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Yang L, Ruan H, Ma S, Elokil AA, Li S. Transcriptome analysis and identification of genes associated with individual fertilization rate differences in hen infundibulum. Br Poult Sci 2022; 64:268-274. [PMID: 36416611 DOI: 10.1080/00071668.2022.2149320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
1. Fertilisation rate is closely related to the reproductive performance and economic status of chicken laying breeders. In this study, two flocks (n = 1,029 in population I and n = 358 in population II) in the later laying period were used for investigating the individual differences among population fertilisation rates (FRs).2. The funnel and distal parts of the infundibulum were collected from nine individuals (five with low FR and four with high FR from population II) and RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) method was used to investigate the transcriptome differences in fertilisation. Differences in fertilisation regulation were investigated by comparing the different parts (funnel and distal) of the infundibulum between the low FR and high FR groups.3. There were notable individual FR differences in both categories. Some individuals had a relative high FR (≥90%) for a long time (>5 days after AI), contrarily, some individuals lost the ability to fertilise eggs in a very short time.4. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs), such as DUSP7, PPP1R3B, FYB, OVA, OVALX and OVALY may be associated with sperm functional regulation, fertilisation and early-stage fertilised ovum development processes. DEGs such as AVBD1, AVBD2, AVBD6, NFATC2 and BANK1 indicated a severe immune response to sperm survival and fertilisation in the oviduct.5. The results suggested that individual differences should be considered in the breeding and reproduction process. The DEGs identified in this study may promote our understanding of different fertilisation regulation in laying breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liubin Yang
- College of Food Sciences & Technology (Ministry of Education), Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, China
| | - Hongji Ruan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, China
| | - Abdelmotaleb A. Elokil
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, China
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
| | - Shijun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei Province 430070, China
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Ichikawa Y, Matsuzaki M, Mizushima S, Sasanami T. Possible involvement of annexin A6 in preferential sperm penetration in the germinal disk region. REPRODUCTION AND FERTILITY 2022; 3:152-161. [PMID: 35972319 PMCID: PMC9422249 DOI: 10.1530/raf-21-0115] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract During fertilization, avian sperm preferentially penetrate into the perivitelline membrane that covers the germinal disk region where the female nucleus is present. This phenomenon has been observed not only in domestic birds but also in wild birds; however, the mechanisms controlling sperm preference are still unclear. In this study, we investigated the possible involvement of annexin family protein in sperm-egg interaction in Japanese quail. Microscopic examination of fertilized eggs indicated that quail sperm penetration only occurred in the germinal disk region, and sperm localized outside the germinal disk were trapped in the perivitelline membrane. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of annexin A1 and A6 in the oocyte membrane, while annexin A6 localized in the perivitelline space of the germinal disk region. Further, our sperm binding assay using recombinant annexin A6 demonstrated that ejaculated sperm specifically bound to annexin A6 expressed in mammalian cell lines. These results suggest that annexin A6, which is expressed on the surface of oocytes, may function in sperm-egg interaction in the germinal disk region and that this binding may ensure sperm retention on the surface of the egg plasma membrane until fertilization takes place in Japanese quail. Lay summary In bird species, fertilization takes place immediately after ovulation of the egg. Sperm preferentially penetrate a specific area of the egg coating that covers the 'germinal disk region' - this area contains the cell that needs to be fertilized by a sperm. However, since the bird egg is extremely large in size and sperm must reach the 'germinal disk region' to achieve fertilization, it is unclear how this happens. Annexin proteins support fertilization in mammals, and we found that annexin A6 protein exhibits a unique localization in the germinal disk region in the eggs of Japanese quail. To test this interaction, we incubated quail sperm with cells that produced annexin A6 and found that ejaculated sperm bound to the cells. These results suggest that annexin A6 may have a role in the sperm-egg interaction in the germinal disk region in Japanese quail.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshinobu Ichikawa
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Mei Matsuzaki
- Program of Food and AgriLife Science, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima City, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shusei Mizushima
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Sasanami
- Department of Applied Life Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan
- Shizuoka Institute for the Study of Marine Biology and Chemistry, Shizuoka University, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka, Japan
