Protein-tyrosine kinase signaling in the biological functions associated with sperm

Chlormequat chloride induced activation of calmodulin mediated PI3K/AKT signaling pathway led to impaired sperm quality in pubertal mice

Chlormequat chloride (CCC), as a widely used plant growth regulator, can cause impaired sperm quality and decreased testosterone synthesis in pubertal rats, but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the toxicokinetics and tissue distribution of CCC, as well as the possible mechanism of CCC-induced impairment in sperm quality. The concentration of CCC reached its peak 1 h after a single dose (200 mg/kg·bw) administration in mice plasma, and a bimodal phenomenon appeared in the testes, liver, and epididymis. In vivo, 200 mg/kg CCC caused testicular damage and impaired sperm quality in pubertal mice, and the expression of p-tyrosine and GSK3α decreased in cauda epididymidis, sperm and testes. CCC also caused the down-regulation of AKAP4 and the up-regulation of calmodulin (CaM), and activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the testes. In vitro, CCC reduced the levels of p-tyrosine, AKAP4 and GSK3α, increased the level of CaM and activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in GC-1 cells. CaM antagonist (W-7 hydrochloride) and PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) can effectively improve the expression of GSK3α and AKAP4 by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in GC-1 cells treated with CCC. It was indicated that CCC induced impairment in sperm quality might be partially related to the activation of PI3K/AKT signaling pathway mediated by CaM.

Genome-wide association study reveals candidate markers related to field fertility and semen quality traits in Holstein-Friesian bulls

In vitro assessment of bull semen quality is routinely used in bull semen processing centres in order to ensure that semen destined to be used in the field has passed minimum standards. Despite these stringent quality control checks, individual bulls that pass the quality control checks can still vary in field fertility by up to 25%. A genome-wide association study was undertaken to determine genetic markers associated with prefreeze and post-thaw bull sperm quality traits as well as field fertility. Genome-wide association analysis was performed using a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) regression mixed linear model in WOMBAT. Genes within a 250 Kb span of a suggestive (P ≤ 1 × 10^-5) SNP were considered as candidate genes. One SNP was associated with adjusted pregnancy rate, and 21 SNPs were associated across the seven semen quality traits (P ≤ 1 × 10^-5). Functional candidate genes include SIPA1L2 which was associated with adjusted pregnancy rate. This encodes a Rap GTPase-activating protein involved in Rap1 signalling pathway and was previously found to play a role in the process of sperm differentiation. Gene ontology (GO) analysis also identified significantly enriched biological processes involved protein tyrosine kinase activity including genes such as DYRK1A, TEC and TXK that were associated with sperm motility prior to freezing. Another candidate gene associated with post-thaw sperm motility was FHDC1 which coordinates actin filament and microtubule dynamics. The induced 11 GO terms in the ejaculates rejected after freezing trait were related to ATPase, phosphatase and hydrolase activity. These results reveal novel specific genomic regions and candidate genes associated with economically important phenotypes such as field fertility and semen quality traits.

X chromosome-linked genes in the mature sperm influence semen quality and fertility of breeding bulls

The role of sperm expressed X-linked genes on bull fertility has not been studied in detail. The objective of the present study was to assess the influence of X-linked genes on the sperm functional parameters and field fertility rate in the Holstein Friesian cattle (n = 12) and Murrah buffalo (n = 7) bulls. The enrichment analysis (cattle = 8; buffalo = 8) of the X-linked genes was carried out using retrospective RNA-seq data and mRNA expression levels of functionally relevant genes were validated using the RT-qPCR. The mRNA expression levels of these genes were functionally associated with sperm attributes and field fertility rate. The sperm transcriptome studies revealed that the total number of expressed genes and the transcript content of the X-linked genes in the mature sperm were very low in both species, and only 23.31% of these genes were commonly expressed between them. The transcript pool corresponding to the X-linked genes represents embryonic organ development (p = 0.03) and reproduction (p = 0.02) processes in cattle and buffalo sperm, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of X-linked genes, RPL10 and ZCCHC13 in cattle; AKAP4, TSPAN6, RPL10 and RPS4X in buffalo were significantly (p < 0.05) correlated with sperm kinematics. Importantly, the mRNA expression levels of the genes RPL10 (r = -0.68) and RPS4X (r = 0.81) had a significant correlation with the field fertility rate in cattle and buffalo, respectively. Multivariate regression models and receiver operating curve analysis suggest that the mRNA expression levels of X-linked genes may be useful in predicting bull fertility. The study indicates that sperm-expressed X-linked genes influence semen quality and field fertility rate in both cattle and buffalo.

