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Mofadel HA, Hussein HA, Abd-Elhafee HH, El-Sherry TM. Impact of various cryo-preservation steps on sperm rheotaxis and sperm kinematics in bull. Sci Rep 2024; 14:11403. [PMID: 38762581 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61617-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Semen cryopreservation is an important tool that has massively contributed to the progression of animal reproduction, especially in cattle. Nonetheless, a large part of the sperm population suffers from cryostress and loses fertility during the process. Although bovine semen cryopreservation is more advanced than any other species, there are still some missing links in the technology knowledge. The aim of the current study was to detect the effect of cryopreservation steps on sperm rheotaxis. Semen samples were collected from sex bulls and analyzed inside a microfluidic platform with CASA after each step of cryopreservation, including control, dilution with yolk citrate, cryoprotectant addition, and cooling or freezing. The results showed that positive rheotaxis % (PR) was not affected during cryopreservation. On the contrary, the sperm kinematics of the positive rheotactic sperm undergo significant changes, as velocity parameters (VCL, VSL, and VAP) were lower in both the cryoprotectant adding and cooling/freezing steps than in the control and yolk citrate dilution steps, while progression parameters (LIN and BCF) were higher in the cryoprotectant and cooling/freezing steps than in the control and yolk citrate dilution steps. Beside these results, an interesting phenomenon of sperm backward positive rheotaxis has been observed. The results of backward sperm rheotaxis samples revealed a significant decrease in PR%, while all sperm kinematics except BCF were significantly higher than normal rheotaxis samples. Based on these results, we conclude that positive rheotactic sperm cells are the elite of the sperm population; however, they still get some sublethal cryodamage, as shown by alterations in sperm kinematics. We also suggest that the sperm-positive rheotaxis mechanism is a mixture of an active and passive process rather than a passive physical one.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haitham A Mofadel
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Hassan A Hussein
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt
| | - Hanan H Abd-Elhafee
- Department of Cell and Tissues, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.
| | - Taymour M El-Sherry
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, 71526, Egypt.
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Zhao J, Yang PC, Yang H, Wang ZB, El-Samahy M, Wang F, Zhang YL. Dietary supplementation with metformin improves testis function and semen quality and increases antioxidants and autophagy capacity in goats. Theriogenology 2022; 188:79-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Mocé E, Mocé ML, Lozano-Palazón SA, Bernácer J, Martínez-Granell MM, Esteve IC, Bernat F, Contreras SJ, Villalba I, Gómez EA. Fertility prediction in dairy goats from Murciano-Granadina breed: The role of sperm evaluation and female traits. Animal 2022; 16:100525. [PMID: 35468505 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100525] [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: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility is one of the most economically important traits in farm animals, due to the direct and indirect costs associated to low pregnancy rates. Thus, one of the priority goals in animal reproduction is to predict the performance that the semen doses will have in vivo based on the quality values obtained in laboratory assays. Attempts have been made for getting a predictive model of fertility of frozen-thawed sperm in dairy goats, but similar studies have not been conducted for chilled goat buck sperm doses that are mostly used for artificial insemination in many countries including Spain. We study how parameters of in vitro sperm quality and characteristics of Murciano-Granadina dairy goats may affect the in vivo fertility obtained after artificial insemination with semen doses chilled at 4 °C. Moreover, this information was used for obtaining predictive models of the fertility. Sixty-three ejaculates from 13 males were used to prepare chilled doses for the insemination of 495 goats over 13 sessions. Fresh and chilled sperm were evaluated for motility and plasma membrane integrity with a computer-assisted sperm analysis system and flow cytometry, respectively. Fertility was determined at parturition, according to the kidding goats. Overall fertility was 59.6%. Pearson's correlation coefficients between in vivo fertility and quality variables of fresh sperm were not significant and were low (below 0.34 in absolute value) for chilled sperm. Females' characteristics had a low negative impact on fertility (correlation coefficients of -0.19 with age, -0.20 with parturitions and -0.11 with total milk yield obtained in the best lactation). Fixed and mixed logistic regression procedures were used trying to explain the fertility results. None of the models accurately predicted fertility, but the best models included the percentage of total motile sperm or average path velocity from fresh semen, age of the females and the session effect (uncontrolled environmental effects). These analyses showed that primiparous goats were 2.42 times more likely to get pregnant than goats that had kidded four or more times. Our field assay data on fertility in Murciano-Granadina dairy goats highlighted the importance of making quality controls of sperm, of choosing the doses presenting high percentages of motile sperm exhibiting regular trajectories and of selecting the youngest goats for AI, after their first kidding. Efforts should continue to obtain better predictive models for improving fertility in goat dairy herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Mocé
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - M L Mocé
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA), Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C. Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46113, Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - S A Lozano-Palazón
- ACRIMUR, C. Barón del Solar, 22-A, Edificio II, Entresuelo A, Puerta B, 30520 Jumilla, Murcia, Spain
| | - J Bernácer
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - M M Martínez-Granell
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - I C Esteve
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - F Bernat
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - S J Contreras
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - I Villalba
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain
| | - E A Gómez
- CITA-Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; Unidad Asociada UCH-CEU - IVIA, Valencia, Spain.
