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Liu J, Wang E, Xi Z, Dong J, Chen C, Xu P, Wang L. Zinc mitigates cadmium-induced sperm dysfunction through regulating Ca 2+ and metallothionein expression in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 279:109860. [PMID: 38387689 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2024.109860] [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: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a highly toxic heavy metal element that might adversely affect sperm function such as the acrosome reaction (AR). Although it is widely recognized that zinc (Zn) plays a crucial role in sperm quality, the complete elucidation of how Zn ameliorates Cd-induced sperm dysfunction is still unclear. In this study, we aimed to explore the protective effects of Zn against the sperm dysfunction induced by Cd in the freshwater crab Sinopotamon henanense. The results demonstrated that Cd exposure not only impaired the sperm ultrastructure, but also caused sperm dysfunction by decreasing the AR induction rate, acrosome enzyme activity, and Ca2+ content in sperm while elevating the activity and transcription expression of key Ca2+ signaling pathway-related proteins Calmodulin (CAM) and Ca2+-ATPase. However, the administration of Zn was found to alleviate Cd-induced sperm morphological and functional disorders by increasing the activity and transcription levels of CaM and Ca2+-ATPase, thereby regulating intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis and reversing the decrease in Ca2+ contents caused by Cd. Furthermore, this study was the first to investigate the distribution of metallothionein (MT) in the AR of S. henanense, and it was found that Zn can reduce the elevated levels of MT in crabs caused by Cd, demonstrating the significance of Zn in inducing MT to participate in the AR process and in metal detoxification in S. henanense. These findings offer novel perspectives and substantiation regarding the utilization of Zn as a protective agent against Cd-induced toxicity and hold significant practical implications for mitigating Cd-induced sperm dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Liu
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Ermeng Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Zhipeng Xi
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Jingwei Dong
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Chienmin Chen
- Department of Environmental Resource Management, Chia Nan University of Pharmacy and Science, Tainan City 000700, Taiwan
| | - Peng Xu
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
| | - Lan Wang
- School of Life Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China.
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Sperm morphology and forward motility are indicators of reproductive success and are not age- or condition-dependent in a captive breeding population of endangered snake. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282845. [PMID: 36897888 PMCID: PMC10004498 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The relationship between male ejaculate traits and reproductive success is an important consideration for captive breeding programs. A recovery plan for the endangered Louisiana pinesnake includes captive breeding for the release of young to the wild. Semen was collected from twenty captive breeding male snakes and ejaculate traits of motility, morphology, and membrane viability were measured for each male. Semen traits were analyzed in relation to the fertilization rate of eggs produced from pairings of each male with a single female (% fertility) to determine the ejaculate factors contributing to reproductive success. In addition, we investigated the age- and condition-dependence of each ejaculate trait. We found significant variation in the ejaculate traits of males and normal sperm morphology ([Formula: see text] = 44.4 ± 13.6%, n = 19) and forward motility ([Formula: see text] = 61.0 ± 13.4%, n = 18) were found to be the best predictors of fertility. No ejaculate traits were found to be condition-dependent (P > 0.05). Forward progressive movement (FPM) ([Formula: see text] = 4 ± 0.5, n = 18) was determined to be age-dependent (r2 = 0.27, P = 0.028), but FPM was not included in the best model for rate of fertilization. Male Louisiana pinesnakes do not appear to experience a significant decline in reproductive potential with age (P > 0.05). The observed average rate of fertilization in the captive breeding colony was below 50% and only those pairings with a male having >51% normal sperm morphology avoided a 0% rate of fertilization. Identification of the factors contributing to the reproductive success of captive breeding Louisiana pinesnakes is of considerable conservation value in the recovery of the species, and captive breeding programs should use assessments of ejaculate traits to plan breeding pairs for maximum reproductive output.
