1
|
Ito T, Morita M, Okuno S, Inaba K, Shiba K, Munehara H, Koya Y, Homma M, Awata S. Fertilization modes and the evolution of sperm characteristics in marine fishes: Paired comparisons of externally and internally fertilizing species. Ecol Evol 2022; 12:e9562. [PMID: 36479029 PMCID: PMC9720005 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.9562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization mode may affect sperm characteristics, such as morphology, velocity, and motility. However, there is little information on how fertilization mode affects sperm evolution because several factors (e.g., sperm competition) are intricately intertwined when phylogenetically distant species are compared. Here, we investigated sperm characteristics by comparing seven externally and four internally fertilizing marine fishes from three different groups containing close relatives, considering sperm competition levels. The sperm head was significantly slenderer in internal fertilizers than in external fertilizers, suggesting that a slender head is advantageous for swimming in viscous ovarian fluid or in narrow spaces of the ovary. In addition, sperm motility differed between external and internal fertilizers; sperm of external fertilizers were only motile in seawater, whereas sperm of internal fertilizers were only motile in an isotonic solution. These results suggest that sperm motility was adapted according to fertilization mode. By contrast, total sperm length and sperm velocity were not associated with fertilization mode, perhaps because of the different levels of sperm competition. Relative testis mass (an index of sperm competition level) was positively correlated with sperm velocity and negatively correlated with the ratio of sperm head length to total sperm length. These findings suggest that species with higher levels of sperm competition have faster sperm with longer flagella relative to the head length. These results contradict the previous assumption that the evolution of internal fertilization increases the total sperm length. In addition, copulatory behavior with internal insemination may involve a large genital morphology, but this is not essential in fish, suggesting the existence of various sperm transfer methods. Although the power of our analyses is not strong because of the limited number of species, we propose a new scenario of sperm evolution in which internal fertilization would increase sperm head length, but not total sperm length, and change sperm motility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Ito
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Masaya Morita
- Sesoko Station, Tropical Biosphere Research CenterUniversity of the RyukyusMotobuJapan
| | - Seiya Okuno
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| | - Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research CenterUniversity of TsukubaShimodaJapan
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research CenterUniversity of TsukubaShimodaJapan
| | - Hiroyuki Munehara
- Usujiri Fisheries Station, Field Science Center for Northern BiosphereHokkaido UniversityHakodateJapan
| | - Yasunori Koya
- Department of Biology, Faculty of EducationGifu UniversityGifuJapan
| | | | - Satoshi Awata
- Department of Biology, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka Metropolitan UniversityOsakaJapan,Department of Biology and Geosciences, Graduate School of ScienceOsaka City UniversityOsakaJapan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Gaikwad AS, Nandagiri A, Potter DL, Nosrati R, O'Connor AE, Jadhav S, Soria J, Prabhakar R, O'Bryan MK. CRISPs Function to Boost Sperm Power Output and Motility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:693258. [PMID: 34422816 PMCID: PMC8374954 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.693258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilization requires sperm to travel long distances through the complex environment of the female reproductive tract. Despite the strong association between poor motility and infertility, the kinetics of sperm tail movement and the role individual proteins play in this process is poorly understood. Here, we use a high spatiotemporal sperm imaging system and an analysis protocol to define the role of CRISPs in the mechanobiology of sperm function. Each of CRISP1, CRISP2, and CRISP4 is required to optimize sperm flagellum waveform. Each plays an autonomous role in defining beat frequency, flexibility, and power dissipation. We thus posit that the expansion of the CRISP family from one member in basal vertebrates, to three in most mammals, and four in numerous rodents, represents an example of neofunctionalization wherein proteins with a common core function, boosting power output, have evolved to optimize different aspects of sperm tail performance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashwin Nandagiri
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India.,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - David L Potter
- Monash Micro Imaging - Advanced Optical Microscopy, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Reza Nosrati
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Anne E O'Connor
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia.,School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Sameer Jadhav
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Julio Soria
- Laboratory for Turbulence Research in Aerospace & Combustion (LTRAC), Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Ranganathan Prabhakar
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of BioSciences and Bio21 Institute, The Faculty of Science, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Roldan ERS, Teves ME. Understanding sperm physiology: Proximate and evolutionary explanations of sperm diversity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110980. [PMID: 32853744 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Much can be gained from the comprehensive study of a biological system. Based on what is known as Mayr's proximate-ultimate causation and the subsequent expansion to Tinbergen's four questions, biological traits can be understood by taking into account different approximations that try to explain mechanisms, development, adaptive significance or phylogeny. These, in principle, separate areas, can be integrated crossing boundaries, but bearing in mind that answers to one question would not explain a different query. Studies of sperm biology have, until now, not benefited much from this framework and potential integration. Proximate causes (particularly mechanisms) have been the subject of interest for reproductive biologists, and evolutionary explanations have been the domain of behavioural ecologists with interest in adaptive significance of traits in the context of post-copulatory sexual selection. This review will summarize opportunities for research in the different areas, focusing on sperm preparation for fertilization and suggesting possible integration within and between proximate and evolutionary studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain.