Toll-like Receptor 2 is Involved in Calcium Influx and Acrosome Reaction to Facilitate Sperm Penetration to Oocytes During in vitro Fertilization in Cattle

Cumulus cells of ovulated cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) express Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), pathogen recognition receptors, to recognize and react to sperm signals during fertilization. Sperm also express TLR2, but its contribution to the sperm-oocytes crosstalk is still unclear. Here, we adapted the in vitro fertilization (IVF) model to characterize the potential relevance of sperm TLR2 in sperm-oocytes interactions during fertilization in bovine. The IVF results showed that the ligation of sperm TLR2 with its specific antagonist/agonist resulted in down/up-regulation of the cleavage and blastocyst rates either in COCs or cumulus-free oocytes, but not in zona pellucida (ZP)-free oocytes. The computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system revealed that sperm motility parameters were not affected in TLR2 antagonist/agonist-treated sperm. However, fluorescence imaging of sperm-ZP interactions revealed that the blockage or activation of the TLR2 system in sperm reduced or enhanced both binding and penetration abilities of sperm to ZP compared to control, respectively. Flow cytometrical analysis of acrosome reaction (AR) demonstrated that the TLR2 system adjusted the occurrence of AR in ZP-attached sperm, suggesting that sperm TLR2 plays physiological impacts on the sperm-oocyte crosstalk via regulating ZP-triggered AR in sperm. Given that calcium (Ca²⁺) influx is a pre-requisite step for the induction of AR, we investigated the impact of the TLR2 system on the ionophore A23187-induced Ca²⁺ influx into sperm. Notably, the exposure of sperm to TLR2 antagonist/agonist reduced/increased the intracellular Ca²⁺ level in sperm. Together, these findings shed new light that the TLR2 system is involved in sperm AR induction which enables sperm to penetrate and fertilize oocytes during the fertilization, at least in vitro, in cows. This suggests that sperm possibly developed a quite flexible sensing mechanism simultaneously against pathogens as well as COCs toward fertilization with the same TLR2 of the innate immune system.

Comparative Proteomics and Phosphoproteomics Analysis Reveal the Possible Breed Difference in Yorkshire and Duroc Boar Spermatozoa

Sperm cells are of unique elongated structure and function, the development of which is tightly regulated by the existing proteins and the posttranslational modifications (PTM) of these proteins. Based on the phylogenetic relationships of various swine breeds, Yorkshire boar is believed to be distinctly different from Duroc boar. The comprehensive differential proteomics and phosphoproteomics profilings were performed on spermatozoa from both Yorkshire and Duroc boars. By both peptide and PTM peptide quantification followed by statistical analyses, 167 differentially expressed proteins were identified from 1,745 proteins, and 283 differentially expressed phosphopeptides corresponding to 102 unique differentially phosphorylated proteins were measured from 1,140 identified phosphopeptides derived from 363 phosphorylated proteins. The representative results were validated by Western blots. Pathway enrichment analyses revealed that majority of differential expression proteins and differential phosphorylation proteins were primarily concerned with spermatogenesis, male gamete generation, sperm motility, energy metabolism, cilium morphogenesis, axonemal dynein complex assembly, sperm–egg recognition, and capacitation. Remarkably, axonemal dynein complex assembly related proteins, such as SMCP, SUN5, ODF1, AKAP3, and AKAP4 that play a key regulatory role in the sperm physiological functions, were significantly higher in Duroc spermatozoa than that of Yorkshire. Furthermore, phosphorylation of sperm-specific proteins, such as CABYR, ROPN1, CALM1, PRKAR2A, and PRKAR1A, participates in regulation of the boar sperm motility mainly through the cAMP/PKA signal pathway in different breeds, demonstrating that protein phosphorylation may be an important mechanism underlying the sperm diversity. Protein–protein interaction analysis revealed that the 14 overlapped proteins between differential expression proteins and differential phosphorylation proteins potentially played a key role in sperm development and motility of the flagellum, including the proteins ODF1, SMCP, AKAP4, FSIP2, and SUN5. Taken together, these physiologically and functionally differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) and differentially expressed phosphorylated proteins (DPPs) may constitute the proteomic backgrounds between the two different boar breeds. The validation will be performed to delineate the roles of these PTM proteins as modulators of Yorkshire and Duroc boar spermatozoa.