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What is the importance of sperm subpopulations? Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106844. [PMID: 34538510 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The study of sperm subpopulations spans three decades. The origin, meaning, and practical significance, however, are less clear. Current technology for assessing sperm morphology (CASA-Morph) and motility (CASA-Mot) has enabled the accurate evaluation of these features, and there are many options for data classification. Subpopulations could occur as a result of the stage of development of each spermatozoon in the subpopulation. Spermatogenesis might contribute to the production of these subpopulations. Insights from evolutionary biology and recent molecular research are indicative of the diversity among male gametes that could occur from unequal sharing of transcripts and other elements through cytoplasmic bridges between spermatids. Sperm cohorts exiting the gonads would contain different RNA and protein contents, affecting the spermatozoon physiology and associations with the surrounding environmental milieu. Subsequently, these differences could affect how spermatozoa interact with the environmental milieu (maturation, mixing with seminal plasma, and interacting with the environmental milieu, or female genital tract and female gamete). The emergence of sperm subpopulations as an outcome of evolution, related to the reproductive strategies of the species, genital tract structures, and copulatory and fertilization processes. This kind of approach in determining the importance of sperm subpopulations in fertilization capacity should have a practical impact for conducting reproductive technologies, inspiring and enabling new ways for the more efficient use of spermatozoa in the medical, animal breeding, and conservation fields. This manuscript is a contribution to the Special Issue in memory of Dr. Duane Garner.
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Soria-Tiedemann M, Michel G, Urban I, Aldrovandi M, O’Donnell VB, Stehling S, Kuhn H, Borchert A. Unbalanced Expression of Glutathione Peroxidase 4 and Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase Affects Acrosome Reaction and In Vitro Fertilization. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179907. [PMID: 36077303 PMCID: PMC9456195 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Glutathione peroxidase 4 (Gpx4) and arachidonic acid 15 lipoxygenase (Alox15) are counterplayers in oxidative lipid metabolism and both enzymes have been implicated in spermatogenesis. However, the roles of the two proteins in acrosomal exocytosis have not been explored in detail. Here we characterized Gpx4 distribution in mouse sperm and detected the enzyme not only in the midpiece of the resting sperm but also at the anterior region of the head, where the acrosome is localized. During sperm capacitation, Gpx4 translocated to the post-acrosomal compartment. Sperm from Gpx4+/Sec46Ala mice heterozygously expressing a catalytically silent enzyme displayed an increased expression of phosphotyrosyl proteins, impaired acrosomal exocytosis after in vitro capacitation and were not suitable for in vitro fertilization. Alox15-deficient sperm showed normal acrosome reactions but when crossed into a Gpx4-deficient background spontaneous acrosomal exocytosis was observed during capacitation and these cells were even less suitable for in vitro fertilization. Taken together, our data indicate that heterozygous expression of a catalytically silent Gpx4 variant impairs acrosomal exocytosis and in vitro fertilization. Alox15 deficiency hardly impacted the acrosome reaction but when crossed into the Gpx4-deficient background spontaneous acrosomal exocytosis was induced. The detailed molecular mechanisms for the observed effects may be related to the compromised redox homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana Soria-Tiedemann
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Geert Michel
- Department of Transgenic Technologies, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, D-13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Iris Urban
- Department of Transgenic Technologies, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Lindenberger Weg 80, D-13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maceler Aldrovandi
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Metabolism and Cell Death, Ingolstädter Landstr. 1, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Valerie B. O’Donnell
- Systems Immunity Research Institute, School of Medicine, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF14 4XN, UK
| | - Sabine Stehling
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hartmut Kuhn
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Astrid Borchert
- Department of Biochemistry, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-450-528-034
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Tourmente M, Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Roldan ERS. Effect of Motility Factors D-Penicillamine, Hypotaurine and Epinephrine on the Performance of Spermatozoa from Five Hamster Species. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040526. [PMID: 35453725 PMCID: PMC9032960 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Analysis of sperm performance under in vitro conditions provides a good indication of fertilizing potential. Parameters such as motility, swimming kinetics, acrosome integrity, or ATP content are thus examined in efforts to characterize such potential. Hamster species are a good model to study sperm parameters that are key determinants of fertilizing capacity because these species are at the higher end of the diversity of mammalian sperm morphology and performance. In vitro functional studies demand that sperm remain viable during a long period of time under conditions that resemble those in the female tract. Sperm from certain species require supplementation of the incubation medium with factors that stimulate viability and swimming, or that promote acquisition of