1
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Hobbs RJ, Upton R, Calatayud NE, Silla AJ, Daly J, McFadden MS, O’Brien JK. Cryopreservation Cooling Rate Impacts Post-Thaw Sperm Motility and Survival in Litoria booroolongensis. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3014. [PMID: 37835620 PMCID: PMC10571529 DOI: 10.3390/ani13193014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The cryopreservation and storage of gametes (biobanking) can provide a long-term, low-cost option for the preservation of population genetic diversity and is particularly impactful when applied to manage selective breeding within conservation breeding programs (CBPs). This study aimed to develop a sperm cryopreservation protocol for the critically endangered Booroolong frog (Litoria booroolongensis) to capture founder genetics within the recently established (est. 2019) CBP for this species. Hormone-induced sperm release was achieved using established protocols, and spermic urine samples were collected over a 6-h period. Pooled spermic urine samples (n = 3 males) were divided equally between two cryoprotectant (CPA) treatments and diluted by 1:5 (sperm:CPA) with either 15% (v/v) dimethyl sulfoxide + 1% (w/v) sucrose in simplified amphibian Ringer's (SAR; CPAA) or 10% (v/v) dimethylformamide + 10% (w/v) trehalose dihydrate in SAR (CPAB). The samples were cryopreserved in 0.25 mL straws using either a programmable freezer (FrA) or an adapted dry shipper method (FrB). The thawed samples were activated via dilution in water and assessed for viability and motility using both manual assessment and computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA; 0 h, 0.5 h post-thaw). Upon activation, the survival and recovery of motility (total motility, forward progression and velocity) of cryopreserved sperm suspensions were higher for sperm preserved using FrB than FrA, regardless of CPA composition. This work supports our long-term goal to pioneer the integration of biobanked cryopreserved sperm with population genetic management to maximize restoration program outcomes for Australian amphibian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J. Hobbs
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia (J.K.O.)
| | - Rose Upton
- Conservation Biology Research Group, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, The University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Natalie E. Calatayud
- Beckman Center for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, CA 92025, USA
| | - Aimee J. Silla
- School of Earth, Atmospheric and Life Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia;
| | - Jonathan Daly
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia (J.K.O.)
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
| | - Michael S. McFadden
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia (J.K.O.)
| | - Justine K. O’Brien
- Taronga Institute of Science and Learning, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Mosman, NSW 2088, Australia (J.K.O.)
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
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2
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Fliniaux I, Marchand G, Molinaro C, Decloquement M, Martoriati A, Marin M, Bodart JF, Harduin-Lepers A, Cailliau K. Diversity of sialic acids and sialoglycoproteins in gametes and at fertilization. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:982931. [PMID: 36340022 PMCID: PMC9630641 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.982931] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Sialic acids are a family of 9-carbon monosaccharides with particular physicochemical properties. They modulate the biological functions of the molecules that carry them and are involved in several steps of the reproductive process. Sialoglycoproteins participate in the balance between species recognition and specificity, and the mechanisms of these aspects remain an issue in gametes formation and binding in metazoan reproduction. Sialoglycoproteins form a specific coat at the gametes surface and specific polysialylated chains are present on marine species oocytes. Spermatozoa are submitted to critical sialic acid changes in the female reproductive tract facilitating their migration, their survival through the modulation of the female innate immune response, and the final oocyte-binding event. To decipher the role of sialic acids in gametes and at fertilization, the dynamical changes of enzymes involved in their synthesis and removal have to be further considered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Katia Cailliau
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, UMR 8576-UGSF-Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle, Lille, France
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3
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Wang P, Al Azad MAR, Yang X, Martelli PR, Cheung KY, Shi J, Shen Y. Self-adaptive and efficient propulsion of Ray sperms at different viscosities enabled by heterogeneous dual helixes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:e2024329118. [PMID: 34088836 PMCID: PMC8201849 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2024329118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We disclose a peculiar rotational propulsion mechanism of Ray sperms enabled by its unusual heterogeneous dual helixes with a rigid spiral head and a soft tail, named Heterogeneous Dual Helixes (HDH) model for short. Different from the conventional beating propulsion of sperm, the propulsion of Ray sperms is from both the rotational motion of the soft helical tail and the rigid spiral head. Such heterogeneous dual helical propulsion style provides the Ray sperm with high adaptability in viscous solutions along with advantages in linearity, straightness, and bidirectional motion. This HDH model is further corroborated by a miniature swimming robot actuated via a rigid spiral head and a soft tail, which demonstrates similar superiorities over conventional ones in terms of adaptability and efficiency under the same power input. Such findings expand our knowledge on microorganisms' motion, motivate further studies on natural fertilization, and inspire engineering designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panbing Wang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - M A R Al Azad