Improving Sperm Oxidative Stress and Embryo Quality in Advanced Paternal Age Using Idebenone In Vitro-A Proof-of-Concept Study

Advanced paternal age is associated with increased sperm reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased fertilization and pregnancy rates. Sperm washing during infertility treatment provides an opportunity to reduce high sperm ROS concentrations associated with advanced paternal age through the addition of idebenone. Sperm from men aged >40 years and older CBAF1 mice (12–18 months), were treated with 5 µM and 50 µM of idebenone and intracellular and superoxide ROS concentrations assessed. Following in vitro fertilization (IVF), embryo development, blastocyst differentiation, DNA damage and cryosurvival, pregnancy and implantation rates and fetal and placental weights were assessed. Five µM of idebenone given to aged human and mouse sperm reduced superoxide concentrations ~20% (p < 0.05), while both 5 and 50 µM reduced sperm intracellular ROS concentrations in mice ~30% (p < 0.05). Following IVF, 5 µM of idebenone to aged sperm increased fertilization rates (65% vs. 60%, p < 0.05), blastocyst total, trophectoderm and inner cell mass cell numbers (73 vs. 66, 53 vs. 47 and 27 vs. 24, respectively, p < 0.01). Treatment with idebenone also increased blastocyst cryosurvival rates (96% vs. 78%, p < 0.01) and implantation rates following embryo transfer (35% vs. 18%, p < 0.01). Placental weights were smaller (107 mg vs. 138 mg, p < 0.05), resulting in a larger fetal to placental weight ratio (8.3 vs. 6.3, p = 0.07) after sperm idebenone treatment. Increased sperm ROS concentrations associated with advanced paternal age are reduced with the addition of idebenone in vitro, and are associated with improved fertilization rates, embryo quality and implantation rates after IVF.

SCF Improves In Vitro Differentiation of SSCs Through Transcriptionally Up-regulating PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 Genes

Several lines of evidence strongly suggest that retinoic acid (RA) and stem cell factor (SCF)/c-Kit signal transduction pathways are involved in the differentiation of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). This study was aimed to investigate the effect of RA and SCF on in vitro differentiation of SSCs via evaluation of the mRNA expression of meiosis-specific genes in cultured testicular tissues. Testicular tissue samples were obtained from bilaterally vasectomized rats and also healthy adult rats and then were cultured for 25, 30, and 35 days on different conditions. The cultured testicular pieces were sectioned and stained with PAS to histological analysis. The total RNA was extracted from cultured testicular samples, and the expression of ACR, PRTM1, SYCP3, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes at mRNA level was quantified using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) procedure. After 1-month surgery, bilateral testicular weight showed a significant decrease in vasectomized adult rats compared with healthy adult rats (P < 0.05). Reduction in the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and depletion of advanced germinal elements in vasectomized rats compared with healthy adult rats were also observed. Our findings also demonstrated that the mRNA expression level of PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes in cultured testicular tissues significantly up-regulated in experimental group II compared with the control group (P < 0.001). Our findings lead us to conclude that SCF improves in vitro differentiation of SSCs in the OA rats, at least partially, by transcriptionally upregulating PRTM1, STRA8, c-KIT, PIWIL2, and OCT4 genes.

Metabolomic profiling reveals correlations between spermiogram parameters and the metabolites present in human spermatozoa and seminal plasma

In 50% of all infertility cases, the male is subfertile or infertile, however, the underlying mechanisms are often unknown. Even when assisted reproductive procedures such as in vitro fertilization and intracytoplasmic sperm injection are performed, the causes of male factor infertility frequently remain elusive. Since the overall activity of cells is closely linked to their metabolic capacity, we analyzed a panel of 180 metabolites in human sperm and seminal plasma and elucidated their associations with spermiogram parameters. Therefore, metabolites from a group of 20 healthy donors were investigated using a targeted LC-MS/MS approach. The correlation analyses of the amino acids, biogenic amines, acylcarnitines, lysophosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylcholines, sphingomyelins and sugars from sperm and seminal plasma with standard spermiogram parameters revealed that metabolites in sperm are closely related to sperm motility, whereas those in seminal plasma are closely related to sperm concentration and morphology. This study provides essential insights into the metabolome of human sperm and seminal plasma and its associations with sperm functions. This metabolomics technique could be a promising screening tool to detect the factors of male infertility in cases where the cause of infertility is unclear.

The tyrosine kinase FER is responsible for the capacitation-associated increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in murine sperm

Sperm capacitation is required for fertilization. At the molecular level, this process is associated with fast activation of protein kinase A. Downstream of this event, capacitating conditions lead to an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. The identity of the tyrosine kinase(s) mediating this process has not been conclusively demonstrated. Recent experiments using stallion and human sperm have suggested a role for PYK2 based on the use of small molecule inhibitors directed against this kinase. However, crucially, loss-of-function experiments have not been reported. Here, we used both pharmacological inhibitors and genetically modified mice models to investigate the identity of the tyrosine kinase(s) mediating the increase in tyrosine phosphorylation in mouse sperm. Similar to stallion and human, PF431396 blocks the capacitation-associated increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. Yet, sperm from Pyk2(-/-) mice displayed a normal increase in tyrosine phosphorylation, implying that PYK2 is not responsible for this phosphorylation process. Here, we show that PF431396 can also inhibit FER, a tyrosine kinase known to be present in sperm. Sperm from mice targeted with a kinase-inactivating mutation in Fer failed to undergo capacitation-associated increases in tyrosine phosphorylation. Although these mice are fertile, their sperm displayed a reduced ability to fertilize metaphase II-arrested eggs in vitro.