fertilizing capacity. Molecules important for sperm performance in hamsters have been identified, namely D-penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE). In the present study, we investigated the effect of PHE on spermatozoa from five hamster species incubated for up to 4 h. Our results revealed that PHE maintains sperm performance in the golden hamster, whereas it improves sperm quality in the Chinese hamster. In contrast, it does not seem to have any effect on sperm from the Siberian (Djungarian), Roborovski and Campbell’s dwarf hamsters. These results are valuable to understand the different regulatory mechanisms of sperm motility and survival in different species. Abstract Assessments of sperm performance are valuable tools for the analysis of sperm fertilizing potential and to understand determinants of male fertility. Hamster species constitute important animal models because they produce sperm cells in high quantities and of high quality. Sexual selection over evolutionary time in these species seems to have resulted in the largest mammalian spermatozoa, and high swimming and bioenergetic performances. Earlier studies showed that golden hamster sperm requires motility factors such as D-penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE) to sustain survival over time, but it is unknown how they affect swimming kinetics or ATP levels and if other hamster species also require them. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of PHE on spermatozoa of five hamster species (Mesocricetus auratus, Cricetulus griseus, Phodopus campbelli, P. sungorus, P. roborovskii). In sperm incubated for up to 4 h without or with PHE, we assessed motility, viability, acrosome integrity, sperm velocity and trajectory, and ATP content. The results showed differences in the effect of PHE among species. They had a significant positive effect on the maintenance of sperm quality in M. auratus and C. griseus, whereas there was no consistent effect on spermatozoa of the Phodopus species. Differences between species may be the result of varying underlying regulatory mechanisms of sperm performance and may be important to understand how they relate to successful fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cordoba X5016GCA, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científica y Técnicas (CONICET), Cordoba X5016GCA, Argentina
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (E.R.S.R.)
| | - Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (E.R.S.R.)
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Sakase M, Harayama H. Involvement of Ca 2+-ATPase in suppressing the appearance of bovine helically motile spermatozoa with intense force prior to cryopreservation. J Reprod Dev 2022; 68:181-189. [PMID: 35236801 PMCID: PMC9184823 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2021-143] [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] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In cattle, cryopreserved spermatozoa are generally used for artificial insemination (AI). Many of these specimens exhibit helical movement, although the molecular mechanisms underlying this
phenomenon remain unclear. This study aimed to characterize helically motile spermatozoa, investigate the involvement of Ca2+-ATPase in suppressing the appearance of these
spermatozoa prior to cryopreservation, and examine the potential of helical movement as an index of sperm quality. In the cryopreserved semen, approximately 50% of spermatozoa were helically
motile, whereas approximately 25% were planarly motile. The helically motile samples swam significantly faster than those with planar movement, in both non-viscous medium and viscous medium
containing polyvinylpyrrolidone. In contrast, in non-cryopreserved semen, planarly motile spermatozoa outnumbered those that were helically motile. Fluorescence microscopy with Fluo-3/AM and
propidium iodide showed that flagellar [Ca2+]i was significantly higher in cryopreserved live spermatozoa than in non-cryopreserved live ones. The
percentage of non-cryopreserved helically motile spermatozoa was approximately 25% after washing, and this increased significantly to approximately 50% after treatment with an inhibitor of
sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPases (SERCAs), “thapsigargin.” Immunostaining showed the presence of SERCAs in sperm necks. Additionally, the percentages of cryopreserved helically
motile spermatozoa showed large inter-bull differences and a significantly positive correlation with post-AI conception rates, indicating that helical movement has the potential to serve as
a predictor of the fertilizing ability of these spermatozoa. These results suggest that SERCAs in the neck suppress the cytoplasmic Ca2+-dependent appearance of helically motile
spermatozoa with intense force in semen prior to cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
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- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Division of Animal Science, Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Sakase
- Hokubu Agricultural Technology Institute, Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Hyogo 669-5254, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Harayama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Division of Animal Science, Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan.,Biosignal Research Center, Kobe University, Kobe 657-8501, Japan
