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Peña-Delgado V, Noya A, Carvajal-Serna M, Abecia JA, Pérez-Pe R, Casao A. Differential effect of melatonin on ram spermatozoa depending on the allelic variant of the RsaI polymorphism of the MTR1A gene, incubation medium and season. Reprod Fertil Dev 2024; 36:NULL. [PMID: 38905444 DOI: 10.1071/rd23233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Context The Rsa I polymorphism of the melatonin receptor MTNR1A gene affects seasonal reproduction in sheep, but its effect on ram spermatozoa and their response to melatonin is unknown. Aims This study aims to evaluate whether Rsa I polymorphism of the MTNR1A gene influences the response of ram spermatozoa to in vitro added melatonin. Methods Spermatozoa from rams carrying different Rsa I allelic variants were incubated with melatonin in a TALP medium or a capacitation-triggering medium during the reproductive and non-reproductive seasons. After incubation, sperm motility, membrane integrity, mitochondria activity, oxidative damage, apoptotic markers and capacitation status were assessed. Key results In the reproductive season, the T/T genotype was related to some adverse effects of melatonin when spermatozoa were incubated in TALP medium, whereas the C/C genotype was linked with adverse effects when the hormone was added in a capacitation-triggering medium. The decapacitating effect of melatonin on spermatozoa was also different depending on genotype. Conclusions The melatonin effect on spermatozoa from rams carrying different Rsa I genotypes differed depending on the season and the medium. Implications The knowledge of the Rsa I allelic variant of the MTNR1A gene of rams could be helpful when carrying out in vitro reproductive techniques in the ovine species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Peña-Delgado
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Agustí Noya
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Melissa Carvajal-Serna
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José A Abecia
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Rosaura Pérez-Pe
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Adriana Casao
- BIOFITER-IUCA, Universidad de Zaragoza, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Idrovo IID, Rielo JA, Roldan ERS. Sperm Capacitation and Kinematics in Phodopus Hamsters. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16093. [PMID: 38003282 PMCID: PMC10671044 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242216093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was designed to analyze changes in the spermatozoa of three species of Phodopus hamsters incubated under different conditions. Cauda epididymal sperm were incubated for 4 h in modified Tyrode's medium containing albumin, lactate, pyruvate, and Hepes (mTALP-H), in the same medium with the addition of bicarbonate (mTALP-BH), or with bicarbonate and 20 ng/mL of progesterone (mTALP-BH+P4). Media with bicarbonate are believed to promote capacitation in rodent species. Sperm motility, viability, capacitation patterns, and kinematics were assessed at different times. Capacitation in live cells was quantified after staining with Hoechst 33258 and chlortetracycline. Patterns believed to correspond to non-capacitated cells (F pattern), capacitated, acrosome-intact cells (B pattern), and acrosome-reacted cells (AR pattern) were recognized. Kinematics were examined via computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The results showed a decrease in total motility in all three species in different media, with a sharp decrease in progressive motility in bicarbonate-containing media (without or with progesterone), suggesting hyperactivated motion. However, none of the other signs of hyperactivation described in rodents (i.e., decrease in STR or LIN, together with an increase in ALH) were observed. F pattern cells diminished with time in all media and were generally lower in P. roborovskii and higher in P. campbelli. B pattern cells increased in mTALP-BH media in all species. Progesterone did not enhance the percentage of B pattern cells. Finally, AR pattern cells increased in all species incubated in different media, showing the highest percentage in P. roborovskii and the lowest in P. campbelli. Comparisons between media revealed that there were higher percentages of F pattern cells and lower percentages of B pattern cells over time in medium without bicarbonate (mTALP-H) in comparison to media containing bicarbonate (mTALP-BH; mTALP-BH+P4). Overall, changes consistent with the acquisition of capacitation and development of hyperactivated motility were found; however, further studies are required to better characterize media necessary to support the pathways involved in these processes in Phodopus species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), Calle Jose Gutierrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (A.S.-R.)
