, collection of tissue and fluid adjacent to these cells is challenging in cattle. Thus, the combination of in vivo and in vitro models seems to be the most appropriate approach to better understand this fine dialogue. In this respect, the aim of this review is to summarise the recent findings in relation to gamete/embryo-maternal interaction during the pre-elongation period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yulia N Cajas
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Laboratorio de Biotecnología de la Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad de Cuenca (UC), EC010205 Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Karina Cañón-Beltrán
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; and Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Programa de Medicina Veterinaria, Fundación Universitaria Juan de Castellanos (JdC), 150001 Tunja, Colombia
| | - María Gemma Millán de la Blanca
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - José M Sánchez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Fernandez-Fuertes
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Encina M González
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Veterinary Faculty, Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Center Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (CSIC-INIA), Ctra de la Coruña KM 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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