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Teves ME, Roldan ERS. Sperm bauplan and function and underlying processes of sperm formation and selection. Physiol Rev 2022; 102:7-60. [PMID: 33880962 PMCID: PMC8812575 DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00009.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The spermatozoon is a highly differentiated and polarized cell, with two main structures: the head, containing a haploid nucleus and the acrosomal exocytotic granule, and the flagellum, which generates energy and propels the cell; both structures are connected by the neck. The sperm's main aim is to participate in fertilization, thus activating development. Despite this common bauplan and function, there is an enormous diversity in structure and performance of sperm cells. For example, mammalian spermatozoa may exhibit several head patterns and overall sperm lengths ranging from ∼30 to 350 µm. Mechanisms of transport in the female tract, preparation for fertilization, and recognition of and interaction with the oocyte also show considerable variation. There has been much interest in understanding the origin of this diversity, both in evolutionary terms and in relation to mechanisms underlying sperm differentiation in the testis. Here, relationships between sperm bauplan and function are examined at two levels: first, by analyzing the selective forces that drive changes in sperm structure and physiology to understand the adaptive values of this variation and impact on male reproductive success and second, by examining cellular and molecular mechanisms of sperm formation in the testis that may explain how differentiation can give rise to such a wide array of sperm forms and functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, 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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Comizzoli P, Holt WV. Recent Progress in Spermatology Contributing to the Knowledge and Conservation of Rare and Endangered Species. Annu Rev Anim Biosci 2021; 10:469-490. [PMID: 34758275 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-animal-020420-040600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
There is a remarkable diversity in the animal kingdom regarding mechanisms underlying the production, maturation, structure, and function of sperm cells. Spermatology studies contribute to the knowledge of species diversity and also provide information about individual or population fitness. Furthermore, this fundamental research is required before collected spermatozoa can be used for conservation breeding, including assisted reproduction and cryobanking. This article aims to (a) review the most recent knowledge on sperm morphology and function in wild animal species, (b) analyze how this knowledge can be used to save species in their natural habitat or ex situ, and (c) propose future scientific directions in wildlife spermatology that could positively impact animal conservation. Variations in sperm structure and performance within and between species have multiple origins and significance. This collective body of knowledge enables the design and implementation of conservation strategies and action plans that integrate several disciplines. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Animal Biosciences, Volume 10 is February 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Comizzoli
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, National Zoological Park, Washington, DC, USA;
| | - William V Holt
- Academic Unit of Reproductive and Developmental Medicine, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom;
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10
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Fresh and cryopreserved semen, minerals, hormones and health characteristics in response to reciprocal combinations of vitamin D3 and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 in the mature and prepubertal Holstein bulls' diet. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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11
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Hook KA, Yang Q, Campanello L, Losert W, Fisher HS. The social shape of sperm: using an integrative machine-learning approach to examine sperm ultrastructure and collective motility. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20211553. [PMID: 34547913 PMCID: PMC8456146 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.1553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm is one of the most morphologically diverse cell types in nature, yet they also exhibit remarkable behavioural variation, including the formation of collective groups of cells that swim together for motility or transport through the female reproductive tract. Here, we take advantage of natural variation in sperm traits observed across Peromyscus mice to test the hypothesis that the morphology of the sperm head influences their sperm aggregation behaviour. Using both manual and automated morphometric approaches to quantify their complex shapes, and then statistical modelling and machine learning to analyse their features, we show that the aspect ratio of the sperm head is the most distinguishing morphological trait and statistically associates with collective sperm movements obtained from in vitro observations. We then successfully use neural network analysis to predict the size of sperm aggregates from sperm head morphology and show that species with relatively wider sperm heads form larger aggregates, which is consistent with the theoretical prediction that an adhesive region around the equatorial region of the sperm head mediates these unique gametic interactions. Together these findings advance our understanding of how even subtle variation in sperm design can drive differences in sperm function and performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A. Hook
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, 1200 Biology-Psychology Building, 4094 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Qixin Yang
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, 1147 Physical Sciences Complex, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, 4254 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Leonard Campanello
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, 1147 Physical Sciences Complex, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, 4254 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Wolfgang Losert
- Department of Physics, University of Maryland, 1147 Physical Sciences Complex, College Park, MD 20742, USA
- Institute of Physical Science and Technology, University of Maryland, 4254 Stadium Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Heidi S. Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, 1200 Biology-Psychology Building, 4094 Campus Drive, College Park, MD 20742, USA
