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Djouahra N, Moudilou EN, Exbrayat JM, Hammouche S. Immunodistribution of RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) during the seminiferous epithelium cycle in a desert rodent Psammomys obesus. Tissue Cell 2021; 69:101484. [PMID: 33450652 DOI: 10.1016/j.tice.2020.101484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 12/15/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The Sand rat, Psammomys obesus, living northwest of the Algerian Sahara, presents a seasonal reproductive cycle. The purposes of this study were firstly to determine the stages of seminiferous epithelium cycle (SEC) by histological and morphometric analysis and secondly to investigate, for the first time, the testicular expression of RFamide-related peptide-3 (RFRP-3) during the SEC by immunohistochemistry. The results showed that the SEC consists of 14 stages according to the tubular morphology method. RFRP-3 was observed in both testicular compartments: the tubular and the interstitial. Leydig cells exhibited the highest RFRP-3 signal (30.73 % ± 4.80) compared to Sertoli cells (13-15 %). In the germline, RFRP-3 was detected during the late prophase I of meiosis in late pachytene, diplotene and metaphasic spermatocytes I. In addition, only round and triangular spermatids were positive during spermiogenesis. Referring to the SEC, it was found that the increased staining of RFRP-3 in spermatocytes I coincided with late pachytene of XI and XII stages (16.90 % ± 0.69 and 16.61 % ± 0.28, respectively). In spermatids, the labeling decreased in the triangular ones at stage IX (8.04 % ± 0.42). These results suggest the involvement of RFRP-3 in the control of SEC in P. obesus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nassima Djouahra
- USTHB, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari Boumediene, Biological Sciences Faculty, Arid Area Research Laboratory, Algiers, Algeria.
| | - Elara N Moudilou
- Confluence Sciences and Humanities Research Unit, Biosciences Technologies Ethics Laboratory, Lyon Catholic University, 10 Place des Archives, Lyon, 69002, France
| | - Jean-Marie Exbrayat
- Confluence Sciences and Humanities Research Unit, Biosciences Technologies Ethics Laboratory, Lyon Catholic University, 10 Place des Archives, Lyon, 69002, France
| | - Sadjia Hammouche
- USTHB, University of Sciences and Technology of Houari Boumediene, Biological Sciences Faculty, Arid Area Research Laboratory, Algiers, Algeria
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Ros-Santaella JL, Kotrba R, Pintus E. High-energy diet enhances spermatogenic function and increases sperm midpiece length in fallow deer ( Dama dama) yearlings. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2019; 6:181972. [PMID: 31312478 PMCID: PMC6599764 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.181972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2018] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Nutrition is a major factor involved in the sexual development of livestock ruminants. In the male, a high-energy diet enhances the reproductive function, but its effects on the underlying processes such as spermatogenic efficiency are not yet defined. Moreover, the possible changes in sperm size due to a supplemented diet remain poorly investigated. The main goal of this study was to evaluate whether a high-energy diet affects the spermatogenic activity, epididymal sperm parameters (concentration, morphology, morphometry and acrosome integrity) and blood testosterone levels in fallow deer yearlings. For this purpose, 32 fallow deer were allocated into two groups according to their diet: control (pasture) and experimental (pasture and barley grain) groups. Fallow deer from the experimental group showed a significant increase in the Sertoli cell function and sperm midpiece length, together with a higher testicular mass, sperm concentration and percentage of normal spermatozoa than the control group (p < 0.05). We also found a tendency for higher blood testosterone levels in the animals fed with barley grain (p = 0.116). The better sperm quality found in the experimental group may be related to their higher efficiency of Sertoli cells and to an earlier onset of puberty. The results of the present work elucidate the mechanisms by which dietary supplementation enhances the male sexual development and might be useful for better practices of livestock management in seasonal breeders.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Luis Ros-Santaella
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - Radim Kotrba
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, 10400 Prague 10-Uhříněves, Czech Republic
| | - Eliana Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 16500 Prague 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
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Martínez-Fresneda L, O'Brien E, Velázquez R, Toledano-Díaz A, Martínez-Cáceres CM, Tesfaye D, Schellander K, García-Vázquez FA, Santiago-Moreno J. Seasonal variation in sperm freezability associated with changes in testicular germinal epithelium in domestic (Ovis aries) and wild (Ovis musimon) sheep. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019; 31:1545-1557. [DOI: 10.1071/rd18511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine ovine sperm cryoresistance during the rutting season (RS) and its association with sperm head area and seminiferous epithelium proliferation. Small ruminants show fluctuating testosterone levels throughout the year, which could interfere with spermatogenesis and sperm cryopreservation. Ejaculates, testicular biopsies and blood were collected during the middle and at the end of the RS (Middle-RS vs End-RS) during periods of high and low testosterone levels in Merino and Mouflon rams. Fresh and frozen–thawed sperm quality, sperm morphometry, seminiferous tubule morphometry and testicular proliferation markers (proliferating cell nuclear antigen, proliferation marker protein Ki-67 and transcription factor GATA-4) were evaluated. Post-thaw sperm viability was higher in the End-RS group in both Merino (69.9±8.2 vs 41.6±7.3%; P=0.020) and Mouflon rams (40.9±3.3 vs 24.2±5.0%; P=0.008). Mouflons had larger sperm head area at the End-RS (38.3±0.2 vs 34.3±0.1µm2; P=0.029), whereas there was no difference between Merino groups (35.7±0.5 vs 34.8±1.0µm2). Seminiferous tubule morphometry and proliferation markers showed higher levels of germinal epithelium proliferation in the Middle-RS of both species. In conclusion, sperm freezability is affected during the RS in domestic and wild rams, which could be correlated with changes that occur during spermatogenesis, since there is an effect of season on cell proliferation in the testis.
