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Bouloorchi Tabalvandani M, Saeidpour Z, Habibi Z, Javadizadeh S, Firoozabadi SA, Badieirostami M. Microfluidics as an emerging paradigm for assisted reproductive technology: A sperm separation perspective. Biomed Microdevices 2024; 26:23. [PMID: 38652182 DOI: 10.1007/s10544-024-00705-2] [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] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Millions of people are subject to infertility worldwide and one in every six people, regardless of gender, experiences infertility at some period in their life, according to the World Health Organization. Assisted reproductive technologies are defined as a set of procedures that can address the infertility issue among couples, culminating in the alleviation of the condition. However, the costly conventional procedures of assisted reproduction and the inherent vagaries of the processes involved represent a setback for its successful implementation. Microfluidics, an emerging tool for processing low-volume samples, have recently started to play a role in infertility diagnosis and treatment. Given its host of benefits, including manipulating cells at the microscale, repeatability, automation, and superior biocompatibility, microfluidics have been adopted for various procedures in assisted reproduction, ranging from sperm sorting and analysis to more advanced processes such as IVF-on-a-chip. In this review, we try to adopt a more holistic approach and cover different uses of microfluidics for a variety of applications, specifically aimed at sperm separation and analysis. We present various sperm separation microfluidic techniques, categorized as natural and non-natural methods. A few of the recent developments in on-chip fertilization are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Zahra Saeidpour
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Zahra Habibi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Saeed Javadizadeh
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Seyed Ahmadreza Firoozabadi
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran
| | - Majid Badieirostami
- MEMS Lab, School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Tehran, Tehran, 1439957131, Iran.
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2
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Yaghoobi M, Abdelhady A, Favakeh A, Xie P, Cheung S, Mokhtare A, Lee YL, Nguyen AV, Palermo G, Rosenwaks Z, Cheong SH, Abbaspourrad A. Faster sperm selected by rheotaxis leads to superior early embryonic development in vitro. LAB ON A CHIP 2024; 24:210-223. [PMID: 37990939 DOI: 10.1039/d3lc00737e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
To understand the impact of sperm speed as they swim against the flow on fertilization rates, we created conditions similar to the female reproductive tract (FRT) on a microfluidic platform for sperm selection. Selected sperm were evaluated based on early development of fertilized embryos. Bovine and human spermatozoa were selected at various fluid flow rates within the device. We found that the speed of bovine spermatozoa increases as the flow rate increases and that the amount of DNA fragmentation index is lowered by increasing the flow rate. Bovine spermatozoa selected by our platform at low (150 μL h-1, shear rate 3 s-1), medium (250 μL h-1, shear rate 5 s-1), and high flow rates (350 μL h-1, shear rate 7 s-1) were used for fertilization and compared to sperm sorted by centrifugation. The samples collected at the highest flow rate resulted in the formation of 23% more blastocysts compared to the control. While selecting for higher quality sperm by increasing the flow rate does result in lower sperm yield, quality improvement and yield may be balanced by better embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Yaghoobi
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Abdallah Abdelhady
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Amirhossein Favakeh
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Philip Xie
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Stephanie Cheung
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Amir Mokhtare
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Yoke Lee Lee
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Ann V Nguyen
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
| | - Gianpiero Palermo
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Zev Rosenwaks
- The Ronald O. Perelman and Claudia Cohen Center for Reproductive Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
| | - Soon Hon Cheong
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA
| | - Alireza Abbaspourrad
- Food Science Department, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cornell University, Ithaca 14853, New York, USA.
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Tai L, Yin G, Huang X, Sun F, Zhu Y. In-cell structural insight into the stability of sperm microtubule doublet. Cell Discov 2023; 9:116. [PMID: 37989994 PMCID: PMC10663601 DOI: 10.1038/s41421-023-00606-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The propulsion for mammalian sperm swimming is generated by flagella beating. Microtubule doublets (DMTs) along with microtubule inner proteins (MIPs) are essential structural blocks of flagella. However, the intricate molecular architecture of intact sperm DMT remains elusive. Here, by in situ cryo-electron tomography, we solved the in-cell structure of mouse sperm DMT at 4.5-7.5 Å resolutions, and built its model with 36 kinds of MIPs in 48 nm periodicity. We identified multiple copies of Tektin5 that reinforce Tektin bundle, and multiple MIPs with different periodicities that anchor the Tektin bundle to tubulin wall. This architecture contributes to a superior stability of A-tubule than B-tubule of DMT, which was revealed by structural comparison of DMTs from the intact and deformed axonemes. Our work provides an overall molecular picture of intact sperm DMT in 48 nm periodicity that is essential to understand the molecular mechanism of sperm motility as well as the related ciliopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linhua Tai
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Guoliang Yin
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaojun Huang
- Center for Biological Imaging, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Fei Sun
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Center for Biological Imaging, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Bioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Yun Zhu