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xiong Yang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | | | - Kam Yan Cheung
- Veterinary Department, Ocean Park Corporation, Hong Kong, China
| | - Jiahai Shi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shen Zhen, China
- Tung Biomedical Sciences Center, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Yajing Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China;
- Shenzhen Research Institute, City University of Hong Kong, Shen Zhen, China
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4
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Wozniak KL, Bainbridge RE, Summerville DW, Tembo M, Phelps WA, Sauer ML, Wisner BW, Czekalski ME, Pasumarthy S, Hanson ML, Linderman MB, Luu CH, Boehm ME, Sanders SM, Buckley KM, Bain DJ, Nicotra ML, Lee MT, Carlson AE. Zinc protection of fertilized eggs is an ancient feature of sexual reproduction in animals. PLoS Biol 2020; 18:e3000811. [PMID: 32735558 PMCID: PMC7423145 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3000811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the earliest and most prevalent barriers to successful reproduction is polyspermy, or fertilization of an egg by multiple sperm. To prevent these supernumerary fertilizations, eggs have evolved multiple mechanisms. It has recently been proposed that zinc released by mammalian eggs at fertilization may block additional sperm from entering. Here, we demonstrate that eggs from amphibia and teleost fish also release zinc. Using Xenopus laevis as a model, we document that zinc reversibly blocks fertilization. Finally, we demonstrate that extracellular zinc similarly disrupts early embryonic development in eggs from diverse phyla, including Cnidaria, Echinodermata, and Chordata. Our study reveals that a fundamental strategy protecting human eggs from fertilization by multiple sperm may have evolved more than 650 million years ago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. Wozniak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Rachel E. Bainbridge
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Dominique W. Summerville
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maiwase Tembo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Wesley A. Phelps
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Monica L. Sauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bennett W. Wisner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Madelyn E. Czekalski
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Srikavya Pasumarthy
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Meghan L. Hanson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Melania B. Linderman
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Catherine H. Luu
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Madison E. Boehm
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Steven M. Sanders
- Department of Surgery and Immunology, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, and Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Katherine M. Buckley
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, United States of America
| | - Daniel J. Bain
- Department of Geology and Environmental Science, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Matthew L. Nicotra
- Department of Surgery and Immunology, Thomas E. Starzl Transplantation Institute, and Center for Evolutionary Biology and Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Miler T. Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anne E. Carlson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
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5
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Orbach DN, Rooke AC, Evans JP, Pitcher TE, Purchase CF. Assessing the potential for post-ejaculatory female choice in a polyandrous beach-spawning fish. J Evol Biol 2020; 33:449-459. [PMID: 31860764 DOI: 10.1111/jeb.13579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
In species with limited opportunities for pre-ejaculatory sexual selection (behavioural components), post-ejaculatory mechanisms may provide opportunities for mate choice after gametes have been released. Recent evidence from a range of taxa has revealed that cryptic female choice (i.e., female-mediated differential fertilization bias), through chemical cues released with or from eggs, can differentially regulate the swimming characteristics of sperm from various males and ultimately determine male fertilization success under sperm competition. We assessed the potential role that such female-modulated chemical cues play in influencing sperm swimming characteristics in beach-spawning capelin (Mallotus villosus), an externally fertilizing fish that mates as couples (one male and one female) or threesomes (two males and one female) with presumably limited opportunities for pre-ejaculatory sexual selection. We assayed sperm swimming characteristics under varying doses and donor origins of egg cues and also examined the possibility of assortative mating based on body size. We found mating groups were not associated by size, larger males did not produce better quality ejaculates, and egg cues (regardless of dosage or donor identity) did not influence sperm swimming characteristics. Our findings suggest that intersexual pre-ejaculatory sexual selection and cryptic female choice mediated by female chemical cues are poorly developed in capelin, possibly due to unique natural selection constraints on reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dara N Orbach