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Tourmente M, Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Roldan ERS. Effect of Motility Factors D-Penicillamine, Hypotaurine and Epinephrine on the Performance of Spermatozoa from Five Hamster Species. BIOLOGY 2022; 11:biology11040526. [PMID: 35453725 PMCID: PMC9032960 DOI: 10.3390/biology11040526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary Analysis of sperm performance under in vitro conditions provides a good indication of fertilizing potential. Parameters such as motility, swimming kinetics, acrosome integrity, or ATP content are thus examined in efforts to characterize such potential. Hamster species are a good model to study sperm parameters that are key determinants of fertilizing capacity because these species are at the higher end of the diversity of mammalian sperm morphology and performance. In vitro functional studies demand that sperm remain viable during a long period of time under conditions that resemble those in the female tract. Sperm from certain species require supplementation of the incubation medium with factors that stimulate viability and swimming, or that promote acquisition of fertilizing capacity. Molecules important for sperm performance in hamsters have been identified, namely D-penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE). In the present study, we investigated the effect of PHE on spermatozoa from five hamster species incubated for up to 4 h. Our results revealed that PHE maintains sperm performance in the golden hamster, whereas it improves sperm quality in the Chinese hamster. In contrast, it does not seem to have any effect on sperm from the Siberian (Djungarian), Roborovski and Campbell’s dwarf hamsters. These results are valuable to understand the different regulatory mechanisms of sperm motility and survival in different species. Abstract Assessments of sperm performance are valuable tools for the analysis of sperm fertilizing potential and to understand determinants of male fertility. Hamster species constitute important animal models because they produce sperm cells in high quantities and of high quality. Sexual selection over evolutionary time in these species seems to have resulted in the largest mammalian spermatozoa, and high swimming and bioenergetic performances. Earlier studies showed that golden hamster sperm requires motility factors such as D-penicillamine, hypotaurine and epinephrine (PHE) to sustain survival over time, but it is unknown how they affect swimming kinetics or ATP levels and if other hamster species also require them. The objective of the present study was to examine the effect of PHE on spermatozoa of five hamster species (Mesocricetus auratus, Cricetulus griseus, Phodopus campbelli, P. sungorus, P. roborovskii). In sperm incubated for up to 4 h without or with PHE, we assessed motility, viability, acrosome integrity, sperm velocity and trajectory, and ATP content. The results showed differences in the effect of PHE among species. They had a significant positive effect on the maintenance of sperm quality in M. auratus and C. griseus, whereas there was no consistent effect on spermatozoa of the Phodopus species. Differences between species may be the result of varying underlying regulatory mechanisms of sperm performance and may be important to understand how they relate to successful fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximiliano Tourmente
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Cordoba X5016GCA, Argentina
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIByT), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científica y Técnicas (CONICET), Cordoba X5016GCA, Argentina
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (E.R.S.R.)
| | - Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Spanish Research Council (CSIC), 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence: (M.T.); (E.R.S.R.)
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Exogenous Albumin Is Crucial for Pig Sperm to Elicit In Vitro Capacitation Whereas Bicarbonate Only Modulates Its Efficiency. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:biology10111105. [PMID: 34827098 PMCID: PMC8615011 DOI: 10.3390/biology10111105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Simple Summary In this work, we addressed if the presence of exogenous bicarbonate required for pig sperm capacitation, which is a necessary step to acquire fertilizing ability. While sperm incubated in media without BSA or BSA/bicarbonate did not achieve in vitro capacitation, those incubated with BSA reached that status under any bicarbonate concentration, even when bicarbonate was absent. Interestingly, there were differences related to the concentration of bicarbonate, since sperm incubated in media with BSA and with no bicarbonate or 5 mM bicarbonate showed lower overall efficiency in achieving in vitro capacitation than those incubated in the presence of BSA and higher concentration of bicarbonate. Additionally, at the end of the experiment, sperm incubated in the presence of BSA and 38 mM bicarbonate showed lower motility and plasma membrane integrity than those incubated in media with BSA and lower concentrations of bicarbonate. In conclusion, BSA is crucial in for pig sperm to elicit in vitro capacitation and trigger the subsequent progesterone-induced acrosome exocytosis. In contrast, although exogenous bicarbonate does not appear to be indispensable, it shortens the time needed to reach that capacitated status. Abstract This work sought to address whether the presence of exogenous bicarbonate is required for pig sperm to elicit in vitro capacitation and further progesterone-induced acrosome exocytosis. For this purpose, sperm were either incubated in a standard in vitro capacitation medium or a similar medium with different concentrations of bicarbonate (either 0 mM, 5 mM, 15 mM or 38 mM) and BSA (either 0 mg/mL or 5 mg/mL). The achievement of in vitro capacitation and progesterone-induced acrosomal exocytosis was tested through the analysis of sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity and lipid disorder, acrosome exocytosis, intracellular calcium levels, mitochondria membrane potential, O2 consumption rate and the activities of both glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha (GSK3α) and protein kinase A (PKA). While sperm incubated in media without BSA or BSA/bicarbonate, they did not achieve in vitro capacitation; those incubated in media with BSA achieved the capacitated status under any bicarbonate concentration, even when bicarbonate was absent. Moreover, there were differences related to the concentration of bicarbonate, since sperm incubated in media with BSA and with no bicarbonate or 5 mM bicarbonate showed lower overall efficiency in achieving in vitro capacitation than those incubated in the presence of BSA and 15 mM or 38 mM bicarbonate. Additionally, at the end of the experiment, sperm incubated in the presence of BSA and 38 mM bicarbonate showed significantly (p < 0.05) lower values of motility and plasma membrane integrity than those incubated in media with BSA and lower concentrations of bicarbonate. In conclusion, BSA is instrumental for pig sperm to elicit in vitro capacitation and trigger the subsequent progesterone-induced acrosome exocytosis. Furthermore, while exogenous bicarbonate does not seem to be essential to launch sperm capacitation, it does modulate its efficiency.