| | - Maria Eugenia Teves
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Tourmente M, Varea-Sánchez M, Roldan ERS. Faster and more efficient swimming: energy consumption of murine spermatozoa under sperm competition†. Biol Reprod 2020; 100:420-428. [PMID: 30203065 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2017] [Revised: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
ATP supply is essential for sperm performance and increases in ATP content coevolve with enhanced sperm swimming velocity as a response to sperm competition in rodents. ATP content is the balance between production and consumption but, although ATP production has received much attention, little is known about ATP consumption. The rate of ATP consumption is crucial for the propagation of the flagellar wave, becoming a main determinant of the time and distance sperm could move before exhausting their reserves. A high yield in distance per unit of ATP consumed (efficiency) could provide advantages in sperm competition. We characterized sperm ATP consumption rate in a group of mouse species with different sperm competition levels to understand its impact on swimming velocity, duration, and yield of sperm ATP reserves. Interspecific comparisons revealed that sperm of species with higher sperm competition levels had high ATP consumption rates and faster swimming velocity. Moreover, sperm that consumed ATP at a faster rate swam more efficiently, since they were able to cover more distance per unit of ATP consumed. Our results suggest that by coupling the advantages of higher ATP turnover rates to increased efficiency of ATP expenditure, sperm would respond to increasingly competitive environments while maintaining a positive ATP balance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK
| | - María Varea-Sánchez
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Lissabet JFB, Herrera Belén L, Lee-Estevez M, Risopatrón J, Valdebenito I, Figueroa E, Farías JG. The CatSper channel is present and plays a key role in sperm motility of the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar). Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2019; 241:110634. [PMID: 31841710 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.110634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Among all the Ca2+ channels, CatSper channels have been one of the most studied in sperm of different species due to their demonstrated role in the fertilization process. In fish sperm, the calcium channel plays a key role in sperm activation. However, the functionality of the CatSper channels has not been studied in any of the fish species. For the first time, we studied the relationship of the CatSper channel with sperm motility in a fish, using Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) as the model. The results of our study showed that the CatSper channel in Salmo salar has chemical-physical characteristics similar to those reported for mammalian CatSper channels. In this work, it was shown that Salmo salar CatSper 3 protein has a molecular weight of approximately 55-kDa similar to Homo sapiens CatSper 3. In silico analyses suggest that this channel forms a heterotetramer sensitive to the specific inhibitor HC-056456, with a binding site in the center of the pore of the CatSper channel, hindering or preventing the influx of Ca2+ ions. The in vitro assay of the sperm motility inhibition of Salmo salar with the inhibitor HC-056456 showed that sperm treated with this inhibitor significantly reduced the total and progressive motility (p < .0001), demonstrating the importance of this ionic channel for this cell. The complementation of the in silico and in vitro analyses of the present work demonstrates that the CatSper channel plays a key role in the regulation of sperm motility in Atlantic salmon.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Félix Beltrán Lissabet
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Lisandra Herrera Belén
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile
| | - Manuel Lee-Estevez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Jennie Risopatrón
- Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile
| | - Iván Valdebenito
- School of Aquaculture, Catholic University of Temuco, Av. Rudecindo Ortega, 02950 Temuco, Chile
| | - Elías Figueroa
- School of Aquaculture, Catholic University of Temuco, Av. Rudecindo Ortega, 02950 Temuco, Chile; Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Chile, El Líbano 5524, Macul, Santiago, Chile
| | - Jorge G Farías