- Department of Life Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, TX, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA, USA
| | - Anna C Rooke
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, Australia
| | - Trevor E Pitcher
- Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research and Department of Integrative Biology, University of Windsor, Windsor, ON, Canada
| | - Craig F Purchase
- Department of Biology, Memorial University, St. John's, NL, Canada
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6
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Stephens K, Cardullo RA, Thaler CD. Culex pipiens sperm motility is initiated by a trypsin-like protease from male accessory glands. Mol Reprod Dev 2018; 85:440-448. [PMID: 29575187 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Accepted: 03/14/2018] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In most animals, sperm are stored in a quiescent state in the male reproductive tract and only initiate motility when released into either the female reproductive tract, or, in the case of broadcast spawners, the external environment. Male accessory gland secretions transferred into the female reproductive tract may provide factors that modulate sperm viability and storage, or aid in sperm competition, as well as activate sperm motility. In several insects, serine proteases have been implicated in activating sperm motility. Our previous studies have shown that, in Culex quinquefasciatus, either a male accessory gland extract or purified trypsin is sufficient to initiate sperm motility in vitro. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize trypsin-like enzymes produced in the Culex male accessory glands. Mass spectrometry was used to analyze accessory gland proteins and this preliminary proteomic analysis identified 4 trypsin-like proteases (trypsin, trypsin4, and two trypsin7 isoforms). When measured with the chromogenic trypsin substrate Na -benzoyl-L-arginine-ethyl-ester-hydrochloride (BAEE), trypsin-like protease activity in the accessory glands was robust, with a pH optimum of 8. The pH range for the Culex trypsin activity was substantially narrower than a mammalian homologue (porcine pancreatic trypsin). A soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI) -agarose affinity column was used to independently identify trypsin-like accessory gland proteins. Several proteins were enriched in the eluate, as detected by silver staining of SDS-PAGE gels. Taken together, these data demonstrate the presence of trypsin-like activity and several trypsin-like proteins in the Culex male accessory glands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly Stephens
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California
| | - Richard A Cardullo
- Department of Entomology, University of California, Riverside, California.,Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, California
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7
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Wozniak KL, Mayfield BL, Duray AM, Tembo M, Beleny DO, Napolitano MA, Sauer ML, Wisner BW, Carlson AE. Extracellular Ca2+ Is Required for Fertilization in the African Clawed Frog, Xenopus laevis. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0170405. [PMID: 28114360 PMCID: PMC5256882 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0170405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The necessity of extracellular Ca2+ for fertilization and early embryonic development in the African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, is controversial. Ca2+ entry into X. laevis sperm is reportedly required for the acrosome reaction, yet fertilization and embryonic development have been documented to occur in high concentrations of the Ca2+ chelator BAPTA. Here we sought to resolve this controversy. Methodology/principal finding Using the appearance of cleavage furrows as an indicator of embryonic development, we found that X. laevis eggs inseminated in a solution lacking added divalent cations developed normally. By contrast, eggs inseminated in millimolar concentrations of BAPTA or EGTA failed to develop. Transferring embryos to varying solutions after sperm addition, we found that extracellular Ca2+ is specifically required for events occurring within the first 30 minutes after sperm addition, but not after. We found that the fluorescently stained sperm were not able to penetrate the envelope of eggs inseminated in high BAPTA, whereas several had penetrated the vitelline envelope of eggs inseminated without a Ca2+ chelator, or with BAPTA and saturating CaCl2. Together these results indicate that fertilization does not occur in high concentrations of Ca2+ chelators. Finally, we found that the jelly coat includes >5 mM of readily diffusible Ca2+. Conclusions/Significance Taken together, these data are consistent with requirement of extracellular Ca2+ for fertilization. Based on our findings, we hypothesize that the jelly coat surrounding the egg acts as a reserve of readily available Ca2+ ions to foster fertilization in changing extracellular milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine L. Wozniak