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Alameri M, Hasikin K, Kadri NA, Nasir NFM, Mohandas P, Anni JS, Azizan MM. Multistage Optimization Using a Modified Gaussian Mixture Model in Sperm Motility Tracking. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6953593. [PMID: 34497665 PMCID: PMC8421170 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6953593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2021] [Revised: 06/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Infertility is a condition whereby pregnancy does not occur despite having unprotected sexual intercourse for at least one year. The main reason could originate from either the male or the female, and sometimes, both contribute to the fertility disorder. For the male, sperm disorder was found to be the most common reason for infertility. In this paper, we proposed male infertility analysis based on automated sperm motility tracking. The proposed method worked in multistages, where the first stage focused on the sperm detection process using an improved Gaussian Mixture Model. A new optimization protocol was proposed to accurately detect the motile sperms prior to the sperm tracking process. Since the optimization protocol was imposed in the proposed system, the sperm tracking and velocity estimation processes are improved. The proposed method attained the highest average accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 92.3%, 96.3%, and 72.4%, respectively, when tested on 10 different samples. Our proposed method depicted better sperm detection quality when qualitatively observed as compared to other state-of-the-art techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Alameri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Khairunnisa Hasikin
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nahrizul Adib Kadri
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaya, Lembah Pantai, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nashrul Fazli Mohd Nasir
- Biomedical Electronic Engineering Program, Faculty of Electronic Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
- Sport Engineering Research Centre (SERC), Universiti Malaysia Perlis, Pauh Putra Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis, Malaysia
| | - Prabu Mohandas
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, National Institute of Technology Calicut, Kerala, India
| | - Jerline Sheeba Anni
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, MEA Engineering College, Kerala, India
| | - Muhammad Mokhzaini Azizan
- Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
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13
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Terán E, Azcona F, Ramón M, Molina A, Dorado J, Hidalgo M, Ross P, Goszczynski D, Demyda-Peyrás S. Sperm morphometry is affected by increased inbreeding in the Retinta cattle breed: A molecular approach. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:416-426. [PMID: 34009693 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Revised: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The effect of inbreeding depression on sperm motility is well documented, but its influence on sperm morphometry has been scarcely examined to date. Here, we combined the use of computer-assisted sperm morphometry analysis (CASMA) with a SNP-based genomic approach to determine and characterize the effect of inbreeding on the sperm shape of a highly inbred cattle population. We determined seven morphometric parameters on frozen-thawed sperm samples of 57 Retinta bulls: length (L, µm), width (W, µm), area (A, µm2 ), perimeter (P, µm), ellipticity (ELI; L/W), elongation (L-W)/(L + W) and perimeter-to-area shape factor (p2a; P2 /4 × π × A). The comparison of highly inbred (HI) and lowly inbreed (LI) individuals based on runs of homozygosity (ROH) inbreeding values (F ROH ) showed no differences between groups. An additional two-step unsupervised sperm subpopulation analysis based on morphometric parameters showed significant differences in the abundance of different sperm subpopulations between groups (p < 0.05). This analysis revealed that HI bulls harbored a higher percentage of narrow-head sperm as opposed to the higher percentage of large- and round-headed sperm detected in LI. A further genomic characterization revealed 23 regions differentially affected by inbreeding in both groups, detecting six genes (SPAG6, ARMC3, PARK7, VAMP3, DYNLRB2, and PHF7) previously related to different spermatogenesis-associated processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ester Terán
- IGEVET - Instituto de Genética Veterinaria, UNLP - CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UNLP - CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Florencia Azcona
- IGEVET - Instituto de Genética Veterinaria, UNLP - CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Manuel Ramón
- CERSYRA-Centro Regional de Selección y Reproducción Animal de Castilla-La Mancha, Instituto Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario y Forestal (IRIAF), Valdepeñas, España
| | - Antonio Molina
- Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España
| | - Jesús Dorado
- Grupo de Reproducción Veterinaria, Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Grupo de Reproducción Veterinaria, Departamento de Medicina y Cirugía animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Córdoba, Córdoba, España
| | - Pablo Ross
- Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Daniel Goszczynski
- Department of Animal Science, University of California at Davis, Davis, California, USA
| | - Sebastián Demyda-Peyrás
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UNLP - CONICET, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias Universidad Nacional de la Plata, La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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14