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Cramer ERA, Grønstøl G, Maxwell L, Kovach AI, Lifjeld JT. Sperm length divergence as a potential prezygotic barrier in a passerine hybrid zone. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:9489-9497. [PMID: 34306637 PMCID: PMC8293778 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.7768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The saltmarsh sparrow Ammospiza caudacuta and Nelson's sparrow A. nelsoni differ in ecological niche, mating behavior, and plumage, but they hybridize where their breeding distributions overlap. In this advanced hybrid zone, past interbreeding and current backcrossing result in substantial genomic introgression in both directions, although few hybrids are currently produced in most locations. However, because both species are nonterritorial and have only brief male-female interactions, it is difficult to determine to what extent assortative mating explains the low frequency of hybrid offspring. Since females often copulate with multiple males, a role of sperm as a postcopulatory prezygotic barrier appears plausible. Here, we show that sperm length differs between the two species in the hybrid zone, with low among-male variation consistent with strong postcopulatory sexual selection on sperm cells. We hypothesize that divergence in sperm length may constitute a reproductive barrier between species, as sperm length co-evolves with the size of specialized female sperm storage tubules. Sperm does not appear to act as a postzygotic barrier, as sperm from hybrids was unexceptional.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Logan Maxwell
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
| | - Adrienne I. Kovach
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New HampshireDurhamNHUSA
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Rengaraj D, Hwang YS, Lee HC, Han JY. Zygotic genome activation in the chicken: a comparative review. Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1879-1891. [PMID: 31728579 PMCID: PMC11104987 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03360-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2019] [Revised: 10/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Maternal RNAs and proteins in the oocyte contribute to early embryonic development. After fertilization, these maternal factors are cleared and embryonic development is determined by an individual's own RNAs and proteins, in a process called the maternal-to-zygotic transition. Zygotic transcription is initially inactive, but is eventually activated by maternal transcription factors. The timing and molecular mechanisms involved in zygotic genome activation (ZGA) have been well-described in many species. Among birds, a transcriptome-based understanding of ZGA has only been explored in chickens by RNA sequencing of intrauterine embryos. RNA sequencing of chicken intrauterine embryos, including oocytes, zygotes, and Eyal-Giladi and Kochav (EGK) stages I-X has enabled the identification of differentially expressed genes between consecutive stages. These studies have revealed that there are two waves of ZGA: a minor wave at the one-cell stage (shortly after fertilization) and a major wave between EGK.III and EGK.VI (during cellularization). In the chicken, the maternal genome is activated during minor ZGA and the paternal genome is quiescent until major ZGA to avoid transcription from supernumerary sperm nuclei. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of events in intrauterine embryonic development in birds (and particularly in chickens), as well as a transcriptome-based analysis of ZGA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deivendran Rengaraj
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
| | - Young Sun Hwang
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Hyung Chul Lee
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Jae Yong Han
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, and Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
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Zhang P, Jiang W, Luo N, Zhu W, Fan L. IQ motif containing D (IQCD), a new acrosomal protein involved in the acrosome reaction and fertilisation. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:898-914. [DOI: 10.1071/rd18416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The acrosome is single, large, dense-core secretory granule overlying the nucleus of most mammalian spermatozoa. Its exocytosis, the acrosome reaction, is a crucial event during fertilisation. In this study we identified a new acrosome-associated gene, namely IQ motif containing D (IQCD), expressed nearly in multiple tissues with highest expression levels in the testis. In mouse testis, Iqcd transcript accumulated from Postnatal Day (PND) 1 to adulthood. However, expression of IQCD protein at the testicular development stage started primarily from PND 18 and increased in an age-dependent manner until plateauing in adulthood. IQCD was primarily accumulated in the acrosome area of round and elongating spermatids within seminiferous tubules of the testes during the late stage of spermiogenesis; this immunolocalisation pattern is similar in mice and humans. IQCD levels in spermatozoa were significantly lower in IVF patients with total fertilisation failure or a low fertilisation rate than in healthy men. Anti-IQCD antibody significantly inhibited the acrosome reaction and slightly reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation levels in human spermatozoa, but specifically blocked murine IVF. IQCD interacted with mammalian homolog of C. elegans uncoordinated gene 13 (Munc13) in spermatozoa and may participate in acrosome exocytosis. In conclusion, this study identified a new acrosomal protein, namely IQCD, which is involved in fertilisation and the acrosome reaction.
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Støstad HN, Johnsen A, Lifjeld JT, Rowe M. Sperm head morphology is associated with sperm swimming speed: A comparative study of songbirds using electron microscopy. Evolution 2018; 72:1918-1932. [DOI: 10.1111/evo.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Revised: 05/24/2018] [Accepted: 07/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Arild Johnsen
- Natural History Museum University of Oslo 0318 Oslo Norway
| | | | - Melissah Rowe
- Natural History Museum University of Oslo 0318 Oslo Norway
- Centre for Ecological and Evolutionary Synthesis, Department of Biosciences University of Oslo 0316 Oslo Norway
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