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Fuentes-Albero MC, González-Brusi L, Cots P, Luongo C, Abril-Sánchez S, Ros-Santaella JL, Pintus E, Ruiz-Díaz S, Barros-García C, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, García-Párraga D, Avilés M, Izquierdo Rico MJ, García-Vázquez FA. Protein Identification of Spermatozoa and Seminal Plasma in Bottlenose Dolphin ( Tursiops truncatus). Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:673961. [PMID: 34336830 PMCID: PMC8323341 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.673961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteins play an important role in many reproductive functions such as sperm maturation, sperm transit in the female genital tract or sperm-oocyte interaction. However, in general, little information concerning reproductive features is available in the case of aquatic animals. The present study aims to characterize the proteome of both spermatozoa and seminal plasma of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) as a model organism for cetaceans. Ejaculate samples were obtained from two trained dolphins housed in an aquarium. Spermatozoa and seminal plasma were analyzed by means of proteomic analyses using an LC-MS/MS, and a list with the gene symbols corresponding to each protein was submitted to the DAVID database. Of the 419 proteins identified in spermatozoa and 303 in seminal plasma, 111 proteins were shared by both. Furthermore, 70 proteins were identified as involved in reproductive processes, 39 in spermatozoa, and 31 in seminal plasma. The five most abundant proteins were also identified in these samples: AKAP3, ODF2, TUBB, GSTM3, ROPN1 for spermatozoa and CST11, LTF, ALB, HSP90B1, PIGR for seminal plasma. In conclusion, this study provides the first characterization of the proteome in cetacean sperm and seminal plasma, opening the way to future research into new biomarkers, the analysis of conservation capacity or possible additional applications in the field of assisted reproductive technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mari-Carmen Fuentes-Albero
- Department of Biology, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, Valencia, Spain.,Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Leopoldo González-Brusi
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Paula Cots
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Chiara Luongo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Silvia Abril-Sánchez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - José Luis Ros-Santaella
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Eliana Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Prague, Czechia
| | - Sara Ruiz-Díaz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Agricultural and Food Research and Technology Institute (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - María-Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Agricultural and Food Research and Technology Institute (INIA), Madrid, Spain.,Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniel García-Párraga
- Department of Biology, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, Valencia, Spain.,Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic, Valencia, Spain
| | - Manuel Avilés
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Mᵃ José Izquierdo Rico
- Department of Cell Biology and Histology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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2
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Characterization of Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Sperm Based on Morphometric Traits. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10050355. [PMID: 33922110 PMCID: PMC8143526 DOI: 10.3390/biology10050355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Dolphins are one of the best adapted aquatic mammalians in captivity. While these animals can reproduce naturally in aquaria, many aspects related to their reproduction are still unknown. Their behavior, sociability with humans and ability to learn make dolphins ideal subjects for investigating their reproduction features for conservation programs aimed at this aquatic species and others. It is known that dolphins use a multi-male mating strategy, in which sperm competition could play a fundamental role. This study aims to characterize the shape and dimensions of dolphin sperm from two mature males and putatively classifies them into subpopulations. Moreover, the influence of sex hormone levels (testosterone) and refrigeration (temperature and storage period) with sperm dimension was evaluated. The results indicated that sperm dimensions and shape differed between the two males studied and that the sperm of both males could be classified into two subpopulations depending on their dimensions. Moreover, both testosterone levels and refrigeration were seen to influence sperm dimensions. This investigation provides new insights into sperm competition in dolphin species, and the results could be extrapolated to other endangered aquatic mammalian species. Abstract Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) males follow many reproductive strategies to ensure their paternity. However, little is known about the sperm traits, including morphometric features, that contribute to their reproductive success. Our aim was to study dolphin sperm morphometry (a total of 13 parameters) in two adult males to evaluate (i) presumptive sperm subpopulations, (ii) the correlation of sperm morphometry with testosterone levels and (iii) the effect of refrigerated storage on the sperm morphometry. Sperm populations were classified into four principal components (PCs) based on morphometry (>94% of cumulative variance). The PCs clustered into two different sperm subpopulations, which differed between males. Furthermore, the levels of serum testosterone were positively correlated with the length of the midpiece but negatively correlated with head width and the principal piece, flagellum and total sperm lengths. Most of the sperm morphometric parameters changed during the storage period (day 1 vs. day 7), but only the principal piece length was affected by the storage temperature (5 °C vs. 15 °C). This is the first study to identify dolphin sperm subpopulations based on morphometry and the influence of serum testosterone and refrigeration on sperm morphometry.