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Pandruvada S, Royfman R, Shah TA, Sindhwani P, Dupree JM, Schon S, Avidor-Reiss T. Lack of trusted diagnostic tools for undetermined male infertility. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:265-276. [PMID: 33389378 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-020-02037-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Semen analysis is the cornerstone of evaluating male infertility, but it is imperfect and insufficient to diagnose male infertility. As a result, about 20% of infertile males have undetermined infertility, a term encompassing male infertility with an unknown underlying cause. Undetermined male infertility includes two categories: (i) idiopathic male infertility-infertile males with abnormal semen analyses with an unknown cause for that abnormality and (ii) unexplained male infertility-males with "normal" semen analyses who are unable to impregnate due to unknown causes. The treatment of males with undetermined infertility is limited due to a lack of understanding the frequency of general sperm defects (e.g., number, motility, shape, viability). Furthermore, there is a lack of trusted, quantitative, and predictive diagnostic tests that look inside the sperm to quantify defects such as DNA damage, RNA abnormalities, centriole dysfunction, or reactive oxygen species to discover the underlying cause. To better treat undetermined male infertility, further research is needed on the frequency of sperm defects and reliable diagnostic tools that assess intracellular sperm components must be developed. The purpose of this review is to uniquely create a paradigm of thought regarding categories of male infertility based on intracellular and extracellular features of semen and sperm, explore the prevalence of the various categories of male factor infertility, call attention to the lack of standardization and universal application of advanced sperm testing techniques beyond semen analysis, and clarify the limitations of standard semen analysis. We also call attention to the variability in definitions and consider the benefits towards undetermined male infertility if these gaps in research are filled.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swati Pandruvada
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA
| | - Rachel Royfman
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA
| | - Tariq A Shah
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA
| | - Puneet Sindhwani
- Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA
| | - James M Dupree
- Department of Urology and Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48019, USA
| | - Samantha Schon
- Division of Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Tomer Avidor-Reiss
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA. .,Department of Urology, College of Medicine and Life Sciences, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, 43607, USA.
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15
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Roldan ERS, Teves ME. Understanding sperm physiology: Proximate and evolutionary explanations of sperm diversity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110980. [PMID: 32853744 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Much can be gained from the comprehensive study of a biological system. Based on what is known as Mayr's proximate-ultimate causation and the subsequent expansion to Tinbergen's four questions, biological traits can be understood by taking into account different approximations that try to explain mechanisms, development, adaptive significance or phylogeny. These, in principle, separate areas, can be integrated crossing boundaries, but bearing in mind that answers to one question would not explain a different query. Studies of sperm biology have, until now, not benefited much from this framework and potential integration. Proximate causes (particularly mechanisms) have been the subject of interest for reproductive biologists, and evolutionary explanations have been the domain of behavioural ecologists with interest in adaptive significance of traits in the context of post-copulatory sexual selection. This review will summarize opportunities for research in the different areas, focusing on sperm preparation for fertilization and suggesting possible integration within and between proximate and evolutionary studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maria Eugenia Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
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16
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Sperm ion channels and transporters in male fertility and infertility. Nat Rev Urol 2020; 18:46-66. [PMID: 33214707 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-020-00390-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm cells must respond to cues originating from along the female reproductive tract and from the layers of the egg in order to complete their fertilization journey. Dynamic regulation of ion signalling is, therefore, essential for sperm cells to adapt to their constantly changing environment. Over the past 15 years, direct electrophysiological recordings together with genetically modified mouse models and human genetics have confirmed the importance of ion channels, including the principal Ca2+-selective plasma membrane ion channel CatSper, for sperm activity. Sperm ion channels and membrane receptors are attractive targets for both the development of contraceptives and infertility treatment drugs. Furthermore, in this era of assisted reproductive technologies, understanding the signalling processes implicated in defective sperm function, particularly those arising from genetic abnormalities, is of the utmost importance not only for the development of infertility treatments but also to assess the overall health of a patient and his children. Future studies to improve reproductive health care and overall health care as a function of the ability to reproduce should include identification and analyses of gene variants that underlie human infertility and research into fertility-related molecules.