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Universidad de La Frontera, Av. Francisco Salazar 01145 Box 54D, Temuco, Chile; Center of Biotechnology of Reproduction (CEBIOR), Bioresources Research Nucleus (BIOREN), Universidad de La Frontera, Montevideo 0870, Temuco, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Civetta A, Ranz JM. Genetic Factors Influencing Sperm Competition. Front Genet 2019; 10:820. [PMID: 31572439 PMCID: PMC6753916 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Females of many different species often mate with multiple males, creating opportunities for competition among their sperm. Although originally unappreciated, sperm competition is now considered a central form of post-copulatory male–male competition that biases fertilization. Assays of differences in sperm competitive ability between males, and interactions between females and males, have made it possible to infer some of the main mechanisms of sperm competition. Nevertheless, classical genetic approaches have encountered difficulties in identifying loci influencing sperm competitiveness while functional and comparative genomic methodologies, as well as genetic variant association studies, have uncovered some interesting candidate genes. We highlight how the systematic implementation of approaches that incorporate gene perturbation assays in experimental competitive settings, together with the monitoring of progeny output or sperm features and behavior, has allowed the identification of genes unambiguously linked to sperm competitiveness. The emerging portrait from 45 genes (33 from fruit flies, 8 from rodents, 2 from nematodes, and 2 from ants) is their remarkable breadth of biological roles exerted through males and females, the non-preponderance of sperm genes, and their overall pleiotropic nature.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Civetta
- Department of Biology, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - José M Ranz
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Romero F, Nishigaki T. Comparative genomic analysis suggests that the sperm-specific sodium/proton exchanger and soluble adenylyl cyclase are key regulators of CatSper among the Metazoa. ZOOLOGICAL LETTERS 2019; 5:25. [PMID: 31372239 PMCID: PMC6660944 DOI: 10.1186/s40851-019-0141-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND CatSper is a sperm-specific calcium ion (Ca2+) channel, which regulates sperm flagellar beating by tuning cytoplasmic Ca2+ concentrations. Although this Ca2+ channel is essential for mammalian fertilization, recent bioinformatics analyses have revealed that genes encoding CatSper are heterogeneously distributed throughout the eukaryotes, including vertebrates. As this channel is activated by cytoplasmic alkalization in mammals and sea urchins, it has been proposed that the sperm-specific Na+/H+ exchanger (sNHE, a product of the SLC9C gene family) positively regulates its activity. In mouse, sNHE is functionally coupled to soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). CatSper, sNHE, and sAC have thus been considered functionally interconnected in the control of sperm motility, at least in mouse and sea urchin. RESULTS We carried out a comparative genomic analysis to explore phylogenetic relationships among CatSper, sNHE and sAC in eukaryotes. We found that sNHE occurs only in Metazoa, although sAC occurs widely across eukaryotes. In animals, we found correlated and restricted distribution patterns of the three proteins, suggesting coevolution among them in the Metazoa. Namely, nearly all species in which CatSper is conserved also preserve sNHE and sAC. In contrast, in species without sAC, neither CatSper nor sNHE is conserved. On the other hand, the distribution of another testis-specific NHE (NHA, a product of the SLC9B gene family) does not show any apparent association with that of CatSper. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that CatSper, sNHE and sAC form prototypical machinery that functions in regulating sperm flagellar beating in Metazoa. In non-metazoan species, CatSper may be regulated by other H+ transporters, or its activity might be independent of cytoplasmic pH.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Romero
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IBT-UNAM). Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| | - Takuya Nishigaki