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3
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Ortiz I, Quiñones-Pérez C, Hidalgo M, Consuegra C, Diaz-Jimenez M, Dorado J, Vega-Pla JL, Crespo F. Comparison of different mathematical models to assess seasonal variations in the longevity of DNA integrity of cooled-stored stallion sperm. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13545. [PMID: 32109320 DOI: 10.1111/and.13545] [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: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 01/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Dynamic assessment of sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) has shown to give fuller understanding of stallion semen quality; however, there have been limited attempts to use this parameter to investigate seasonal changes in productive functions. The aims of this study were to: (a) establish a reliable mathematical model to describe the longevity of cooled-stored sperm DNA integrity; (b) to examine the effect of seasonal variations on SDF. Ejaculates were cooled to 5°C, and SDF was analysed after 0, 6 and 24 hr of storage. The coefficient of determination (R2 ) was calculated after fine-tuning linear (LIN), exponential (EXP) and second order polynomial (POL) models. R2 was significantly higher (p < .001) for POL than for LIN and EXP. The rate of DNA degradation was calculated using the slopes of POL equations. After assessing the rate of change of the POL functions, significant differences between the acceleration of DNA fragmentation were found (p < .01) among seasons, being higher for winter and summer than spring and autumn. In conclusion, DNA analysis of stallion sperm fits better to a second order polynomial mathematical model, being spring the best season to collect and process cooled stallion semen in order to maintain the DNA integrity of the stallion sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Ortiz
- College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Carlota Quiñones-Pérez
- Centro Militar de Cría Caballar de Ávila, Cría Caballar de las Fuerzas Armadas, Ávila, Spain.,Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada, Cría Caballar de las Fuerzas Armadas, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Manuel Hidalgo
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Cesar Consuegra
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Maria Diaz-Jimenez
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Jesus Dorado
- Veterinary Reproduction Group, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, University of Cordoba, Cordoba, Spain
| | - Jose Luis Vega-Pla
- Laboratorio de Investigación Aplicada, Cría Caballar de las Fuerzas Armadas, Córdoba, Spain
| | - Francisco Crespo
- Centro Militar de Cría Caballar de Ávila, Cría Caballar de las Fuerzas Armadas, Ávila, Spain
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4
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Ruiz-Díaz S, Luongo C, Fuentes-Albero MC, Abril-Sánchez S, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Barros-García C, De la Fe C, García-Galán A, Ros-Santaella JL, Pintus E, Garcia-Párraga D, García-Vázquez FA. Effect of temperature and cell concentration on dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa quality evaluated at different days of refrigeration. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 212:106248. [PMID: 31864493 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The use of cryopreserved dolphin spermatozoa facilitates the exchange of genetic material between aquatic parks and makes spermatozoa accessible to laboratories for studies to further our understanding of marine mammal reproduction. Sperm cryopreservation in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) has been developed for the exchange of gametes within the ex situ population. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for refrigeration of bottlenose dolphin spermatozoa diluted in a commercial extender (BTS). In Experiment 1, the effect of temperature (5 compared with 15 °C) on sperm quality was evaluated during 7 days of storage at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml. In Experiment 2, the effect of the storage concentration (100 × 106 compared with 20 × 106 spermatozoa/ml) on sperm quality was assessed during 7 days of storage at 5 °C. In Experiment 1, total motility (including % of rapid sperm) was greater at 5 than 15 °C. When the effect of storage concentration was evaluated (Experiment 2), total motility and ALH were greater at the higher storage concentration (100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml). For both experiments, values for viability, acrosome integrity, and normal morphology variables were consistent throughout the 7 days of refrigeration. In Experiment 3, a microbiological study was performed to evaluate the effect of the refrigeration temperature and days of storage on bacterial growth. The results of microbiological analysis indicated there was Staphylococcus aureus in some samples, however, there was no effect of temperature or days of refrigeration. In conclusion, bottlenose dolphin semen can be refrigerated for a short to medium period of storage and there is maintenance of functionality of sperm when stored at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml at 5 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ruiz-Díaz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | - C Luongo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | | | - S Abril-Sánchez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | - M J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Barros-García
- Biology Department, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - C De la Fe
- Ruminant Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n., 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - A García-Galán
- Ruminant Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n., 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - J L Ros-Santaella
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - E Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - D Garcia-Párraga
- Biology Department, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, 46013, Valencia, Spain; Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - F A García-Vázquez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain.
