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Benko F, Urminská D, Ďuračka M, Tvrdá E. Signaling Roleplay between Ion Channels during Mammalian Sperm Capacitation. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2519. [PMID: 37760960 PMCID: PMC10525812 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11092519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
In order to accomplish their primary goal, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo a series of physiological, biochemical, and functional changes crucial for the acquisition of fertilization ability. Spermatozoa are highly polarized cells, which must swiftly respond to ionic changes on their passage through the female reproductive tract, and which are necessary for male gametes to acquire their functional competence. This review summarizes the current knowledge about specific ion channels and transporters located in the mammalian sperm plasma membrane, which are intricately involved in the initiation of changes within the ionic milieu of the sperm cell, leading to variations in the sperm membrane potential, membrane depolarization and hyperpolarization, changes in sperm motility and capacitation to further lead to the acrosome reaction and sperm-egg fusion. We also discuss the functionality of selected ion channels in male reproductive health and/or disease since these may become promising targets for clinical management of infertility in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filip Benko
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (D.U.); (E.T.)
| | - Dana Urminská
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (D.U.); (E.T.)
| | - Michal Ďuračka
- AgroBioTech Research Centre, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia;
| | - Eva Tvrdá
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra, Slovakia; (D.U.); (E.T.)
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2
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Huffmeyer AA, Pukazhenthi BS, Wayne RK. Differential gene expression patterns in spermatozoa from teratospermic and normospermic domestic cats. Anim Reprod Sci 2021; 226:106698. [PMID: 33476905 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 01/05/2021] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Large percentages of abnormal sperm, termed teratospermia, are associated with poor fertility in cats, many of which are threatened with extinction from their natural habitats. Even normal appearing spermatozoa from felids with teratospermia may have a compromised capacity for motility and fertilization indicating there are factors affecting the fertilization capacity of all sperm regardless of morphology. There was a comparative study conducted using the RNA-Seq approach to identify differentially expressed genes between morphologically normal and abnormal sperm from domestic cates with normospermia and teratospermia to elucidate genes and pathways associated with abnormal sperm function. Normal sperm from cats with teratospermia have a gene expression profile similar to abnormal sperm from males with teratospermia. There was also downregulation of cGMP pathways which may be associated with a lesser sperm motility in ejaculates from males with teratospermia. Kinase phosphorylation pathways also were downregulated in normal spermatozoa from ejaculates of males with teratospermia. Results indicate that analysis of sperm gene expression provides for a more precise assessment of sperm function in semen of cats with teratospermia and facilitates identification of molecular abnormalities that may lead to compromised fertilization capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audra A Huffmeyer
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
| | - Budhan S Pukazhenthi
- Center for Species Survival, Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Front Royal, VA, USA.
| | - Robert K Wayne
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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3
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Maciel VL, Caldas-Bussiere MC, Marín DFD, Paes de Carvalho CS, Quirino CR, Leal ACDMS. Nitric oxide impacts bovine sperm capacitation in a cGMP-dependent and cGMP-independent manner. Reprod Domest Anim 2019; 54:1612-1620. [PMID: 31549441 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13570] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 09/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
We aimed to elucidate whether NO acts in in vitro sperm capacitation in bovine via cGMP/PKG1 pathway. For this, cryopreserved bovine sperm were capacitated in vitro with 20 µg/ml heparin (Control) plus treatments: 1 mM L-arginine (L-arg, NO precursor), 50 µM Rp-8-Bromo-β-phenyl-1,N2 -ethenoguanosine-3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (Rp-8-Br-cGMPS, selective inhibitor of the binding site for cGMP in PKG1), 1 mM 2-Phenyl-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide (PTIO, NO scavenger), and the combinations of L-arg + RP-8-Br-cGMPS and L-arg + PTIO. Sperm motility and vigour were determined by phase-contrast microscopy, capacitation status by chlortetracycline staining, and the intracellular concentration of cGMP was measured by ELISA. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and means compared with SNK test at 5% probability. Motility and vigour were lower in sperm treated with PTIO when compared to Control and other treatments (p < .05). The L-arg treatment showed the highest percentage of capacitated sperm when compared to the Control and other treatments (Rp-8-Br-cGMPS, L-arg + Rp-8-Br-cGMPS and PTIO) (69.8 ± 3.4%, 51.2 ± 3.0, 51.1 ± 2.1, 51.2 ± 3.0 and 45.5 ± 2.7, respectively) (p < .05). The capacitation ratio (%) was lower in treatments with Rp-8-Br-cGMPS, L-arg + Rp-8-Br-cGMPS and PTIO, respectively (p < .05). Lastly, cGMP concentration (pmol/ml) was lower in PTIO and L-arg + PTIO (1.3 ± 0.3 and 1.6 ± 0.4) and was higher in Rp-8-Br-cGMPS and L-arg + Rp-8-Br-cGMPS (3.7 ± 0.4 and 4.0 ± 0.5) treatments. We showed that during in vitro capacitation of cattle: (a) NO influences sperm motility and vigour; (b) NO is associated with cGMP synthesis through two independent pathways and (c) the cGMP/PKG1 pathway has a partial role in sperm capacitation and does not involve the L-arg/NO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valter Luiz Maciel