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Sperm Behavior and Response to Melatonin under Capacitating Conditions in Three Sheep Breeds Subject to the Equatorial Photoperiod. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061828. [PMID: 34207349 PMCID: PMC8235450 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In temperate regions, sheep demonstrate seasonal reproduction regulated by changes in photoperiod. This regulation is mediated by nocturnal melatonin secretion. However, in equatorial regions, with no photoperiodic changes, sheep tend to breed in all seasons of the year. Despite this, changes in seminal composition or sperm quality have been reported throughout the year. We demonstrated that melatonin concentration in seminal plasma varies between rainy and dry seasons in three Colombian breeds (Colombian Creole, Romney Marsh, and Hampshire). As melatonin can exert direct effects on ram spermatozoa, in this study we hypothesized that melatonin could modulate sperm capacitation in equatorial-located breeds as we had previously reported in seasonal breeds from temperate regions. First, we assayed two media for in vitro capacitation and found that the increment in capacitated and acrosome-reacted sperm was higher in the so-called “cocktail medium” for the three breeds and in rainy and dry seasons. The addition of melatonin to the cocktail medium partially prevented the increase in capacitated spermatozoa from all breeds and during all seasons. This study could help in understanding how melatonin affects ram reproduction in the equatorial photoperiod. Abstract In this study, we demonstrated that, in seasonal Mediterranean ovine breeds, supplementing the TALP medium with cAMP-elevating agents (the cocktail medium) is effective for achieving ram sperm capacitation, and that melatonin is able to regulate this phenomenon. We investigated the behavior under capacitating conditions using the TALP and cocktail mediums, and the response to melatonin, of spermatozoa from three sheep breeds (Colombian Creole, Romney Marsh, and Hampshire) subject to the equatorial photoperiod, during the dry and the rainy seasons. The cocktail medium was able to induce sperm capacitation, assayed by chlortetracycline staining and phosphotyrosine levels, to a greater extent than TALP, without a higher loss of viability (membrane integrity and viable spermatozoa without phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation). The addition of melatonin at 100 pM or 1 µM in the cocktail medium partially prevented the decrease in viability without PS translocation and the increase in capacitated spermatozoa from all breeds, with no significant effect on phosphotyrosine levels. Differences between breeds and seasons were evidenced. This study shows that melatonin is able to exert direct effects on spermatozoa in ovine breeds under equatorial photoperiod conditions, as it does in seasonal breeds located in temperate regions.
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Flow-cytometric analysis of membrane integrity of stallion sperm in the face of agglutination: the "zombie sperm" dilemma. J Assist Reprod Genet 2021; 38:2465-2480. [PMID: 33991296 PMCID: PMC8490572 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-021-02134-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To define the effect of sperm agglutination, associated with incubation under capacitating conditions, on accuracy of membrane assessment via flow cytometry and to develop methods to mitigate that effect. METHODS Sperm motility was measured by CASA. Sperm were stained with PI-PSA or a novel method, LD-PSA, using fixable live/dead stain and cell dissociation treatment, before flow-cytometric analysis. Using LD-PSA, acrosome reaction and plasma membrane status were determined in equine sperm treated with 10 μm A23187 for 10 min, followed by 0, 1, or 2 h incubation in capacitating conditions. RESULTS Using PI-PSA, measured membrane integrity (MI; live sperm) was dramatically lower than was total motility (TMOT), indicating spurious results ("zombie sperm"). Sperm aggregates were largely of motile sperm. Loss of motility after A23187 treatment was associated with disaggregation and increased MI. On disaggregation using LD-PSA, MI rose, and MI then corresponded with TMOT. In equine sperm incubated after A23187 treatment, as the percentage of live acrosome-reacted sperm increased, TMOT decreased to near 0. CONCLUSION Flow cytometry assesses only individualized sperm; thus, agglutination of viable sperm alters recorded membrane integrity. As viable sperm become immotile, they individualize; therefore, factors that decrease motility, such as A23187, result in increased measured MI. Disaggregation before assessment allows more accurate determination of sperm membrane status; in this case we documented a mismatch between motility and live acrosome-reacted equine sperm that may relate to the poor repeatability of A23187 treatment for equine IVF. These findings are of profound value to future studies on sperm capacitation.