- National Laboratory of Biomacromolecules, CAS Center for Excellence in Biomacromolecules, Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Shukla SK, Gaudriault P, Corbera A. Lab-on-chip (LoC) application for quality sperm selection: An undelivered promise? OPEN RESEARCH EUROPE 2023; 3:188. [PMID: 38645796 PMCID: PMC11031645 DOI: 10.12688/openreseurope.16671.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Quality sperm selection is essential to ensure the effectiveness of assisted reproductive techniques (ART). However, the methods employed for sperm selection in ART often yield suboptimal outcomes, contributing to lower success rates. In recent years, microfluidic devices have emerged as a promising avenue for investigating the natural swimming behavior of spermatozoa and developing innovative approaches for quality sperm selection. Despite their potential, the commercial translation of microfluidic-based technologies has remained limited. This comprehensive review aims to critically evaluate the inherent potential of lab-on-chip technology in unraveling sophisticated mechanisms encompassing rheotaxis, thermotaxis, and chemotaxis. By reviewing the current state-of-the-art associated with microfluidic engineering and the swimming of spermatozoa, the goal is to shed light on the multifaceted factors that have impeded the broader commercialization of these cutting-edge technologies and recommend a commercial that can surmount the prevailing constraints. Furthermore, this scholarly exploration seeks to enlighten and actively engage reproductive clinicians in the profound potential and implications of microfluidic methodologies within the context of human infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shiva K Shukla
- Research and Development Unit, Beez Biotech SAS, RENNES, Ille-et-Villain, 35000, France
| | - Pierre Gaudriault
- Research and Development Unit, Cherry Biotech SAS, Paris, 93100, France
| | - Antoni Corbera
- Research and Development Unit, Cherry Biotech SAS, Paris, 93100, France
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5
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Leuchtenberger SG, Daleo M, Gullickson P, Delgado A, Lo C, Nishizaki MT. The effects of temperature and pH on the reproductive ecology of sand dollars and sea urchins: Impacts on sperm swimming and fertilization. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276134. [PMID: 36454769 PMCID: PMC9714736 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
In an era of climate change, impacts on the marine environment include warming and ocean acidification. These effects can be amplified in shallow coastal regions where conditions often fluctuate widely. This type of environmental variation is potentially important for many nearshore species that are broadcast spawners, releasing eggs and sperm into the water column for fertilization. We conducted two experiments to investigate: 1) the impact of water temperature on sperm swimming characteristics and fertilization rate in sand dollars (Dendraster excentricus; temperatures 8-38°C) and sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus; temperatures 8-28°C) and; 2) the combined effects of multiple stressors (water temperature and pH) on these traits in sand dollars. We quantify thermal performance curves showing that sand dollar fertilization rates, sperm swimming velocities, and sperm motility display remarkably wide thermal breadths relative to red urchins, perhaps reflecting the wider range of water temperatures experienced by sand dollars at our field sites. For sand dollars, both temperature (8, 16, 24°C) and pH (7.1, 7.5, 7.9) affected fertilization but only temperature influenced sperm swimming velocity and motility. Although sperm velocities and fertilization were positively correlated, our fertilization kinetics model dramatically overestimated measured rates and this discrepancy was most pronounced under extreme temperature and pH conditions. Our results suggest that environmental stressors like temperature and pH likely impair aspects of the reproductive process beyond simple sperm swimming behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Grace Leuchtenberger
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, United States of America
| | - Maris Daleo
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, United States of America
| | - Peter Gullickson
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
| | - Andi Delgado
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, United States of America
| | - Carly Lo
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
| | - Michael T. Nishizaki
- Biology Department, Carleton College, Northfield, MN, United States of America
- Friday Harbor Laboratories, Friday Harbor, WA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Frintrop L, Wiesehöfer C, Stoskus A, Hilken G, Dubicanac M, von Ostau NE, Rode S, Elgeti J, Dankert JT, Wennemuth G. cAMP and the Fibrous Sheath Protein CABYR (Ca2+-Binding Tyrosine-Phosphorylation-Regulated Protein) Is Required for 4D Sperm Movement. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810607. [PMID: 36142535 PMCID: PMC9502204 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
A new life starts with successful fertilization whereby one sperm from a pool of millions fertilizes the oocyte. Sperm motility is one key factor for this selection process, which depends on a coordinated flagellar movement. The flagellar beat cycle is regulated by Ca2+ entry via CatSper, cAMP, Mg2+, ADP and ATP. This study characterizes the effects of these parameters for 4D sperm motility, especially for flagellar movement and the conserved clockwise (CW) path chirality of murine sperm. Therefore, we use detergent-extracted mouse sperm and digital holographic microscopy (DHM) to show that a balanced ratio of ATP to Mg2+ in addition with 18 µM cAMP and 1 mM ADP is necessary for controlled flagellar movement, induction of rolling along the long axis and CW path chirality. Rolling along the sperm’s long axis, a proposed mechanism for sperm selection, is absent in sea urchin sperm, lacking flagellar fibrous sheath (FS) and outer-dense fibers (ODFs). In sperm lacking CABYR, a Ca2+-binding tyrosine-phosphorylation regulated protein located in the FS, the swim path chirality is preserved. We conclude that specific concentrations of ATP, ADP, cAMP and Mg2+ as well as a functional CABYR play an important role for sperm motility especially for path chirality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Frintrop
- Institute of Anatomy, Rostock University Medical Center, 18057 Rostock, Germany
| | - Caroline Wiesehöfer
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Aura Stoskus
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Gero Hilken
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Marko Dubicanac