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Maria Clara Caldas-Bussiere
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Diego Fernando Dubeibe Marín
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Carla Sobrinho Paes de Carvalho
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Celia Raquel Quirino
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
| | - Ana Carolina de Macedo Soares Leal
- Laboratório de Reprodução e Melhoramento Genético Animal, Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Agropecuárias (CCTA), Universidade Estadual do Norte Fluminense Darcy Ribeiro (UENF), Campos dos Goytacazes, Brazil
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Comparative Analysis of MicroRNA and mRNA Profiles of Sperm with Different Freeze Tolerance Capacities in Boar ( Sus scrofa) and Giant Panda ( Ailuropoda melanoleuca). Biomolecules 2019; 9:biom9090432. [PMID: 31480517 PMCID: PMC6769438 DOI: 10.3390/biom9090432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Post-thawed sperm quality parameters vary across different species after cryopreservation. To date, the molecular mechanism of sperm cryoinjury, freeze-tolerance and other influential factors are largely unknown. In this study, significantly dysregulated microRNAs (miRNAs) and mRNAs in boar and giant panda sperm with different cryo-resistance capacity were evaluated. From the result of miRNA profile of fresh and frozen-thawed giant panda sperm, a total of 899 mature, novel miRNAs were identified, and 284 miRNAs were found to be significantly dysregulated (195 up-regulated and 89 down-regulated). Combined analysis of miRNA profiling of giant panda sperm and our previously published data on boar sperm, 46, 21 and 4 differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs in boar sperm were believed to be related to apoptosis, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, respectively. Meanwhile, 87, 17 and 7 DE mRNAs in giant panda were associated with apoptosis, glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation, respectively. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of the targets of DE miRNAs showed that they were mainly distributed on membrane related pathway in giant panda sperm, while cell components and cell processes were tied to the targets of DE miRNAs in boar sperm. Finally, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of DE mRNAs indicated that most of these DE mRNAs were distributed in membrane signal transduction-related pathways in giant panda sperm, while those in boar sperm were mainly distributed in the cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway and inflammatory related pathways. In conclusion, although the different freezing extenders and programs were used, the DE miRNAs and mRNAs involved in apoptosis, energy metabolism, olfactory transduction pathway, inflammatory response and cytokine-cytokine interactions, could be the possible molecular mechanism of sperm cryoinjury and freeze tolerance.
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Orta G, de la Vega-Beltran JL, Martín-Hidalgo D, Santi CM, Visconti PE, Darszon A. CatSper channels are regulated by protein kinase A. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:16830-16841. [PMID: 30213858 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra117.001566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must undergo capacitation as a preparation for entering into hyperactivated motility, undergoing the acrosome reaction, and acquiring fertilizing ability. One of the initial capacitation events occurs when sperm encounter an elevated HCO3 - concentration. This anion activates the atypical adenylyl cyclase Adcy10, increases intracellular cAMP, and stimulates protein kinase A (PKA). Moreover, an increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+] i ) is essential for sperm capacitation. Although a cross-talk between cAMP-dependent pathways and Ca2+ clearly plays an essential role in sperm capacitation, the connection between these signaling events is incompletely understood. Here, using three different approaches, we found that CatSper, the main sperm Ca2+ channel characterized to date, is up-regulated by a cAMP-dependent activation of PKA in mouse sperm. First, HCO3 - and the PKA-activating permeable compound 8-Br-cAMP induced an increase in [Ca2+] i , which was blocked by the PKA peptide inhibitor PKI, and H89, another PKA inhibitor, also abrogated the 8-Br-cAMP response. Second, HCO3 - increased the membrane depolarization induced upon divalent cation removal by promoting influx of monovalent cations through CatSper channels, which was inhibited by PKI, H89, and the CatSper blocker HC-056456. Third, electrophysiological patch clamp, whole-cell recordings revealed that CatSper activity is up-regulated by HCO3 - and by direct cAMP injection through the patch-clamp pipette. The activation by HCO3 - and cAMP was also blocked by PKI, H89, Rp-cAMPS, and HC-056456, and electrophysiological recordings in sperm from CatSper-KO mice confirmed CatSper's role in these activation modes. Our results strongly suggest that PKA-dependent phosphorylation regulates [Ca2+] i homeostasis by activating CatSper channel complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerardo Orta
- From the Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - José Luis de la Vega-Beltran
- From the Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México
| | - David Martín-Hidalgo
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, and
| | - Celia M Santi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and.,Department of Neurosciences, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01003, and
| | - Alberto Darszon
- From the Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Morelos 62250, México,
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Pérez-Patiño C, Parrilla I, Barranco I, Vergara-Barberán M, Simó-Alfonso EF, Herrero-Martínez JM, Rodriguez-Martínez H, Martínez EA, Roca J. New In-Depth Analytical Approach of the Porcine Seminal Plasma Proteome Reveals Potential Fertility Biomarkers. J Proteome Res 2018; 17:1065-1076. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.7b00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Pérez-Patiño