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Brianna L. Mayfield
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Alexis M. Duray
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Maiwase Tembo
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - David O. Beleny
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Marc A. Napolitano
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Monica L. Sauer
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bennett W. Wisner
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Anne E. Carlson
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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8
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Pearl E, Morrow S, Noble A, Lerebours A, Horb M, Guille M. An optimized method for cryogenic storage of Xenopus sperm to maximise the effectiveness of research using genetically altered frogs. Theriogenology 2017; 92:149-155. [PMID: 28237331 PMCID: PMC5340284 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2016] [Revised: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryogenic storage of sperm from genetically altered Xenopus improves cost effectiveness and animal welfare associated with their use in research; currently it is routine for X. tropicalis but not reliable for X. laevis. Here we compare directly the three published protocols for Xenopus sperm freeze-thaw and determine whether sperm storage temperature, method of testes maceration and delays in the freezing protocols affect successful fertilisation and embryo development in X. laevis. We conclude that the protocol is robust and that the variability observed in fertilisation rates is due to differences between individuals. We show that the embryos made from the frozen-thawed sperm are normal and that the adults they develop into are reproductively indistinguishable from others in the colony. This opens the way for using cryopreserved sperm to distribute dominant genetically altered (GA) lines, potentially saving travel-induced stress to the male frogs, reducing their numbers used and making Xenopus experiments more cost effective. Xenopus cryopreservation is robust using an optimized method. Success is dependent on the quality of animals from which the sperm are taken. Frozen sperm may now be used to distribute lines and wild-type male gametes around the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther Pearl
- National Xenopus Resource, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Sean Morrow
- European Xenopus Resource Centre, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Anna Noble
- European Xenopus Resource Centre, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK
| | - Adelaide Lerebours
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Marko Horb
- National Xenopus Resource, 7 MBL Street, Woods Hole, MA, 02543, USA
| | - Matthew Guille
- European Xenopus Resource Centre, Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DT, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, PO1 2DY, UK.
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9
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Prokopchuk G, Dzyuba B, Bondarenko O, Rodina M, Cosson J. Motility initiation of sterlet sturgeon (Acipenser ruthenus) spermatozoa: Describing the propagation of the first flagellar waves. Theriogenology 2015; 84:51-61. [PMID: 25794841 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2014] [Revised: 02/04/2015] [Accepted: 02/06/2015] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, for the first time in fish spermatozoa, we describe the precise chronology of motility initiation of sterlet (sturgeon) sperm from completely immotile flagella to regular full wave propagation. The successive activation steps were investigated by high-speed video microscopy, using specific experimental situation, where sperm motility initiation was delayed in time up to several seconds (10 ± 2.68 seconds). Starting from fully immotile, the flagellum shows some trembling for a brief period, soon followed by appearance of the first real bend (so-called "principal bend") with a large wave amplitude 4.28 ± 0.65 μm, then by the "reverse bend," the latter presenting a lower (P < 0.05) wave amplitude (1.14 ± 0.32 μm). This couple of first bends formed at the basal region begins to propagate toward the flagellar tip but gradually fades when reaching the midflagellum, wherein consequently the sperm cell remains nonprogressive. This behavior repeats several times until a stage where the amplitude of the reverse bend gradually reaches a value similar that of the principal bend: The larger amplitude of this couple of bends finally leads to sustain a real "takeoff" of the sperm cell characterized by a full flagellar wave propagation generating an active forward displacement similar to that occurring during regular steady state motility (several seconds after activation). Starting from the earliest stages of motility initiation, the wave propagation along the flagellum and formation of new waves proceeded in a helical manner leading to a 3-dimensional rotation of the whole spermatozoon. Eventually, we estimated that the time period needed from the activation signal (contact with fresh water) to full wave propagation ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 seconds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galina Prokopchuk
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic.