- Central Animal Laboratory, University Hospital Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | | | - Sebastian Rode
- Theoretical Soft Matter and Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jens Elgeti
- Theoretical Soft Matter and Biophysics, Institute of Complex Systems and Institute for Advanced Simulation, Forschungszentrum Jülich, 52425 Jülich, Germany
| | - Jaroslaw Thomas Dankert
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
| | - Gunther Wennemuth
- Institute of Anatomy, Department of Anatomy, University Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Essen, Germany
- Correspondence:
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7
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Mammalian sperm hyperactivation regulates navigation via physical boundaries and promotes pseudo-chemotaxis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2107500118. [PMID: 34716265 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2107500118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm migration within the complex and dynamic environment of the female reproductive tract toward the fertilization site requires navigational mechanisms, through which sperm respond to the tract environment and maintain the appropriate swimming behavior. In the oviduct (fallopian tube), sperm undergo a process called "hyperactivation," which involves switching from a nearly symmetrical, low-amplitude, and flagellar beating pattern to an asymmetrical, high-amplitude beating pattern that is required for fertilization in vivo. Here, exploring bovine sperm motion in high-aspect ratio microfluidic reservoirs as well as theoretical and computational modeling, we demonstrate that sperm hyperactivation, in response to pharmacological agonists, modulates sperm-sidewall interactions and thus navigation via physical boundaries. Prior to hyperactivation, sperm remained swimming along the sidewalls of the reservoirs; however, once hyperactivation caused the intrinsic curvature of sperm to exceed a critical value, swimming along the sidewalls was reduced. We further studied the effect of noise in the intrinsic curvature near the critical value and found that these nonthermal fluctuations yielded an interesting "Run-Stop" motion on the sidewall. Finally, we observed that hyperactivation produced a "pseudo-chemotaxis" behavior, in that sperm stayed longer within microfluidic chambers containing higher concentrations of hyperactivation agonists.
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8
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Sperm Accumulation Induced by the Female Reproductive Fluid: Putative Evidence of Chemoattraction Using a New Tool. Cells 2021; 10:cells10092472. [PMID: 34572122 PMCID: PMC8467055 DOI: 10.3390/cells10092472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2021] [Revised: 09/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is considerable evidence that female reproductive fluid (FRF) interacts intimately with sperm, affecting several sperm traits, including sperm motility and longevity, and ultimately fertilization success. One of the first documented interactions between FRF and sperm is the ability of FRF to attract and guide sperm towards the eggs. However, most of the evidence of FRF’s chemoattraction proprieties comes from a limited number of taxa, specifically mammals and invertebrate broadcasting spawners. In other species, small FRF volumes and/or short sperm longevity often impose methodological difficulties resulting in this gap in chemoattraction studies in non-model species. One of the outcomes of sperm chemotaxis is sperm accumulation towards high chemoattractant concentrations, which can be easily quantified by measuring sperm concentration. Here, we tested sperm accumulation towards FRF in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, using an ad hoc developed, 3D printed, device (‘sperm selection chamber’). This easy-to-use tool allows to select and collect the sperm that swim towards a chemical gradient, and accumulate in a chemoattractant-filled well thus providing putative evidence for chemoattraction. We found that sperm accumulate in FRF in zebrafish. We also found that none of the sperm quality traits we measured (sperm swimming velocity and trajectory, sperm motility, and longevity) were correlated with this response. Together with the 3D printable project, we provide a detailed protocol for using the selection chamber. The chamber is optimized for the zebrafish, but it can be easily adapted for other species. Our device lays the foundation for a standardized way to measure sperm accumulation and in general chemoattraction, stimulating future research aimed at understanding the role and the mechanisms of sperm chemoattraction by FRF.
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9
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Fabbrocini A, Silvestri F, D'Adamo R. Development of alternative and sustainable methodologies in laboratory research on sea urchin gametes. MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 167:105282. [PMID: 33639392 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2021.105282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of the present work is to develop a laboratory-scaled methodology for an on-demand supply of semen from the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus. Firstly, sea urchin specimens were acclimatized to the long-term rearing in a recirculating aquaculture system and gonad maturation was obtained under controlled conditions. Semen samples were then collected from mature sea urchins and cryopreserved. Finally, post-thawing motility was evaluated, to verify whether the cryopreserved semen had maintained enough viability to be used in laboratory activities. The post-thawing motility parameters remained quite unchanged for up to 60 min after activation; moreover, the semen even retained the ability of motility activation for 60 min after thawing. This motility pattern makes the use of cryopreserved semen a feasible option in spermiotoxicity bioassays. The preliminary ecotoxicity test, carried out using motility parameters as endpoints, showed sensitivity levels to cadmium falling in the same order of magnitude as those recorded for fresh sea urchin semen and for cryopreserved sea bream semen. . Therefore, semen samples produced and stored according to the developed methodology described in this paper, can be considered a promising and sustainable alternative to those collected from mature sea urchins harvested in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adele Fabbrocini
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine CNR, ISMAR, Napoli, Italy.