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17
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Saha SR, Sakase M, Fukushima M, Harayama H. Effects of digoxin on full-type hyperactivation in bovine ejaculated spermatozoa with relatively lower survivability for incubation with stimulators of cAMP signaling cascades. Theriogenology 2020; 154:100-109. [PMID: 32540510 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2019] [Revised: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Previous researches of our laboratory reported that addition of cAMP analog cBiMPS and protein phosphatase inhibitor calyculin A (stimulators of cAMP signaling cascades) improved the capacity of incubation medium to induce full-type hyperactivation in bovine ejaculated spermatozoa. However, this modified medium was valid only for samples with relatively good survivability for incubation with stimulators of cAMP signaling cascades. Thus, it is necessary to make further modified medium for evaluation of potentials to exhibit full-type hyperactivation in bovine sperm samples with relatively lower survivability. Na+/K+-ATPase is an integral membrane protein and involved with the regulation of rodent sperm motility. To make further modification of the medium, we examined effects of Na+/K+-ATPase inhibition with digoxin on motility, full-type hyperactivation and protein tyrosine phosphorylation in bovine ejaculated spermatozoa with relatively lower survivability for incubation with stimulators of cAMP signaling cascades and also performed the immunodetection of bovine sperm Na+/K+-ATPase. The addition of Na+/K+-ATPase inhibitor digoxin to the incubation medium containing cBiMPS and calyculin A had the tendency to lessen the decreases in the percentages of motile spermatozoa in all of 12 samples after the incubation for 1-3 h and significantly increased the percentages of full-type hyperactivation in one group of 4 samples (Sample-A1) and another group of 4 samples (Sample-A2) after 1 and 2 h respectively, though it had no significant effects on full-type hyperactivation in the other group of 4 samples (Sample-B). In addition, incubation time-related changes in the sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation (a good marker for sperm capacitation) were correlated with those in the percentages of full-type hyperactivation in Sample-A1 containing digoxin. Immunodetection showed that Na+/K+-ATPase is present in the middle and principal pieces of the flagella, indicating that Na+/K+-ATPase has possible relations with sperm motility. These results obtained with bull ejaculated spermatozoa with relatively lower survivability indicate that incubation method using digoxin is useful to evaluate potentials of sperm samples to exhibit full-type hyperactivation, that digoxin has effects on suppressing reduction of sperm motility, and that prolonged incubation with digoxin induces reduction of capacitation state which may suppress the maintenance of full-type hyperactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soma Rani Saha
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Division of Animal Science, Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Mitsuhiro Sakase
- Hokubu Agricultural Technology Institute, Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Asago, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Moriyuki Fukushima
- Hokubu Agricultural Technology Institute, Hyogo Prefectural Technology Center for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Asago, Hyogo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Harayama
- Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Division of Animal Science, Department of Bioresource Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
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18
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Hook KA, Fisher HS. Methodological considerations for examining the relationship between sperm morphology and motility. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:633-649. [PMID: 32415812 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2020] [Revised: 04/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Sperm cells of all taxa share a common goal to reach and fertilize an ovum, yet sperm are one of the most diverse cell types in nature. While the structural diversity of these cells is well recognized, the functional significance of variation in sperm design remains elusive. An important function of spermatozoa is a need to migrate toward the ova, often over long distances in a foreign environment, which may include a complex and hostile female reproductive tract. Several comparative and experimental studies have attempted to address the link between sperm morphology and motility, yet the conclusions drawn from these studies are often inconsistent, even within the same taxa. Much of what we know about the functional significance of sperm design in internally fertilizing species has been gleaned from in vitro studies, for which experimental parameters often vary among studies. We propose that discordant results from these studies are in part due to a lack of consistency of methods, conditions that do not replicate those of the female reproductive tract, and the overuse of simple linear measures of sperm shape. Within this review, we provide a toolkit for imaging, quantifying, and analyzing sperm morphology and movement patterns for in vitro studies and discuss emerging approaches. Results from studies linking morphology to motility enhance our understanding of the evolution of adaptive sperm traits and the mechanisms that regulate fertility, thus offering new insights into methods used in assisted reproductive technologies in animal science, conservation and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin A Hook
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Heidi S Fisher
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
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