| | - Boris Dzyuba
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Olga Bondarenko
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Marek Rodina
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Jacky Cosson
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
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10
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Browne R, Kaurova S, Uteshev V, Shishova N, McGinnity D, Figiel C, Mansour N, Agnew D, Wu M, Gakhova E, Dzyuba B, Cosson J. Sperm motility of externally fertilizing fish and amphibians. Theriogenology 2015; 83:1-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2014.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2014] [Revised: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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11
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Thaler CD, Miyata H, Haimo LT, Cardullo RA. Waveform generation is controlled by phosphorylation and swimming direction is controlled by Ca2+ in sperm from the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Biol Reprod 2013; 89:135. [PMID: 24108305 DOI: 10.1095/biolreprod.113.109488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Most animal sperm are quiescent in the male reproductive tract and become activated after mixing with accessory secretions from the male and/or female reproductive tract. Sperm from the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus initiate flagellar motility after mixing with male accessory gland components, and the sperm flagellum displays three distinct motility patterns over time: a low amplitude, a long wavelength form (Wave A), a double waveform consisting of two superimposed waveforms over the length of the flagellum (Wave B), and finally, a single helical waveform that propels the sperm at high velocity (Wave C). This flagellar behavior is replicated by treating quiescent sperm with trypsin. When exposed to either broad spectrum or tyrosine kinase inhibitors, sperm activated by accessory gland secretions exhibited motility through Wave B but were unable to progress to Wave C. The MEK1/2 inhibitor UO126 and the ERK1/2 inhibitor FR180204 each blocked the transition from Wave B to Wave C, indicating a role for MAPK activity in the control of waveform and, accordingly, progressive movement. Furthermore, a MAPK substrate antibody stained the flagellum of activated sperm. In the absence of extracellular Ca(2+), a small fraction of sperm swam backwards, whereas most could not be activated by either accessory glands or trypsin and were immotile. However, the phosphatase inhibitor okadaic acid in the absence of extracellular Ca(2+) induced all sperm to swim backwards with a flagellar waveform similar to Wave A. These results indicate that flagellar waveform generation and direction of motility are controlled by protein phosphorylation and Ca(2+) levels, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine D Thaler
- Department of Biology, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, California
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12
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Takahashi T, Kutsuzawa M, Shiba K, Takayama-Watanabe E, Inaba K, Watanabe A. Distinct Ca2+channels maintain a high motility state of the sperm that may be needed for penetration of egg jelly of the newt,Cynops pyrrhogaster. Dev Growth Differ 2013; 55:657-67. [DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Tomoe Takahashi
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Yamagata University; 1-4-12 Kojirakawa; Yamagata; 990-8560; Japan
| | - Megumi Kutsuzawa
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Yamagata University; 1-4-12 Kojirakawa; Yamagata; 990-8560; Japan
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center; University of Tsukuba; 5-10-1 Shimoda; Shizuoka; 415-0025; Japan
| | - Eriko Takayama-Watanabe
- Institute of Arts and Sciences; Yamagata University; 1-4-12 Kojirakawa; Yamagata; 990-8560; Japan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center; University of Tsukuba; 5-10-1 Shimoda; Shizuoka; 415-0025; Japan
| | - Akihiko Watanabe
- Department of Biology; Faculty of Science; Yamagata University; 1-4-12 Kojirakawa; Yamagata; 990-8560; Japan
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Changes in sialic acid content of jelly coat in pesticide-exposed frog eggs and their influence on fertilization. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2012; 749:329-36. [PMID: 22695855 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4614-3381-1_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2023]