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Bernecic NC, de Graaf SP, Leahy T, Gadella BM. HDL mediates reverse cholesterol transport from ram spermatozoa and induces hyperactivated motility. Biol Reprod 2021; 104:1271-1281. [PMID: 33674849 PMCID: PMC8181994 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 02/05/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Reverse cholesterol transport or cholesterol efflux is part of an extensive plasma membrane remodeling process in spermatozoa that is imperative for fertilization. For ram spermatozoa, sheep serum is well known to support in vitro fertilization (IVF), but knowledge of its explicit role is limited. Though, it is postulated to elicit cholesterol efflux owing to the presence of high-density lipoproteins (HDLs) that interact with transmembrane cholesterol transporters, such as adenosinetriphosphate (ATP)-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and scavenger receptor class B, type I (SR-BI). In this study, we report that both sheep serum and HDLs were able to elicit cholesterol efflux alone by up to 20–40% (as measured by the boron dipyrromethene (BODIPY)-cholesterol assay). Furthermore, when the antagonists glibenclamide and valspodar were used to inhibit the function of ABCA1 and SR-BI or ABCA1 alone, respectively, cholesterol efflux was only marginally reduced (8–15%). Nevertheless, it is likely that in ram spermatozoa, a specific facilitated pathway of cholesterol efflux is involved in the interaction between cholesterol acceptors and transporters. Interestingly, exposure to HDLs also induced hyperactivated motility, another critical event required for successful fertilization. Taken together, this study details the first report of the dual action of HDLs on ram spermatozoa, providing both an insight into the intricacy of events leading up to fertilization in vivo as well as demonstrating the possible application of HDL supplementation in media for IVF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi C Bernecic
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Tamara Leahy
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Bart M Gadella
- Department of Biochemistry & Cell Biology, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Farm Animal Health, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Uribe P, Meriño J, Bravo A, Zambrano F, Schulz M, Villegas JV, Sánchez R. Antioxidant effects of penicillamine against in vitro-induced oxidative stress in human spermatozoa. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13553. [PMID: 32196709 DOI: 10.1111/and.13553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2020] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Oxidative stress contributes importantly to the aetiology of male infertility, impairing sperm function. The protective effect of antioxidants on seminal parameters has been established, and the antioxidant penicillamine has shown beneficial effects; however, its protective effect on human spermatozoa exposed to oxidative stress has not been reported. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of penicillamine on human spermatozoa exposed in vitro to oxidative stress. First, the effect of penicillamine on spermatozoa from normozoospermic donors was evaluated. Then, the effect of penicillamine on spermatozoa exposed to oxidative stress induced separately by ionomycin and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ) was analysed. An untreated control and a control treated only with the oxidative stress inducer were included. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, viability, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and motility were analysed. The results showed that penicillamine, added to the incubation medium, decreased the ROS levels induced by ionomycin and H2 O2 , and this effect was associated with better preservation of MMP, motility, and ATP levels. These results highlight the potential advantages of penicillamine supplementation of sperm culture medium, especially for semen samples with high ROS levels and also in circumstances where laboratory handling can cause an increase in ROS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela Uribe
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Juan Meriño
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Anita Bravo
- Center of Reproductive Biotechnology - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEBIOR - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Fabiola Zambrano
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Mabel Schulz
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Juana V Villegas
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Center of Reproductive Biotechnology - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEBIOR - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Raúl Sánchez
- Center of Excellence in Translational Medicine - Scientific and Technological Bioresource Nucleus (CEMT - BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.,Department of Preclinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