| | - Fausto Silvestri
- Fundação Instituto de Pesca do Estado do Rio de Janeiro - FIPERJ, Angra dos Reis, RJ, Brazil
| | - Raffaele D'Adamo
- Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Istituto di Scienze Marine CNR, ISMAR, Napoli, Italy
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Gaikwad AS, Hu J, Chapple DG, O'Bryan MK. The functions of CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility and disease. Hum Reprod Update 2020; 26:689-723. [PMID: 32378701 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmaa016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2019] [Revised: 03/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISPS), antigen 5 (Ag5) and pathogenesis-related 1 (Pr-1) (CAP) superfamily of proteins are found across the bacterial, fungal, plant and animal kingdoms. Although many CAP superfamily proteins remain poorly characterized, over the past decade evidence has accumulated, which provides insights into the functional roles of these proteins in various processes, including fertilization, immune defence and subversion, pathogen virulence, venom toxicology and cancer biology. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE The aim of this article is to summarize the current state of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins in mammalian fertility, organismal homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. SEARCH METHODS The scientific literature search was undertaken via PubMed database on all articles published prior to November 2019. Search terms were based on following keywords: 'CAP superfamily', 'CRISP', 'Cysteine-rich secretory proteins', 'Antigen 5', 'Pathogenesis-related 1', 'male fertility', 'CAP and CTL domain containing', 'CRISPLD1', 'CRISPLD2', 'bacterial SCP', 'ion channel regulator', 'CatSper', 'PI15', 'PI16', 'CLEC', 'PRY proteins', 'ASP proteins', 'spermatogenesis', 'epididymal maturation', 'capacitation' and 'snake CRISP'. In addition to that, reference lists of primary and review article were reviewed for additional relevant publications. OUTCOMES In this review, we discuss the breadth of knowledge on CAP superfamily proteins with regards to their protein structure, biological functions and emerging significance in reproduction, health and disease. We discuss the evolution of CAP superfamily proteins from their otherwise unembellished prokaryotic predecessors into the multi-domain and neofunctionalized members found in eukaryotic organisms today. At least in part because of the rapid evolution of these proteins, many inconsistencies in nomenclature exist within the literature. As such, and in part through the use of a maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis of the vertebrate CRISP subfamily, we have attempted to clarify this confusion, thus allowing for a comparison of orthologous protein function between species. This framework also allows the prediction of functional relevance between species based on sequence and structural conservation. WIDER IMPLICATIONS This review generates a picture of critical roles for CAP proteins in ion channel regulation, sterol and lipid binding and protease inhibition, and as ligands involved in the induction of multiple cellular processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash S Gaikwad
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Jinghua Hu
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
| | - Moira K O'Bryan
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, 3800, Australia
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11
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Darszon A, Nishigaki T, López-González I, Visconti PE, Treviño CL. Differences and Similarities: The Richness of Comparative Sperm Physiology. Physiology (Bethesda) 2020; 35:196-208. [PMID: 32293232 DOI: 10.1152/physiol.00033.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Species preservation depends on the success of fertilization. Sperm are uniquely equipped to fulfill this task, and, although several mechanisms are conserved among species, striking functional differences have evolved to contend with particular sperm-egg environmental characteristics. This review highlights similarities and differences in sperm strategies, with examples within internal and external fertilizers, pointing out unresolved issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Takuya Nishigaki
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Ignacio López-González
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Claudia L Treviño
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca Morelos, México
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12
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Berendsen JTW, Kruit SA, Atak N, Willink E, Segerink LI. Flow-Free Microfluidic Device for Quantifying Chemotaxis in Spermatozoa. Anal Chem 2020; 92:3302-3306. [PMID: 31994387 PMCID: PMC7031847 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.9b05183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Current male fertility diagnosis tests focus on assessing the quality of semen samples by studying the concentration, total volume, and motility of spermatozoa. However, other characteristics such as the chemotactic ability of a spermatozoon might influence the chance of fertilization. Here we describe a simple, easy to fabricate and handle, flow-free microfluidic chip to test the chemotactic response of spermatozoa made out of a hybrid hydrogel (8% gelatin/1% agarose). A chemotaxis experiment with 1 μM progesterone was performed that significantly demonstrated that boar spermatozoa are attracted by a progesterone gradient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna T W Berendsen
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Stella A Kruit
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Nihan Atak
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Ellen Willink
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
| | - Loes I Segerink
- BIOS-Lab on a Chip Group, MESA+ Institute for Nanotechnology and MIRA Institute for Biomedical Technology and Technical Medicine , University of Twente , 7500 AE Enschede , The Netherlands
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13