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Burnett LA, Washburn CA, Sugiyama H, Xiang X, Olson JH, Al-Anzi B, Bieber AL, Chandler DE. Allurin, an amphibian sperm chemoattractant having implications for mammalian sperm physiology. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF CELL AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 295:1-61. [PMID: 22449486 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-394306-4.00007-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Eggs of many species are surrounded by extracellular coats that emit ligands to which conspecific sperm respond by undergoing chemotaxis and changes in metabolism, motility, and acrosomal status in preparation for fertilization. Here we review methods used to measure sperm chemotaxis and focus on recent studies of allurin, a 21-kDa protein belonging to the Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein (CRISP) family that has chemoattraction activity for both amphibian and mammalian sperm. Allurin is unique in being the first extensively characterized Crisp protein found in the female reproductive tract and is the product of a newly discovered amphibian gene within a gene cluster that has been largely conserved in mammals. Study of its expression, function, and tertiary structure could lead to new insights in the role of Crisp proteins in sperm physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Department of Animal Science, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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Burnett LA, Tholl N, Chandler DE. Two types of assays for detecting frog sperm chemoattraction. J Vis Exp 2011:e3407. [PMID: 22231741 PMCID: PMC3369661 DOI: 10.3791/3407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Sperm chemoattraction in invertebrates can be sufficiently robust that one can place a pipette containing the attractive peptide into a sperm suspension and microscopically visualize sperm accumulation around the pipette. Sperm chemoattraction in vertebrates such as frogs, rodents and humans is more difficult to detect and requires quantitative assays. Such assays are of two major types - assays that quantitate sperm movement to a source of chemoattractant, so-called sperm accumulation assays, and assays that actually track the swimming trajectories of individual sperm. Sperm accumulation assays are relatively rapid allowing tens or hundreds of assays to be done in a single day, thereby allowing dose response curves and time courses to be carried out relatively rapidly. These types of assays have been used extensively to characterize many well established chemoattraction systems - for example, neutrophil chemotaxis to bacterial peptides and sperm chemotaxis to follicular fluid. Sperm tracking assays can be more labor intensive but offer additional data on how chemoattractancts actually alter the swimming paths that sperm take. This type of assay is needed to demonstrate the orientation of sperm movement relative to the chemoattrractant gradient axis and to visualize characteristic turns or changes in orientation that bring the sperm closer to the egg. Here we describe methods used for each of these two types of assays. The sperm accumulation assay utilized is called a "two-chamber" assay. Amphibian sperm are placed in a tissue culture plate insert with a polycarbonate filter floor having 12 μm diameter pores. Inserts with sperm are placed into tissue culture plate wells containing buffer and a chemoatttractant carefully pipetted into the bottom well where the floor meets the wall (see Fig. 1). After incubation, the top insert containing the sperm reservoir is carefully removed, and sperm in the bottom chamber that have passed through the membrane are removed, pelleted and then counted by hemocytometer or flow cytometer. The sperm tracking assay utilizes a Zigmond chamber originally developed for observing neutrophil chemotaxis and modified for observation of sperm by Giojalas and coworkers. The chamber consists of a thick glass slide into which two vertical troughs have been machined. These are separated by a 1 mm wide observation platform. After application of a cover glass, sperm are loaded into one trough, the chemoattractant agent into the other and movement of individual sperm visualized by video microscopy. Video footage is then analyzed using software to identify two-dimensional cell movements in the x-y plane as a function of time (xyt data sets) that form the trajectory of each sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsey A Burnett
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, USA
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