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Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez-Serrano CA, Alvarez-Rodriguez M, Martinez EA, Roca J. Reproductive physiology of the boar: What defines the potential fertility of an ejaculate? Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 269:107476. [PMID: 38664134 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 10/02/2024]
Abstract
Despite decades of research and handling of semen for use in artificial insemination (AI) and other assisted reproductive technologies, 5-10% of selected boar sires are still considered sub-fertile, escaping current assessment methods for sperm quality and resilience to preservation. As end-product, the ejaculate (emitted spermatozoa sequentially exposed to the composite seminal plasma, the SP) ought to define the homeostasis of the testes, the epididymis, and the accessory sexual glands. Yet, linking findings in the ejaculate to sperm production biology and fertility is suboptimal. The present essay critically reviews how the ejaculate of a fertile boar can help us to diagnose both reproductive health and resilience to semen handling, focusing on methods -available and under development- to identify suitable biomarkers for cryotolerance and fertility. Bulk SP, semen proteins and microRNAs (miRNAs) have, albeit linked to sperm function and fertility after AI, failed to enhance reproductive outcomes at commercial level, perhaps for just being components of a complex functional pathway. Hence, focus is now on the interaction sperm-SP, comparing in vivo with ex vivo, and regarding nano-sized lipid bilayer seminal extracellular vesicles (sEVs) as priority. sEVs transport fragile molecules (lipids, proteins, nucleic acids) which, shielded from degradation, mediate cell-to-cell communication with spermatozoa and the female internal genital tract. Such interaction modulates essential reproductive processes, from sperm homeostasis to immunological female tolerance. sEVs can be harvested, characterized, stored, and manipulated, e.g. can be used for andrological diagnosis, selection of breeders, and alternatively be used as additives to improve cryosurvival and fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping SE-58185, Sweden.
| | - Cristina A Martinez-Serrano
- Department of Biotechnology, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), Ctra de la Coruña KM 7,5, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agriculture and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), Ctra de la Coruña KM 7,5, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | - Emilio A Martinez
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
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Moretti E, Bonechi C, Signorini C, Corsaro R, Micheli L, Liguori L, Centini G, Collodel G. In Vitro Effects of Charged and Zwitterionic Liposomes on Human Spermatozoa and Supplementation with Liposomes and Chlorogenic Acid during Sperm Freezing. Cells 2024; 13:542. [PMID: 38534386 DOI: 10.3390/cells13060542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Semen handling and cryopreservation induce oxidative stress that should be minimized. In this study, human semen was supplemented during cryopreservation with formulations of handmade liposomes and chlorogenic acid (CGA), an antioxidant compound. Zwitterionic (ZL), anionic (AL), and cationic (CL) liposomes were synthesized and characterized. Three aliquots of swim-up-selected sperm were incubated with ZL, AL, and CL (1:10,000), respectively. The percentages of sperm with progressive motility, high mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP; JC-1), double-stranded DNA (dsDNA acridine orange), and acrosome integrity (Pisum sativum agglutinin) were assessed. Then, human semen was frozen using both 1:10,000 ZL and CGA as follows: freezing medium/empty ZL (EL), freezing medium/empty ZL/CGA in the medium (CGA + EL), freezing medium/CGA loaded ZL (CGA), freezing medium (CTR). The same sperm endpoints were evaluated. ZL were the most tolerated and used for semen cryopreservation protocols. All the supplemented samples showed better endpoints versus CTR (p < 0.001). In particular, spermatozoa from the CGA and CGA + EL A samples showed increased motility, dsDNA, and acrosome integrity versus CTR and EL (p < 0.001; motility EL vs. CGA + EL p < 0.05). ZL and CGA can improve post-thaw sperm quality, acting on both cold shock effect management and oxidative stress. These findings open new perspectives on human and animal reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Moretti
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Claudia Bonechi
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Cinzia Signorini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Roberta Corsaro
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Lucia Micheli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Laura Liguori
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Gabriele Centini
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
- Obstetrics and Gynecological Clinic, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - Giulia Collodel
- Department of Molecular and Developmental Medicine, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