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Amaral S, Da Costa R, Wübbeling F, Redmann K, Schlatt S. Raman micro-spectroscopy analysis of different sperm regions: a species comparison. Mol Hum Reprod 2019. [PMID: 29528451 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gax071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is Raman micro-spectroscopy a valid approach to assess the biochemical hallmarks of sperm regions (head, midpiece and tail) in four different species? SUMMARY ANSWER Non-invasive Raman micro-spectroscopy provides spectral patterns enabling the biochemical characterization of the three sperm regions in the four species, revealing however high similarities for each region among species. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Raman micro-spectroscopy has been described as an innovative method to assess sperm features having the potential to be used as a non-invasive selection tool. However, except for nuclear DNA, the identification and assignment of spectral bands in Raman-profiles to the different sperm regions is scarce and controversial. STUDY DESIGN SIZE, DURATION Raman spectra from head, midpiece and tail of four different species were obtained. Sperm samples were collected and smeared on microscope slides. Air dried samples were subjected to Raman analysis using previously standardized procedures. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Sperm samples from (i) two donors attending the infertility clinic at the Centre of Reproductive Medicine and Andrology; (ii) two C57BL/6 -TgN (ACTbEGFP) 1Osb adult mice; (iii) two adult Cynomolgus monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) and (iv) two sea urchins (Arbacia punctulata) were used to characterize and compare their spectral profiles. Differences and similarities were confirmed by principal component analysis (PCA). MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Several novel region-specific peaks were identified. The three regions could be differentiated by distinctive Raman patterns irrespective of the species. However, regardless of the specie, their main spectral pattern remains mostly unchanged. These results were corroborated by the PCA analysis and suggest that the basic constituents of spermatozoa are biochemically similar among species. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Further research should be performed in live sperm to validate the detected spectral bands and their use as markers of distinctive regions. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Raman peaks that have never been described in the sperm cell were detected. Particularly important are those that are unique to the midpiece as they might be a reference to the identification of sperm mitochondria, whose function is highly correlated with that of sperm. In the future, Raman micro-spectroscopy has the potential to be applied in assessment of male fertility. LARGE SCALE DATA N/A. STUDY FUNDING AND COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported by BMBF project 'Sperm Ident' (FKZ:13N13024) and the DAAD-CRUP bilateral exchange program (AI A06/16-57213087). S.A. is a recipient of a fellowship from the Portuguese foundation for science and technology (FCT-SFRH/BPD/110160/2015) and R.DC. is a recipient of a DAAD PhD stipend (91590556). There is no competing interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Amaral
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Domagkstrasse 11, 48149 Münster, Germany.,Biology of Reproduction and Stem Cell Group, Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology (CNC), University of Coimbra, Rua Larga, Faculty of Medicine, Pólo I, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal.,Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Casa Costa Alemão, Pólo II, Rua Dom Francisco Lemos, 3030-789 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - R Da Costa
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Domagkstrasse 11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - F Wübbeling
- Institute for Applied Math: Analysis and Numerics Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Münster, Einsteinstraße 62, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - K Redmann
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Domagkstrasse 11, 48149 Münster, Germany
| | - S Schlatt
- Centre for Reproductive Medicine and Andrology, University of Münster, Domagkstrasse 11, 48149 Münster, Germany
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Inaba K, Shiba K. Microscopic analysis of sperm movement: links to mechanisms and protein components. Microscopy (Oxf) 2018; 67:144-155. [DOI: 10.1093/jmicro/dfy021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Kazuo Inaba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
| | - Kogiku Shiba
- Shimoda Marine Research Center, University of Tsukuba, 5-10-1 Shimoda, Shizuoka 415-0025, Japan
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15
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Bhagwat S, Sontakke S, K. D, Parte P, Jadhav S. Chemotactic behavior of spermatozoa captured using a microfluidic chip. BIOMICROFLUIDICS 2018; 12:024112. [PMID: 29657656 PMCID: PMC5876040 DOI: 10.1063/1.5023574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 03/20/2018] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Chemotaxis, as a mechanism for sperm guidance in vivo, is an enigma which has been difficult to demonstrate. To address this issue, various devices have been designed to study sperm chemotaxis in vitro. Limitations of traditional chemotaxis devices were related to the inability to maintain a stable concentration gradient as well as track single sperm over long times. Microfluidics technology, which provides superior control over fluid flow, has been recently used to generate stable concentration gradients for investigating the chemotactic behavior of several cell types including spermatozoa. However, the chemotactic behavior of sperm has not been unequivocally demonstrated even in these studies due to the inability to distinguish it from rheotaxis, thermotaxis, and chemokinesis. For instance, the presence of fluid flow in the microchannels not only destabilizes the concentration gradient but also elicits a rheotactic response from sperm. In this work, we have designed a microfluidic device which can be used to establish both, a uniform concentration and a uniform concentration gradient in a stationary fluid. By facilitating measurement of sperm response in ascending, descending ,and uniform chemoattractant concentration, the assay could isolate sperm chemotactic response from rheotaxis and chemokinesis. The device was validated using acetylcholine, a known chemoattractant and further tested with rat oviductal fluid from the estrus phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Bhagwat
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | | | - Deekshith K.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
| | - Priyanka Parte
- Department of Gamete Immunobiology, Indian Council of Medical Research-National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Parel, Mumbai 400012, India
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
| | - Sameer Jadhav
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Powai, Mumbai 400076, India
- Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: and
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16
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17
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Suarez SS, Wu M. Microfluidic devices for the study of sperm migration. Mol Hum Reprod 2017; 23:227-234. [PMID: 27385726 PMCID: PMC6454545 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaw039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 05/17/2016] [Accepted: 05/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Microfluidics technology offers us an opportunity to model the biophysical and biochemical environments encountered by sperm moving through the female reproductive tract and, at the same time, to study sperm swimming dynamics at a quantitative level. In humans, coitus results in the deposition of sperm in the vagina at the entrance to the cervix. Consequently, sperm must swim or be drawn through the cervix, uterus, uterotubal junction and oviductal isthmus to reach the oocyte in the oviductal ampulla. Only a very small percentage of inseminated sperm reach the ampulla in the periovulatory period, indicating that strong selection pressures act on sperm during migration. A better understanding of how sperm interact with the female tract would inspire improvements in diagnosis of fertility problems and development of novel-assisted reproductive technologies that minimize damage to sperm and mimic natural selection pressures on sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. S. Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - M. Wu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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18