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Impact of Cryopreservation on Motile Subpopulations and Tyrosine-Phosphorylated Regions of Ram Spermatozoa during Capacitating Conditions. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111213. [PMID: 34827206 PMCID: PMC8614982 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 11/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Spermatozoa go through diverse changes to achieve their fertilizing potential (capacitation) and develop a specific motility pattern (hyperactivation). However, to ensure a greater reproductive success, not all the spermatozoa present in an ejaculate react equally or at the same time. Therefore, a comparative analysis was performed in the present study to improve our current understanding about how cryopreservation may affect the heterogeneous nature of fresh ejaculates during these two events. Among the four motile sperm subpopulations identified in fresh and frozen-thawed ram semen, one of them developed a hyperactivated-like movement and was the main group involve in those changes associated with sperm capacitation based on the marked increase and the positive correlation with mitochondrial activity and tyrosine phosphorylation, two relevant parameters that usually increase during capacitation. In addition, cryopreservation altered the distribution of the motile sperm subpopulations. Although the subpopulation with hyperactivated-like movement increased at the beginning of incubation in frozen-thawed samples, this subpopulation together with the subpopulation of rapid and progressive spermatozoa were replaced after a prolonged incubation by the subpopulation of slow spermatozoa with the lowest mitochondrial activity, which clearly indicate the reduction in sperm quality. These findings will aid to optimize the current cryopreservation and in vitro fertilization protocols. Abstract The heterogeneous nature of ejaculates highlights the relevance of studying the behavior of different sperm subpopulations. Changes in sperm motility and the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation are key events that usually occur during capacitation and can be modified by the cryopreservation process. However, the relationship between both events remains poorly defined throughout capacitation in the different sperm subpopulations. Fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa were incubated in capacitating (CAP) and non-capacitating (NC) media up to 240 min. Sperm kinematics, tyrosine phosphorylation and mitochondrial activity were measured by the CASA system and imaging flow cytometry. Four motile sperm subpopulations (SP) were identified in fresh and frozen-thawed ram semen after the cluster analysis. Incubation under CAP conditions over time led to greater changes in the percentage of spermatozoa included in each subpopulation compared to NC conditions, being different between fresh and frozen-thawed spermatozoa. The SP1, characterized by slow spermatozoa, progressively increased after 15 min in frozen-thawed samples incubated in both media but not in fresh ones. The SP4, characterized by fast and non-linear spermatozoa, showed a marked increase during CAP, but not under NC conditions, occurring more rapidly in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. This subpopulation (SP4) was also the only one positively and strongly correlated with mitochondrial activity and all phosphorylated sperm regions during capacitation, either in fresh or frozen-thawed samples. Our results indicated that in vitro capacitation induced significant changes in the distribution of motile sperm subpopulations, being affected by cryopreservation. Notwithstanding, the subpopulation which probably represents hyperactivated-like spermatozoa (SP4) also increased in frozen-thawed samples, occurring faster and simultaneously to the increment of mitochondrial activity and tyrosine phosphorylation of different sperm regions.