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Golher DM, Kumaresan A, Saraf KK, Chhillar S, Nayak S, Tripathi UK, Bhaskar CN, Lathwal SS, Mohanty TK. Influence of season and climatic variables on testicular cytology, semen quality and melatonin concentrations in crossbred bucks reared under subtropical climate. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2018; 62:1709-1719. [PMID: 29881903 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-018-1571-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Seasonality in reproduction and effects of climatic variables on testicular cytology and semen quality in bucks reared under subtropical climatic conditions were not well understood. In the present study, using testicular cytology, semen evaluation and melatonin concentrations assessed over a period of 1 year, we report that bucks reared under subtropical climatic conditions did not show seasonality in reproduction. Climatic variables including temperature, relative humidity, temperature-humidity index (THI), sunshine hours and day length were recorded daily during the whole period of experimentation (one complete year). Ejaculates were collected from crossbred (Alpine X Beetal) males (n = 6) biweekly using artificial vagina, and semen quality (volume, mass activity, sperm concentration, motility, viability, membrane integrity and protamine deficiency) was assessed. To understand the seasonal influence at testicular level, using fine needle aspiration biopsy method, testicular cells were aspirated and different types of cells and testicular cytology indices were quantified. Blood was collected biweekly for estimation of melatonin concentrations. Mass activity was higher (P < 0.05) during rainy season while individual sperm motility and sperm concentration were higher (P < 0.05) during rainy and autumn seasons as compared to other seasons. Sperm functional parameters did not show any differences during different seasons. Sertoli cell count, spermatogenic cell count and testicular indices did not differ among the seasons. Melatonin concentrations also did not differ significantly among the four seasons studied. Among the climatic parameters, THI had significant (P < 0.05) influence on sperm quality. The proportion of Sertoli cell in the testicular cytology had a significant and positive relationship with RH, THI and day length. It was concluded that seasonal variations are less evident in terms of spermatogenesis and semen quality in Alpine X Beetal crossbred bucks reared under subtropical climatic conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durgesh Murhari Golher
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Arumugam Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India.
- Theriogenology Lab, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Adugodi, Bengaluru, Karnataka, 560030, India.
| | - Kaustubh Kishor Saraf
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Shivani Chhillar
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Samiksha Nayak
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Utkarsh K Tripathi
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Chavan Nitin Bhaskar
- Theriogenology Lab, Animal Reproduction, Gynaecology & Obstetrics, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Surender Singh Lathwal
- Livestock Research Centre, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, 132001, Karnal, Haryana, India
| | - Tushar Kumar Mohanty
- Artificial Breeding Research Centre, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, Haryana, 132001, India
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Pintus E, Ros-Santaella JL, Garde JJ. Beyond Testis Size: Links between Spermatogenesis and Sperm Traits in a Seasonal Breeding Mammal. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0139240. [PMID: 26430740 PMCID: PMC4592251 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0139240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 09/10/2015] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatogenesis is a costly process that is expected to be under selection to maximise sperm quantity and quality. Testis size is often regarded as a proxy measure of sperm investment, implicitly overlooking the quantitative assessment of spermatogenesis. An enhanced understanding of testicular function, beyond testis size, may reveal further sexual traits involved in sperm quantity and quality. Here, we first estimated the inter-male variation in testicular function and sperm traits in red deer across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. Then, we analysed the relationships between the testis mass, eight parameters of spermatogenic function, and seven parameters of sperm quality. Our findings revealed that the Sertoli cell number and function parameters vary greatly between red deer males, and that spermatogenic activity co-varies with testis mass and sperm quality across the breeding and non-breeding seasons. For the first time in a seasonal breeder, we found that not only is the Sertoli cell number important in determining testis mass (r = 0.619, p = 0.007 and r = 0.248, p = 0.047 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively), but also sperm function (r = 0.703, p = 0.002 and r = 0.328, p = 0.012 for the Sertoli cell number assessed by histology and cytology, respectively). Testicular histology also revealed that a high Sertoli cell number per tubular cross-section is associated with high sperm production (r = 0.600, p = 0.009). Sperm production and function were also positively correlated (r = 0.384, p = 0.004), suggesting that these traits co-vary to maximise sperm fertilisation ability in red deer. In conclusion, our findings contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of spermatogenesis, and reveal new insights into the role of testicular function and the Sertoli cell number on testis size and sperm quality in red deer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliana Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Clinics and Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - José Luis Ros-Santaella
- Department of Animal Science and Food Processing, Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, Czech University of Life Sciences, Prague, Czech Republic
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