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Guidobaldi HA, Hirohashi N, Cubilla M, Buffone MG, Giojalas LC. An intact acrosome is required for the chemotactic response to progesterone in mouse spermatozoa. Mol Reprod Dev 2017; 84:310-315. [PMID: 28176444 PMCID: PMC5395337 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.22782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 02/02/2017] [Accepted: 02/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm become fertilization-competent in the oviduct, during a process known as capacitation that involves the acquisition of the ability to exocytose the acrosome but also the chemotactic responses-both of which contribute to successful fertilization. Chemotaxis is used by spermatozoa to orient and to locate the egg; the acrosome reaction facilitates sperm binding to and fusing with the egg membrane. Mammalian spermatozoa are able to sense picomolar concentrations of progesterone, which drives chemotactic behavior. The state of the acrosome during the chemotactic response, however, is unknown. Genetically modified mouse spermatozoa were employed in a chemotaxis assay under fluorescence microscopy to evaluate their acrosome status while swimming, allowing us to elucidate the acrosome integrity of sperm responding to progesterone-induced chemotaxis. We first showed that wild-type mouse spermatozoa chemotactically respond to a gradient of progesterone, and that the genetic modifications employed do not affect the chemotactic behavior of sperm to progesterone. Next, we found that acrosome-intact, but not acrosome-reacted, spermatozoa orient and respond to picomolar concentrations of progesterone and that chemotaxis normally occurs prior to the acrosome reaction. Our results suggest that premature commitment to acrosome exocytosis leads to navigation failure, so proper control and timing of the acrosome reaction is required for fertilization success and male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- HA Guidobaldi
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, UNC, CONICET, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina & Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, UNC, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - N Hirohashi
- Oki Marine Biological Station, Education and Research Center for Biological Resources, Shimane University, Oki 685-0024, Japan
| | - M Cubilla
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, UNC, CONICET, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina & Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, UNC, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - MG Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - LC Giojalas
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas, UNC, CONICET, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina & Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, UNC, FCEFyN, Córdoba, Argentina
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19
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López-Torres AS, Chirinos M. Modulation of Human Sperm Capacitation by Progesterone, Estradiol, and Luteinizing Hormone. Reprod Sci 2016; 24:193-201. [PMID: 27071965 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116641766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Sperm residency in female reproductive tract is essential to undergo functional changes that allow the cell to encounter the oocyte and fertilize it. Those changes, known as capacitation, are modulated by molecules located in the uterotubal surface and fluids. During the fertile window, there is a notable increase in some reproductive hormones such as progesterone, estradiol, and luteinizing hormone in the female reproductive tract, so spermatozoa are exposed to these hormones in an environment that must favor gamete encountering and fusion. This spatiotemporal coincidence suggests that they are suitable candidates to modulate sperm function in order to synchronize the events that ultimately allow the success of fertilization. The presence of receptors for these hormones in the human sperm has been described, but their physiological relevance and mechanisms of action have been either subject of controversy or not properly investigated. This review intends to summarize the evidence that support the participation of these hormones in the regulation of sperm capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aideé Saray López-Torres
- 1 Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México DF, Mexico.,2 Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Coyoacán, México, DF, Mexico
| | - Mayel Chirinos
- 1 Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, México DF, Mexico
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20
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Luo X, Vo T, Jambi F, Pham P, Choy JS. Microfluidic partition with in situ biofabricated semipermeable biopolymer membranes for static gradient generation. LAB ON A CHIP 2016; 16:3815-3823. [PMID: 27713976 DOI: 10.1039/c6lc00742b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
We report an in situ biofabrication strategy that conveniently partitions microfluidic networks into physically separated while chemically communicating microchannels with semipermeable biopolymer membranes, which enable the facile generation of static gradients for biomedical applications. The biofabrication of parallel biopolymer membranes was initiated with the dissipation of trapped air bubbles in parallel apertures in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) microfluidic devices, followed by tunable membrane growth with precise temporal and spatial control to the desired thickness. Static gradients were generated within minutes and well maintained over time by pure diffusion of molecules through the biofabricated semipermeable membranes. As an example application, the static gradient of alpha factor was generated to study the development of the "shmoo" morphology of yeast over time. The in situ biofabrication provides a simple approach to generate static gradients and an ideal platform for biological applications where flow-free static gradients are indispensable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaolong Luo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Thanh Vo
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Fahad Jambi
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - Phu Pham
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA.