- Department
of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Inmaculada Parrilla
- Department
of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Isabel Barranco
- Department
of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | | | | | | | | | - Emilio A. Martínez
- Department
of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department
of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia 30100, Spain
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Funahashi H. Methods for Improving In Vitro and In Vivo Boar Sperm Fertility. Reprod Domest Anim 2016; 50 Suppl 2:40-7. [PMID: 26174918 DOI: 10.1111/rda.12568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fertility of boar spermatozoa is changed after ejaculation in vivo and in vitro. During processing for in vitro fertilization (IVF), although spermatozoa are induced capacitation, resulting in a high penetration rate, persistent obstacle of polyspermic penetration is still observed with a high incidence. For artificial insemination (AI), we still need a large number of spermatozoa and lose a majority of those in the female reproductive tract. Fertility of cryopreserved boar spermatozoa is still injured through freezing and thawing process. In the present brief review, factors affecting fertility of boar sperm during IVF, AI and cryopreservation are discussed in the context of discovering methodologies to improve it.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Funahashi
- Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
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8
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Ioki S, Wu QS, Takayama O, Motohashi HH, Wakai T, Funahashi H. A phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitor, sildenafil, induces sperm capacitation and penetration into porcine oocytes in a chemically defined medium. Theriogenology 2015; 85:428-33. [PMID: 26443234 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2015] [Revised: 09/04/2015] [Accepted: 09/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of a phosphodiesterase (PDE) type-5 (cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific) inhibitor, sildenafil, on capacitation and penetration of boar spermatozoa in a basic chemically defined medium (adenosine- and theophylline-free PGM-tac4). When ejaculated spermatozoa were cultured for 90 minutes in the absence or presence of sildenafil at 2.5 mM, the inhibitor significantly increased the percentage of capacitated/acrosome-reacted spermatozoa, as a result of the chlortetracycline assay. When fresh spermatozoa were co-cultured with oocytes in the presence of sildenafil at a different concentration (0, 2.5, 25, or 250 μM), higher sildenafil concentrations (25 and 250 μM) significantly resulted in higher sperm penetration rates. When oocytes matured in vitro were co-cultured with spermatozoa in the presence of 25 μM sildenafil or 25 mM caffeine benzoate for 8 hours, the incidence of penetrated oocytes did not differ between two groups, whereas the incidence of monospermic oocytes in penetrated one was significantly higher in the presence of sildenafil. Immunocytochemical analysis reported the presence of PDE type-5 on the acrosome region of boar spermatozoa. These results report that regulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate-specific PDE type-5 by sildenafil somehow can increase the penetrability of boar spermatozoa in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumire Ioki
- Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Qing-Shan Wu
- Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Osamu Takayama
- Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | | | - Takuya Wakai
- Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Funahashi
- Department of Animal Science, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan; Assisted Reproductive Technology Center, Okayama University, Okayama, Japan.
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T-type Ca2+ channels in spermatogenic cells and sperm. Pflugers Arch 2014; 466:819-31. [DOI: 10.1007/s00424-014-1478-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2014] [Accepted: 02/08/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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10
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Cisneros-Mejorado A, Hernández-Soberanis L, Islas-Carbajal MC, Sánchez D. Capacitation and Ca(2+) influx in spermatozoa: role of CNG channels and protein kinase G. Andrology 2013; 2:145-54. [PMID: 24293181 DOI: 10.1111/j.2047-2927.2013.00169.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 10/29/2013] [Accepted: 11/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) has been recently shown to modulate in vitro capacitation of mammalian spermatozoa, but the mechanisms through which it influences sperm functions have not been clarified. There are at least two targets of cGMP, cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) channels and cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG), involved in several physiological events in mammalian spermatozoa. It has been suggested that CNG channels allow the influx of Ca(2+) to cytoplasm during capacitation, whereas PKG could trigger a phosphorylation pathway which might also, indirectly, mediate calcium entry. Using the patch-clamp technique in whole-cell configuration, we showed how l-cis-Diltiazem (a CNG-channel inhibitor) and KT5823 (a PKG inhibitor) decreased significantly the amplitude of macroscopic ion currents in a dose-response manner, and decreased in vitro capacitation. The inhibition of CNG channels completely abolishes the Ca(2+) influx induced by cyclic nucleotides in mouse spermatozoa. This work suggests that the downstream cGMP pathway is required in mammalian sperm capacitation and the mechanisms involved include CNG channels and PKG, highlighting these molecules as important therapeutic targets for infertility treatments or to develop new male contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Cisneros-Mejorado
- Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Jalisco, México; Centro de Investigación y de Estudios Avanzados del IPN, Unidad Monterrey, Apodaca, Nuevo León, México
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