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5
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van der Horst G, Medger K, Steckler D, Luther I, Bartels P. Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) sperm revisited: Motility, morphology and ultrastructure of fresh sperm of consecutive ejaculates. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 195:309-320. [PMID: 29954651 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Computer aided sperm analysis systems allow detailed examination of sperm motility and morphology variables, which are important for the understanding of the spermatology of a species and the development of assisted reproductive techniques. Cetacean biology is too complex to study in the wild and data from captive individuals provide an important alternative for the conservation of these charismatic animals. The present study evaluates ejaculate and sperm characteristics, including sperm motility, kinematic variables and quantitative sperm morphology and ultrastructure, of consecutive ejaculates from Atlantic bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Sperm concentrations and total and progressive motilities were greater in the second than the first ejaculate, with all ejaculates being of very high quality (6.9-1127 × 106/ml sperm concentration, 75% to 91% total motility and 89% to 96% normal sperm). Most sperm in an ejaculate (≥84%) were highly (VCL>150 μm/s) and progressively motile with very few abnormal sperm. The sperm have small heads, a short but very bulky midpiece and a long tail. Detailed sperm morphometrics using CASA indicated there were similarities from one ejaculate to the next. The large mitochondria with extensive cristae mitochondriales are tightly packed in the midpiece resulting in a large midpiece volume. All the semen and sperm characteristics indicate high quality sperm and support the assumption that a multimale mating system is present in T. truncatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerhard van der Horst
- University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville 7535, South Africa; National Zoological Garden, South African National Biodiversity Institute, PO Box 754, Pretoria 0001, South Africa.
| | - Katarina Medger
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield/Pretoria 0028, South Africa.
| | - Daniela Steckler
- Section of Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Onderstepoort, Pretoria 0110, South Africa.
| | | | - Paul Bartels
- Department of Nature Conservation, Tshwane University of Technology, Pretoria-West 0001, South Africa.
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6
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Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Maillo V, Beltrán-Breña P, de la Fuente Martínez J, Galera-Carrillo S, Pérez-Gutiérrez JF, Pérez-Cerezales S. Cryopreservation of canine sperm using egg yolk and soy bean based extenders. Reprod Biol 2017; 17:233-238. [PMID: 28579337 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2017.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 05/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Animal protein-based extenders are widely used despite being a potential source of bacterial or mycoplasma contamination. Its replacement with vegetal protein-based extenders could represent an interesting alternative for dog sperm cryopreservation. This technique could be further improved by the addition of Tris-Glucose-Citric acid (TGC) that could physically protect the spermatozoa and improve its homeostasis. The aim of this study was to evaluate a cryopreservation protocol for dog spermatozoa using a soybean-based extender (LP1℗) as well as the effects of the addition of (TGC) immediately after the semen collection. Eleven ejaculates from purebred adult dogs were collected, centrifuged in the absence or presence of TGC and processed as fresh or cryopreserved spermatozoa with: egg yolk-based extender (CaniPRO) or LP1℗. Freezing the spermatozoa in LP1℗ reduced the amplitude of the lateral head displacement, the percentage of spermatozoa that showed the intact acrosome and the mitochondrial function (P<0.05). These samples also showed a trend towards increased percentage of apoptotic spermatozoa (P<0.05). The addition of TGC before centrifugation did not improve the seminal parameters and adversely affected motility (P<0.05) in the spermatozoa cryopreserved in CaniPRO. However, TGC did not affect motility and increased (P<0.05) the percentage of intact acrosomes in the spermatozoa cryopreserved in LP1℗, reaching similar values than those cryopreserved in CaniPRO. In conclusion, LP1® plus TGC provide the same level of protection to dog spermatozoa cryopreservation than the egg yolk based extender CaniPRO when comparing standard post-thaw sperm quality parameters.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Verónica Maillo
- Department of Animal Reproduction, SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Paula Beltrán-Breña
- Department of Animal Reproduction, SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - José Félix Pérez-Gutiérrez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Serafín Pérez-Cerezales