| | - John S Choy
- Department of Biology, The Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. 20064, USA
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21
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Kim BJ, Chu I, Jusuf S, Kuo T, TerAvest MA, Angenent LT, Wu M. Oxygen Tension and Riboflavin Gradients Cooperatively Regulate the Migration of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 Revealed by a Hydrogel-Based Microfluidic Device. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1438. [PMID: 27703448 PMCID: PMC5028412 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01438] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2016] [Accepted: 08/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shewanella oneidensis is a model bacterial strain for studies of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). It has two extracellular electron transfer pathways: (1) shuttling electrons via an excreted mediator riboflavin; and (2) direct contact between the c-type cytochromes at the cell membrane and the electrode. Despite the extensive use of S. oneidensis in BESs such as microbial fuel cells and biosensors, many basic microbiology questions about S. oneidensis in the context of BES remain unanswered. Here, we present studies of motility and chemotaxis of S. oneidensis under well controlled concentration gradients of two electron acceptors, oxygen and oxidized form of riboflavin (flavin+), using a newly developed microfluidic platform. Experimental results demonstrate that either oxygen or flavin+ is a chemoattractant to S. oneidensis. The chemotactic tendency of S. oneidensis in a flavin+ concentration gradient is significantly enhanced in an anaerobic in contrast to an aerobic condition. Furthermore, either a low oxygen tension or a high flavin+ concentration considerably enhances the speed of S. oneidensis. This work presents a robust microfluidic platform for generating oxygen and/or flavin+ gradients in an aqueous environment, and demonstrates that two important electron acceptors, oxygen and oxidized riboflavin, cooperatively regulate S. oneidensis migration patterns. The microfluidic tools presented as well as the knowledge gained in this work can be used to guide the future design of BESs for efficient electron production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beum Jun Kim
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Injun Chu
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sebastian Jusuf
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Tiffany Kuo
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michaela A TerAvest
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Largus T Angenent
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA; Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
| | - Mingming Wu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA; Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell UniversityIthaca, NY, USA
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22
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Pérez-Cerezales S, López-Cardona AP, Gutiérrez-Adán A. Progesterone effects on mouse sperm kinetics in conditions of viscosity. Reproduction 2016; 151:501-7. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2015] [Accepted: 02/22/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The spermatozoa delivered to the female genital tract need to swim towards the oocyte through viscous secretions. Once close to the oocyte, the spermatozoa are guided by a gradient of progesterone (P4) and other unknown chemoattractants via a process known as chemotaxis. Using polyvinylpyrrolidone to establish the conditions of viscosity, we examined the response of mouse spermatozoa to P4. Herein, we show that in low-viscous media, P4 induces hyperactive-like motility whereby sperm show erratic trajectories and non-progressive movement. However, an opposite response is produced in viscous medium in that trajectories are linear and motility is more progressive and less erratic. Our observations provide a behavioural explanation for the chemotaxis of spermatozoa swimming under viscous conditions in a spatial gradient of the chemoattractant P4. They also highlight the importance of using viscous solutions to mimic in vivo conditions when analysing sperm behaviour in response to any stimulus.
Reproduction (2016) 151 501–507
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23
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Hussain YH, Guasto JS, Zimmer RK, Stocker R, Riffell JA. Sperm chemotaxis promotes individual fertilization success in sea urchins. J Exp Biol 2016; 219:1458-66. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.134924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2015] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Reproductive success fundamentally shapes an organism's ecology and evolution, and gamete traits mediate fertilization, which is a critical juncture in reproduction. Individual male fertilization success is dependent on the ability of sperm from one male to outcompete the sperm of other males when searching for a conspecific egg. Sperm chemotaxis, the ability of sperm to navigate towards eggs using chemical signals, has been studied for over a century, but such studies have long assumed that this phenomenon improves individual male fitness without explicit evidence to support this claim. Here, we assess fertilization changes upon use of a chemoattractant-digesting peptidase and use a microfluidic device coupled with a fertilization assay to determine the effect of sperm chemotaxis on individual male fertilization success in the sea urchin Lytechinus pictus. We show that removing chemoattractant from the gametic environment decreases fertilization success. We further find that individual male differences in chemotaxis to a well-defined gradient of attractant correlate with individual male differences in fertilization success. These results demonstrate that sperm chemotaxis is an important contributor to individual reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jeffrey S. Guasto
- Tufts University, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Medford, MA USA 02155
| | - Richard K. Zimmer
- University of California Los Angeles, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Los Angeles CA 90095 USA
| | - Roman Stocker
- ETH Zurich, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, 8063 Zurich, Switzerland
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24
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Generation of Gradients on a Microfluidic Device: Toward a High-Throughput Investigation of Spermatozoa Chemotaxis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0142555. [PMID: 26555941 PMCID: PMC4640579 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0142555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/23/2015] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Various research tools have been used for in vitro detection of sperm chemotaxis. However, they are typically poor in maintenance of gradient stability, not to mention their low efficiency. Microfluidic device offers a new experimental platform for better control over chemical concentration gradient than traditional ones. In the present study, an easy-handle diffusion-based microfluidic chip was established. This device allowed for conduction of three parallel experiments on the same chip, and improved the performance of sperm chemotaxis research. In such a chip, there were six channels surrounding a hexagonal pool. The channels are connected to the hexagon by microchannels. Firstly, the fluid flow in the system was characterized; secondly, fluorescein solution was used to calibrate gradient profiles formed in the central hexagon; thirdly, sperm behavior was observed under two concentration gradients of progesterone (100 pM and 1 mM, respectively) as a validation of the device. Significant differences in chemotactic parameters were recognized between experimental and control groups (p < 0.05). Compared with control group, sperm motility was greatly enhanced in 1 mM group (p < 0.05), but no significant difference was found in 100 pM group. In conclusion, we proposed a microfluidic device for the study of sperm chemotaxis that was capable of generating multi-channel gradients on a chip and would help reduce experimental errors and save time in experiment.