Molecular Characteristic, Protein Distribution and Potential Regulation of HSP90AA1 in the Anadromous Fish Coilia nasus

Heat shock proteins play essential roles in basic cellular events. Spawning migration is a complex process, with significant structural and biochemical changes taking place in the adult gonad. To date, the molecular mechanisms underlying migration reproductive biology remain undetermined. In this regard, a full length HSP90AA1 comprising 2608 nucleotides from the anadromous fish Coilia nasus was characterized, encoding 742 amino acid (aa) residues with potential phosphorylation sites. HSP90AA1 mRNA transcripts were detected in all organs, especially in the gonad. Furthermore, the greatest transcript levels were found during the developmental phase, while the lowest levels were found during the resting phase. In addition, the strongest immunolabeling positive signal was found in the primary spermatocyte and oocyte, with lower positive staining in secondary germ cells, and a weak or absent level in the mature sperm and oocyte. Interestingly, HSP90AA1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm of germ cells. These results are important for understanding the molecular mechanism of anadromous migration reproductive biology. In combination with data from other fish species, the result of this present study may facilitate further investigations on the spawning migration mechanism.

Network analyses of sperm-egg recognition and binding: ready to rethink fertility mechanisms?

The rapid growth of published literature makes biomedical text mining increasingly invaluable for unpacking implicit knowledge hidden in unstructured text. We employed biomedical text mining and biological networks analyses to research the process of sperm egg recognition and binding (SERB). We selected from the literature the molecules expressed either on spermatozoa or on oocytes thought to be involved in SERB and, using an automated literature search software (Agilent Literature Search), we realized a network, SERBN, characterized by a hierarchical scale free and a small world topology. We used an integrated approach, either based on selection of hubs or by a cluster analysis, to discern the key molecules of SERB. We found that in most cases some of them are not directly situated on spermatozoa and oocyte, but are dispersed in oviductal fluid or embedded in exosomes present in the perivitelline space. To confirm and validate our results, we performed further analyses using STRING and Reactome FI software. Our findings underscore that the fertility is not a property of gametes in isolation, but rather depends on the functional integrity of the entire reproductive system. These observations collectively underscore the importance of integrative biology in exploring biological systems and in rethinking of fertility mechanisms in the light of this innovative approach.

Kinases as targets for chemical modulators: Structural aspects and their role in spermatogenesis

Protein phosphorylation and de-phosphorylation events are crucial in deciding the fate of cells. They regulate cellular growth, differentiation and cell death, and kinases are the key players of these events. The members of ser/thr kinases and tyrosine kinases form the majority of protein kinase family, exerting their regulatory mechanism in almost all cells. In testis, they impact signal transduction events, regulate all stages of sperm development from mitosis through fertilization. Understanding the function of these kinases at the structural level and studying their interactions with inhibitors can help in understanding the machinery of spermatogenesis. In view of this, we have reviewed some of the prominent kinases that are known to play a role in spermatogenesis. A better understanding of the impacts of kinase inhibition on spermatogenesis should aid in the interpretation of lesions and hopefully further the development of more efficient and potent drug candidates.

The pattern of tyrosine phosphorylation in human sperm in response to binding to zona pellucida or hyaluronic acid

In mammalian species, acquisition of sperm fertilization competence is dependent on the phenomenon of sperm capacitation. One of the key elements of capacitation is protein tyrosine phosphorylation (TP) in various sperm membrane regions. In previous studies performed, the pattern of TP was examined in human sperm bound to zona pellucida of oocytes. In the present comparative study, TP patterns upon sperm binding to the zona pellucida or hyaluronic acid (HA) were investigated in spermatozoa arising from the same semen samples. Tyrosine phosphorylation, visualized by immunofluorescence, was localized within the acrosomal cap, equatorial head region, neck, and the principal piece. Tyrosine phosphorylation has increased in a time-related manner as capacitation progressed, and the phosphorylation pattern was identical within the principal piece and neck, regardless of the sperm bound to the zona pellucida or HA. Thus, the data demonstrated that the patterns of sperm activation-related TP were similar regardless of the spermatozoa bound to zona pellucida or HA. Further, sperm with incomplete development, as detected by excess cytoplasmic retention, failed to exhibit TP.