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (IBT-UNAM). Av. Universidad 2001, Col. Chamilpa, 62210 Cuernavaca, Morelos Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Vicens A, Borziak K, Karr TL, Roldan ERS, Dorus S. Comparative Sperm Proteomics in Mouse Species with Divergent Mating Systems. Mol Biol Evol 2017; 34:1403-1416. [PMID: 28333336 PMCID: PMC5435083 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msx084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Sexual selection is the pervasive force underlying the dramatic divergence of sperm form and function. Although it has been demonstrated that testis gene expression evolves rapidly, exploration of the proteomic basis of sperm diversity is in its infancy. We have employed a whole-cell proteomics approach to characterize sperm divergence among closely related Mus species that experience different sperm competition regimes and exhibit pronounced variation in sperm energetics, motility and fertilization capacity. Interspecific comparisons revealed significant abundance differences amongst proteins involved in fertilization capacity, including those that govern sperm-zona pellucida interactions, axoneme components and metabolic proteins. Ancestral reconstruction of relative testis size suggests that the reduction of zona pellucida binding proteins and heavy-chain dyneins was associated with a relaxation in sperm competition in the M. musculus lineage. Additionally, the decreased reliance on ATP derived from glycolysis in high sperm competition species was reflected in abundance decreases in glycolytic proteins of the principle piece in M. spretus and M. spicilegus. Comparison of protein abundance and stage-specific testis expression revealed a significant correlation during spermatid development when dynamic morphological changes occur. Proteins underlying sperm diversification were also more likely to be subject to translational repression, suggesting that sperm composition is influenced by the evolution of translation control mechanisms. The identification of functionally coherent classes of proteins relating to sperm competition highlights the utility of evolutionary proteomic analyses and reveals that both intensified and relaxed sperm competition can have a pronounced impact on the molecular composition of the male gamete.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Vicens
- Reproductive Biology and Evolution Group, Department of Biodiversity and Biological Evolution, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Kirill Borziak
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
| | - Timothy L Karr
- Department of Genomics and Genetic Resources, Kyoto Institute of Technology, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- Reproductive Biology and Evolution Group, Department of Biodiversity and Biological Evolution, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
| | - Steve Dorus
- Department of Biology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
|
10
|
Tourmente M, Villar-Moya P, Rial E, Roldan ERS. Differences in ATP Generation Via Glycolysis and Oxidative Phosphorylation and Relationships with Sperm Motility in Mouse Species. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:20613-26. [PMID: 26048989 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.664813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 98] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse sperm produce enough ATP to sustain motility by anaerobic glycolysis and respiration. However, previous studies indicated that an active glycolytic pathway is required to achieve normal sperm function and identified glycolysis as the main source of ATP to fuel the motility of mouse sperm. All the available evidence has been gathered from the studies performed using the laboratory mouse. However, comparative studies of closely related mouse species have revealed a wide range of variation in sperm motility and ATP production and that the laboratory mouse has comparatively low values in these traits. In this study, we compared the relative reliance on the usage of glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation as ATP sources for sperm motility between mouse species that exhibit significantly different sperm performance parameters. We found that the sperm of species with higher oxygen consumption/lactate excretion rate ratios were able to produce higher amounts of ATP, achieving higher swimming velocities. Additionally, we show that the species with higher respiration/glycolysis ratios have a higher degree of dependence upon active oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, we characterize for the first time two mouse species in which sperm depend on functional oxidative phosphorylation to achieve normal performance. Finally, we discuss that sexual selection could promote adaptations in sperm energetic metabolism tending to increase the usage of a more efficient pathway for the generation of ATP (and faster sperm).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- From the Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28006 Madrid and
| | - Pilar Villar-Moya
- From the Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28006 Madrid and
| | - Eduardo Rial
- the Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Research Group, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo R S Roldan
- From the Reproductive Ecology and Biology Group, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas), 28006 Madrid and
| |
Collapse
|