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Hidalgo MMT, Almeida ABMD, Moraes FLZD, Marubayashi RYP, Souza FFD, Barreiros TRR, Martins MIM. Sperm subpopulations influence the pregnancy rates in cattle. Reprod Domest Anim 2021; 56:1117-1127. [PMID: 34013640 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to study the characteristics and subpopulations of spermatozoa from bulls with low and high reproductive performance based on pregnancy rates. Based on historical records of pregnancy rate from four farms, 24 bulls were selected. Two groups were established, with low pregnancy rates (n = 12; LOW), including bulls that presented pregnancy rates <52.27% (33.33% to 51.81%); and a group with high pregnancy rates (n = 12; HIGH), with pregnancy rates >52.27% (52.27% to 69.64%), after fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI). The thawed sperm straws were analysed to sperm kinetics, morphology, plasma membrane integrity and sperm subpopulations. The LOW group exhibited a higher proportion of static cells (p < .05). In contrast, the HIGH group showed greater percentages for membrane integrity and total and progressive motility, and cells with fast and medium velocity (p < .05). In the cluster procedures, four sperm subpopulations were established. The low-fertility bulls presented the highest percentage of subpopulation 2 (41.46%), characterized by slow and progressive spermatozoa. The high-fertility bulls exhibited the highest percentage of subpopulation 3 (37.17%), characterized by fast and nonlinear spermatozoa. Results from this study indicated that bulls with greater percentages of fast and nonlinear spermatozoa seem to have greater fertilization capacity and the subpopulations analysis can be considered a tool to identify ejaculates with high fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Beatriz Marques de Almeida
- Laboratório de Andrologia e Reprodução Animal Assistida (LARAA), Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil
| | | | | | - Fabiana Ferreira de Souza
- Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Botucatu, Brazil
| | - Thales Ricardo Rigo Barreiros
- Laboratório de Biotecnologia da Reprodução Animal, Universidade Estadual do Norte do Paraná (UENP), Bandeirantes, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Mello Martins
- Laboratório de Andrologia e Reprodução Animal Assistida (LARAA), Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL), Londrina, Brazil
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Mocé E, Lozano-Palazón SA, del Mar Martínez-Granell M, Mocé ML, Gómez EA. Effect of the Refrigeration System on In Vitro Quality and In Vivo Fertility of Goat Buck Sperm. Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E2399. [PMID: 33333971 PMCID: PMC7765386 DOI: 10.3390/ani10122399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cooling goat sperm insemination doses to 4 °C causes a delay in their delivery. However, chilling these doses during the transportation period could expedite their delivery and the insemination process. In this study, an economical and simple apparatus for chilling goat semen doses in itinere was developed, and the in vitro quality and in vivo fertility of these doses were compared with those chilled by means of a programmable water bath in the laboratory at a rate of -0.18 °C/min. Of the tested prototypes, the one that provided an optimal combination of the chilling rate (average of -0.09 °C/min) and time required to reach 4 °C (3 h 45 min) was selected for further testing. Immediately after chilling and 24 h later, the doses chilled in the prototype were determined to be of higher quality than the samples chilled in the programmable water bath. Finally, the kidding rate was similar between the doses chilled in the programmable water bath (61.7% ± 7.1%) and in the prototype (56.1% ± 5.9%). In conclusion, successful chilling of goat sperm doses during transport is possible, thereby accelerating the delivery of insemination doses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Mocé
- CITA—Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; (M.d.M.M.-G.); (E.A.G.)
| | | | - María del Mar Martínez-Granell
- CITA—Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; (M.d.M.M.-G.); (E.A.G.)
| | - María Lorena Mocé
- Department of Animal Production and Health, Veterinary Public Health and Food Science and Technology (PASAPTA) Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Cardenal Herrera-CEU, CEU Universities, C/Tirant lo Blanc, 7, 46113 Alfara del Patriarca, Valencia, Spain;
| | - Ernesto A. Gómez
- CITA—Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias, Polígono la Esperanza, 100, 12400 Segorbe, Castellón, Spain; (M.d.M.M.-G.); (E.A.G.)
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Peris-Frau P, Soler AJ, Iniesta-Cuerda M, Martín-Maestro A, Sánchez-Ajofrín I, Medina-Chávez DA, Fernández-Santos MR, García-Álvarez O, Maroto-Morales A, Montoro V, Garde JJ. Sperm Cryodamage in Ruminants: Understanding the Molecular Changes Induced by the Cryopreservation Process to Optimize Sperm Quality. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21082781. [PMID: 32316334 PMCID: PMC7215299 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21082781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm cryopreservation represents a powerful tool for livestock breeding. Several efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of sperm cryopreservation in different ruminant species. However, a significant amount of sperm still suffers considerable cryodamage, which may affect sperm quality and fertility. Recently, the use of different “omics” technologies in sperm cryobiology, especially proteomics studies, has led to a better understanding of the molecular modifications induced by sperm cryopreservation, facilitating the identification of different freezability biomarkers and certain proteins that can be added before cryopreservation to enhance sperm cryosurvival. This review provides an updated overview of the molecular mechanisms involved in sperm cryodamage, which are in part responsible for the structural, functional and fertility changes observed in frozen–thawed ruminant sperm. Moreover, the molecular basis of those factors that can affect the sperm freezing resilience of different ruminant species is also discussed as well as the molecular aspects of those novel strategies that have been developed to reduce sperm cryodamage, including new cryoprotectants, antioxidants, proteins, nanoparticles and vitrification.
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