1
|
Varela E, Rey J, Plaza E, Muñoz de Propios P, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Álvarez M, Anel-López L, Anel L, De Paz P, Gil MC, Morrell JM, Ortega-Ferrusola C. How does the microbial load affect the quality of equine cool-stored semen? Theriogenology 2018; 114:212-220. [PMID: 29653389 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Contaminating bacteria present in stallion ejaculates may compromise sperm quality during storage. Different procedures have been used to reduce the load of microorganisms in semen and avoid bacterial growth during storage. The aims of this study were: 1) to evaluate different techniques to eliminate bacteria in semen 2) to study the relationship between total microflora load (TML) and ROS production; and 3) to determine if TML affects the functionality of cool-stored sperm. Ejaculates from 11 stallions were split and processed in 3 ways: A. extended semen; B. conventional centrifuged semen, and C. Single layer centrifugation through Androcoll-E (SLC). All samples were preserved in INRA 96 at 5 °C for 72 h. Aliquots from native semen and from different treatments were taken for bacteriological analysis at T0, T24, T48 and T72h of storage and Total microbial load (TML: CFU (colony-forming units/ml) was calculated. The ROS production (dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate for H2O2, dihydroethidium for superoxide anion and CellROX deep red for total ROS), viability (YO-PRO-1-Ethidium) and lipid peroxidation (BODIPY-C11) were assessed by flow cytometry, and motility by CASA. The bacteria isolated were Corynebacterium spp, Arcanobacterium spp, Bacillus spp, Dermobacter, Staphylococcus spp, Streptococcus spp, Penicilium spp. TML of semen showed correlations with live sperm (r: -0.771), dead sperm (r: 0.580), H2O2 production (r: 0.740), and total ROS production (CellROX (+)) (r: -0.607), Total motility (r: 0.587), Progressive motility (r: -0.566), VCL (r: -0.664), VSL (r: -0,569), VAP (r: -0.534) (p ≤ 0.05). SLC removed 99.34% of the microbial load, which was assicated with a significanlty reduced H2O2 production (p ≤ 0.05). However, only samples treated with Androcoll-E had a higher total ROS production (CellROX +) (p ≤ 0.05). These results suggest that CellROX stain probably identifies superoxide production rather than H2O2 and this higher superoxide production may reflect an intense sperm functionality. The bacterial load increased the production of H2O2 in cool-stored semen which was associated with lower tolerance to refrigeration. SLC was the sperm processing technique that was most efficient at removing bacteria, reducing H2O2 production and selecting the most functional sperm.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- E Varela
- Unit of Infection Diseases, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - J Rey
- Unit of Infection Diseases, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - E Plaza
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | | | - J M Ortiz-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - M Álvarez
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, University of León, León, Spain
| | - L Anel-López
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, University of León, León, Spain
| | - L Anel
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, University of León, León, Spain
| | - P De Paz
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, University of León, León, Spain
| | - M C Gil
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - J M Morrell
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, SLU, Uppsala, Sweden
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ortiz-Rodriguez JM, Anel-Lopez L, Martín-Muñoz P, Álvarez M, Gaitskell-Phillips G, Anel L, Rodríguez-Medina P, Peña FJ, Ortega Ferrusola C. Pulse Doppler ultrasound as a tool for the diagnosis of chronic testicular dysfunction in stallions. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0175878. [PMID: 28558006 PMCID: PMC5448730 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0175878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Testicular function is particularly susceptible to vascular insult, resulting in a negative impact on sperm production and quality of the ejaculate. A prompt diagnosis of testicular dysfunction enables implementation of appropriate treatment, hence improving fertility forecasts for stallions. The present research aims to: (1) assess if Doppler ultrasonography is a good tool to diagnose stallions with testicular dysfunction; (2) to study the relationship between Doppler parameters of the testicular artery and those of sperm quality assessed by flow cytometry and (3) to establish cut off values to differentiate fertile stallions from those with pathologies causing testicular dysfunction. A total of 10 stallions (n: 7 healthy stallions and n: 3 sub-fertile stallions) were used in this study. Two ejaculates per stallion were collected and preserved at 5°C in a commercial extender. The semen was evaluated at T0, T24 and T48h by flow cytometry. Integrity and viability of sperm (YoPro®-1/EthD-1), mitochondrial activity (MitoTracker® Deep Red FM) and the DNA fragmentation index (Sperm Chromatin Structure Assay) were assessed. Doppler parameters were measured at three different locations on the testicular artery (Supratesticular artery (SA); Capsular artery (CA) and Intratesticular artery (IA)). The Doppler parameters calculated were: Resistive Index (RI), Pulsatility Index (PI), Peak Systolic Velocity (PSV), End Diastolic Velocity (EDV), Time Average Maximum Velocity (TAMV), Total Arterial Blood Flow (TABF) and TABF rate. The capsular artery was the most reliable location to carry out spectral Doppler assessment, since blood flow parameters of this artery were most closely correlated with sperm quality parameters. Significant differences in all the Doppler parameters studied were observed between fertile and subfertile stallions (p ≤ 0.05). The principal components analysis assay determined that fertile stallions are characterized by high EDV, TAMV, TABF and TABF rate values (high vascular perfusion). In contrast, subfertile stallions tend to present high values of PI and RI (high vascular resistance). The ROC curves revealed that the best Doppler parameters to predict sperm quality in stallions were: Doppler velocities (PSV, EDV and TAMV), the diameter of the capsular artery and TABF parameters (tissue perfusion parameters). Cut off values were established using a Youden´s Index to identify fertile stallions from stallions with testicular dysfunction. Spectral Doppler ultrasound is a good predictive tool for sperm quality since correlations were determined among Doppler parameters and markers of sperm quality. Doppler ultrasonography could be a valuable diagnostic tool for use by clinical practitioners for the diagnosis of stallions with testicular dysfunction and could be a viable alternative to invasive procedures traditionally used for diagnosis of sub-fertility disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jose M. Ortiz-Rodriguez
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Luis Anel-Lopez
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Patricia Martín-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Mercedes Álvarez
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Luis Anel
- Department of Animal Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | | | - Fernando J. Peña
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Ortega-Ferrusola C, Anel-López L, Martín-Muñoz P, Ortíz-Rodríguez JM, Gil MC, Alvarez M, de Paz P, Ezquerra LJ, Masot AJ, Redondo E, Anel L, Peña FJ. Computational flow cytometry reveals that cryopreservation induces spermptosis but subpopulations of spermatozoa may experience capacitation-like changes. Reproduction 2016; 153:293-304. [PMID: 27965398 DOI: 10.1530/rep-16-0539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 11/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The reduced lifespan of cryopreserved spermatozoa in the mare reproductive tract has been attributed to both capacitative and apoptotic changes. However, there is a lack of studies investigating both phenomena simultaneously. In order to improve our knowledge in this particular point, we studied in raw and frozen-thawed samples apoptotic and capacitative markers using a wide battery of test based in flow cytometry. Apoptotic markers evaluated were caspase 3 activity, externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS), and mitochondrial membrane potential. Markers of changes resembling capacitation were membrane fluidity, tyrosine phosphorylation, and intracellular sodium. Conventional and computational flow cytometry using nonlinear dimensionally reduction techniques (t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE)) and automatic classification of cellular expression by nonlinear stochastic embedding (ACCENSE) were used. Most of the changes induced by cryopreservation were apoptotic, with increase in caspase 3 activation (P < 0.01), PS translocation to the outer membrane (P < 0.001), loss of mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.05), and increase in intracellular Na+ (P < 0.01). Average values of markers of capacitative changes were not affected by cryopreservation; however, the analysis of the phenotype of individual spermatozoa using computational flow cytometry revealed the presence of subpopulations of spermatozoa experiencing capacitative changes. For the first time advanced computational techniques were applied to the analysis of spermatozoa, and these techniques were able to disclose relevant information of the ejaculate that remained hidden using conventional flow cytometry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - L Anel-López
- Reproduction and Obstetrics Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery
| | - P Martín-Muñoz
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - J M Ortíz-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - M C Gil
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - M Alvarez
- Reproduction and Obstetrics Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery
| | - P de Paz
- Department of Molecular BiologyUniversity of León, León, Spain
| | - L J Ezquerra
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - A J Masot
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - E Redondo
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - L Anel
- Reproduction and Obstetrics Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery
| | - F J Peña
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine SpermatologyVeterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| |
Collapse
|