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Ferreira G, Costa C, Bassaizteguy V, Santos M, Cardozo R, Montes J, Settineri R, Nicolson GL. Incubation of human sperm with micelles made from glycerophospholipid mixtures increases sperm motility and resistance to oxidative stress. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0197897. [PMID: 29856778 PMCID: PMC5984032 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0197897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Membrane integrity is essential in maintaining sperm viability, signaling, and motility, which are essential for fertilization. Sperm are highly susceptible to oxidative stress, as they are rich in sensitive polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), and are unable to synthesize and repair many essential membrane constituents. Because of this, sperm cellular membranes are important targets of this process. Membrane Lipid Replacement (MLR) with glycerophospholipid mixtures (GPL) has been shown to ameliorate oxidative stress in cells, restore their cellular membranes, and prevent loss of function. Therefore, we tested the effects of MLR on sperm by tracking and monitoring GPL incorporation into their membrane systems and studying their effects on sperm motility and viability under different experimental conditions. Incubation of sperm with mixtures of exogenous, unoxidized GPL results in their incorporation into sperm membranes, as shown by the use of fluorescent dyes attached to GPL. The percent overall (total) sperm motility was increased from 52±2.5% to 68±1.34% after adding GPL to the incubation media, and overall sperm motility was recovered from 7±2% after H2O2 treatment to 58±2.5%)(n = 8, p<0.01) by the incorporation of GPL into sperm membranes. When sperm were exposed to H2O2, the mitochondrial inner membrane potential (MIMP), monitored using the MIMP tracker dye JC-1 in flow cytometry, diminished, whereas the addition of GPL prevented the decrease in MIMP. Confocal microscopy with Rhodamine-123 and JC-1 confirmed the mitochondrial localization of the dyes. We conclude that incubation of human sperm with glycerolphospholipids into the membranes of sperm improves sperm viability, motility, and resistance to oxidizing agents like H2O2. This suggests that human sperm might be useful to test innovative new treatments like MLR, since such treatments could improve fertility when it is adversely affected by increased oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonzalo Ferreira
- Departamento de Biofísica, Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos y Señalización Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Carlos Costa
- Departamento de Biofísica, Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos y Señalización Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Verónica Bassaizteguy
- Departamento de Biofísica, Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos y Señalización Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Marcelo Santos
- Departamento de Biofísica, Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos y Señalización Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Romina Cardozo
- Departamento de Biofísica, Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos y Señalización Celular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | | | - Robert Settineri
- Sierra Productions Research, LLC, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Garth L. Nicolson
- Dept. of Molecular Pathology, The Institute for Molecular Medicine, Huntington Beach, California, United States of America
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Hu SG, Liang AJ, Yao GX, Li XQ, Zou M, Liu JW, Sun Y. The dynamic metabolomic changes throughout mouse epididymal lumen fluid potentially contribute to sperm maturation. Andrology 2017; 6:247-255. [PMID: 29194995 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Revised: 08/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Epididymal lumen fluids are directly responsible for sperm maturation. However, very little is known about the molecular details of small molecule metabolites in the epididymal lumen fluids until now. Here we identified and compared the metabolic profiles of mouse caput and cauda epididymal lumen fluids using GC-MS technique. Among 236 metabolites identified in caput and cauda epididymis, 36 were significantly enriched in caput epididymis while 18 were significantly enriched in cauda epididymis. Pathway analysis identified ascorbate and aldarate metabolism and beta-alanine metabolism as most relevant pathways in caput and cauda epididymis, respectively. Ascorbate, dehydroascorbic acid and beta-alanine associated with these two pathways were firstly reported in mouse epididymal lumen fluids and might play important roles in sperm maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S-G Hu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - A-J Liang
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
| | - G-X Yao
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - X-Q Li
- Department of Endocrine, Shanghai Pudong New Area Gongli Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - M Zou
- Shanghai Key Laboratory for Molecular Andrology, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - J-W Liu
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
| | - Y Sun
- Reproductive Medical Center, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Key Laboratory for Assisted Reproduction and Reproductive Genetics, Shanghai, China
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