- Department of Animal Reproduction, SGIT-INIA, Avda. Puerta de Hierro km 5.9, 28040 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, García-Vázquez FA, Laguna-Barraza R, Barros-García C, García-Parraga D, Rizos D, Gutiérrez Adan A, Pérez-Gutíerrez JF. Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) Spermatozoa: Collection, Cryopreservation, and Heterologous In Vitro Fertilization. J Vis Exp 2017. [PMID: 28872129 DOI: 10.3791/55237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of cryopreserved dolphin spermatozoa facilitates the exchange of genetic material between aquatic parks and makes spermatozoa accessible to laboratories for studies to further our understanding of marine mammal reproduction. Heterologous IVF, a replacement for homologous IVF, could provide a means to test the sperm fertility potential; to study gamete physiology and early embryo development; and to avoid the use of valuable dolphin oocytes, which are difficult to obtain. Here, we present protocols that have been successfully used to collect and cryopreserve dolphin spermatozoa. The collection of semen is performed by manual stimulation on trained dolphins. Cryopreservation is accomplished using a TRIS egg-yolk based extender with glycerol. In addition, we present a protocol that describes heterologous IVF using dolphin spermatozoa and bovine oocytes and that verifies the hybrid nature of the resulting embryo using PCR. Heterologous fertilization raises questions on fertilization and can be used as a tool to study gamete physiology and early embryo development. In addition, the success of heterologous IVF demonstrates the potential of this technique to test dolphin sperm fertilizing capacity, which is worth further examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA); Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid
| | | | - Ricardo Laguna-Barraza
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
| | | | - Daniel García-Parraga
- Veterinary Services, L'Oceanográfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Junta de Murs i Vals, s/n, 46013
| | - Dimitrios Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez Adan
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA)
| | - José Félix Pérez-Gutíerrez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid;
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8
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Effect of different semen extenders for the storage of chilled sperm in Tigrina ( Leopardus tigrinus ). Theriogenology 2017; 89:146-154. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.10.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Revised: 08/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
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9
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Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, de la Fuente J, Laguna-Barraza R, Beltrán-Breña P, Martínez-Nevado E, Johnston SD, Rizos D, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Pérez-Gutiérrez JF. Heterologous murine and bovine IVF using bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa. Theriogenology 2015; 84:983-94. [PMID: 26149074 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2015.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2015] [Revised: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Assisted reproductive technologies are of great importance for increasing the genetic diversity in captive animals. The use of bovine or murine oocytes in heterologous IVF provides advantages compared to homologous IVF in nondomestic animals, such as the accessibility to oocytes and the availability of well-developed in vitro maturation systems. The aim of this study was to determine the heterologous IVF parameters using cryopreserved dolphin spermatozoa and zona-intact bovine or murine oocytes and to examine the nuclear chromatin status of the dolphin spermatozoa. All the processes involved in the fertilization including embryo cleavage were observed by confocal microscopy and hybrid embryo formation was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Heterologous bovine IVF showed no polyspermy, lower percentages of pronuclear formation, and a lower cleavage rate compared to homologous IVF group (34.8% vs. 89.3%). Heterologous murine IVF showed a lower cleavage rate than homologous IVF (9.6% vs. 77.1%). With respect to dolphin sperm chromatin, it was more stable, i.e. more resistant to EDTA-SDS decondensation than the bovine sperm chromatin. This study revealed the stability of the dolphin sperm chromatin and the ability of the dolphin spermatozoa to penetrate zona-intact bovine and murine oocytes, leading to hybrid embryo formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - J de la Fuente
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - R Laguna-Barraza
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - P Beltrán-Breña
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - S D Johnston
- Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Australia
| | - D Rizos
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - A Gutiérrez-Adán
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), Madrid, Spain
| | - J F Pérez-Gutiérrez
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
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