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25
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Kim BJ, Richter LV, Hatter N, Tung CK, Ahner BA, Wu M. An array microhabitat system for high throughput studies of microalgal growth under controlled nutrient gradients. LAB ON A CHIP 2015; 15:3687-3694. [PMID: 26248065 DOI: 10.1039/c5lc00727e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Microalgae have been increasingly recognized in the fields of environmental and biomedical engineering because of its use as base materials for biofuels or biomedical products, and also the urgent needs to control harmful algal blooms protecting water resources worldwide. Central to the theme is the growth rate of microalgae under the influences of various environmental cues including nutrients, pH, oxygen tension and light intensity. Current microalgal culture systems, e.g. raceway ponds or chemostats, are not designed for system parameter optimizations of cell growth. In this article, we present the development of an array microfluidic system for high throughput studies of microalgal growth under well defined environmental conditions. The microfluidic platform consists of an array of microhabitats flanked by two parallel side channels, all of which are patterned in a thin agarose gel membrane. The unique feature of the device is that each microhabitat is physically confined suitable for both motile and non-motile cell culture, and at the same time, the device is transparent and can be perfused through the two side channels amendable for precise environmental control of photosynthetic microorganisms. This microfluidic system is used to study the growth kinetics of a model microalgal strain, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (C. reinhardtii), under ammonium (NH4Cl) concentration gradients. Experimental results show that C. reinhardtii follows Monod growth kinetics with a half-saturation constant of 1.2 ± 0.3 μM. This microfluidic platform provides a fast (~50 fold speed increase), cost effective (less reagents and human intervention) and quantitative technique for microalgal growth studies, in contrast to the current chemostat or batch cell culture system. It can be easily extended to investigate growth kinetics of other microorganisms under either single or co-culture setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beum Jun Kim
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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26
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Tung CK, Ardon F, Roy A, Koch DL, Suarez SS, Wu M. Emergence of upstream swimming via a hydrodynamic transition. PHYSICAL REVIEW LETTERS 2015; 114:108102. [PMID: 25815969 PMCID: PMC4505919 DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.114.108102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
We demonstrate that upstream swimming of sperm emerges via an orientation disorder-order transition. The order parameter, the average orientation of the sperm head against the flow, follows a 0.5 power law with the deviation from the critical flow shear rate (γ-γ_{c}). This transition is successfully explained by a hydrodynamic bifurcation theory, which extends the sperm upstream swimming to a broad class of near surface microswimmers that possess front-back asymmetry and circular motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-Kuan Tung
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Florencia Ardon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Anubhab Roy
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Donald L Koch
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Susan S Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
| | - Mingming Wu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA
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27
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Sung JH, Srinivasan B, Esch MB, McLamb WT, Bernabini C, Shuler ML, Hickman JJ. Using physiologically-based pharmacokinetic-guided "body-on-a-chip" systems to predict mammalian response to drug and chemical exposure. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 2014; 239:1225-39. [PMID: 24951471 DOI: 10.1177/1535370214529397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The continued development of in vitro systems that accurately emulate human response to drugs or chemical agents will impact drug development, our understanding of chemical toxicity, and enhance our ability to respond to threats from chemical or biological agents. A promising technology is to build microscale replicas of humans that capture essential elements of physiology, pharmacology, and/or toxicology (microphysiological systems). Here, we review progress on systems for microscale models of mammalian systems that include two or more integrated cellular components. These systems are described as a "body-on-a-chip", and utilize the concept of physiologically-based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling in the design. These microscale systems can also be used as model systems to predict whole-body responses to drugs as well as study the mechanism of action of drugs using PBPK analysis. In this review, we provide examples of various approaches to construct such systems with a focus on their physiological usefulness and various approaches to measure responses (e.g. chemical, electrical, or mechanical force and cellular viability and morphology). While the goal is to predict human response, other mammalian cell types can be utilized with the same principle to predict animal response. These systems will be evaluated on their potential to be physiologically accurate, to provide effective and efficient platform for analytics with accessibility to a wide range of users, for ease of incorporation of analytics, functional for weeks to months, and the ability to replicate previously observed human responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Hwan Sung
- Chemical Engineering, Hongik University, Seoul 121-791, Republic of Korea
| | - Balaji Srinivasan
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Mandy Brigitte Esch
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - William T McLamb
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Catia Bernabini
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA
| | - Michael L Shuler
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - James J Hickman
- NanoScience Technology Center, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32826, USA Biomolecular Science Center, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL 32816, USA
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Tung CK, Ardon F, Fiore A, Suarez SS, Wu M. Cooperative roles of biological flow and surface topography in guiding sperm migration revealed by a microfluidic model. LAB ON A CHIP 2014; 14:1348-56. [PMID: 24535032 PMCID: PMC4497544 DOI: 10.1039/c3lc51297e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Successful reproduction in mammals requires sperm to swim against a fluid flow and through the long and complex female reproductive tract before reaching the egg in the oviduct. Millions of them do not make it. Despite their clinical importance, the roles played in sperm migration by the diverse biophysical and biochemical microenvironments within the reproductive tract are largely unknown. In this article, we present the development of a double layer microfluidic device that recreates two important biophysical environments within the female reproductive tract: fluid flow and surface topography. The unique feature of the device is that it enables one to study the cooperative roles of fluid flow and surface topography in guiding sperm migration. Using bull sperm as a model system, we found that microfluidic grooves embedded on a channel surface facilitate sperm migration against fluid flow. These findings suggest ways to design in vitro fertilization devices to treat infertility and to develop non-invasive contraceptives that use a microarchitectural design to entrap sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chih-kuan Tung
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Florencia Ardon
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Alyssa Fiore
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Susan S. Suarez
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mingming Wu
- Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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