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Pini T, de Graaf SP, Druart X, Tsikis G, Labas V, Teixeira-Gomes AP, Gadella BM, Leahy T. Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 have contrasting effects on the capacitation of ram spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:765-775. [PMID: 29415221 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Binder of Sperm Proteins (BSPs) are the most abundant seminal plasma protein family in the ram and bull. They have been extensively studied in the bull but less is known about their function in ovine seminal plasma and current knowledge suggests that BSPs may have different effects in these two species. In the bull, they facilitate capacitation and destabilize the sperm membrane during in vitro handling, whereas in the ram, they appear to stabilize the sperm membrane and prevent cryopreservation-induced capacitation-like changes. Further investigation into the effects of BSPs on ram spermatozoa under capacitating conditions is required to further clarify their physiological roles in the ram. We investigated the effects of Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 on epididymal ram spermatozoa in conditions of low, moderate, and high cAMP. BSPs had minimal effects on sperm function in low-cAMP conditions, but caused significant changes under cAMP upregulation. BSP1 stabilized the membrane and qualitatively reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, but significantly increased cholesterol efflux and induced spontaneous acrosome reactions. BSP5 slightly increased spontaneous acrosome reactions and caused sperm necrosis. However, BSP5 had minimal effects on membrane lipid order and cholesterol efflux and did not inhibit protein tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate that under maximal cAMP upregulation, BSP1 affected ram spermatozoa in a manner comparable to bull spermatozoa, while BSP5 did not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Pini
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Francais du Cheval et de L'Equitation, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Francais du Cheval et de L'Equitation, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valerie Labas
- Plate-forme de Chirurgie et Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement, Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ana Paula Teixeira-Gomes
- Plate-forme de Chirurgie et Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement, Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Barend M Gadella
- Department of Farm Animal Health and Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tamara Leahy
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Rota A, Sabatini C, Przybył A, Ciaramelli A, Panzani D, Camillo F. Post-thaw Addition of Caffeine and/or Pentoxifylline Affect Differently Motility of Horse and Donkey-Cryopreserved Spermatozoa. J Equine Vet Sci 2019; 75:41-47. [PMID: 31002091 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
To increase sperm motility, several molecules have been tested in mammals. Methylxanthines have shown effects on sperm motility, capacitation, and on in vitro fertilization processes. The aim of the study was to evaluate if the post-thaw addition of caffeine and/or pentoxifylline changes motility parameters of cryopreserved stallion and donkey spermatozoa. Straws derived from 14 horses and 7 donkeys were thawed and diluted in a milk-based extender to obtain the following final concentrations: CTR (control, no additives), CAF 5 (5 mM caffeine), CAF 10 (10 mM caffeine), PTX 5 (5 mM pentoxifylline), PTX 10 (10 mM pentoxifylline), CAF-PTX (5 mM caffeine and 5 mM pentoxifylline). Samples were evaluated immediately post-thaw and after 60 and 120 minutes of incubation at 37°C. In horses, overall total motility was significantly lower in CTR than in to CAF5, CAF-PTX, PTX5, PTX10, whereas progressive motility increased only in CAF5 and PTX5 (P < .05). No differences between control and treatments were seen for donkey semen. In CTR, during the first hour of incubation horses' sperm cells showed a larger decrease than donkeys' ones in all parameters (P < .05), except for lateral sperm head displacement. Thus, post-thaw motility and velocity decreased more sharply in horses than in donkeys. Caffeine and pentoxifylline-added post-thaw were able to increase the proportion of motile spermatozoa only for stallions and not for donkeys. Whether the improvement in post-thaw motility of equine spermatozoa may have an effect on in vivo or in vitro pregnancy rates remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Rota
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
| | - Chiara Sabatini
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | | | | | - Duccio Panzani
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Francesco Camillo
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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Sublethal sperm freezing damage: Manifestations and solutions. Theriogenology 2018; 118:172-181. [DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2018] [Revised: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
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González-Fernández L, Macías-García B, Calle-Guisado V, García-Marín LJ, Bragado MJ. Calmodulin inhibitors increase the affinity of Merocyanine 540 for boar sperm membrane under non-capacitating conditions. J Reprod Dev 2018; 64:445-449. [PMID: 29887540 PMCID: PMC6189568 DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2018-021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We aimed to test whether the calmodulin (CaM) inhibitors, calmidazolium (CZ) and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthalenesulfonamide (W-7), can be used to assess lipid disorder by flow
cytometry using Merocyanine 540 (M540). Boar spermatozoa were incubated in non-capacitating conditions for 10 min at room temperature with 1 μM CZ, 200 μM W-7, or 1 mM 8-bromoadenosine
3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (8-Br-cAMP). Then, sperm were 1) directly evaluated, 2) centrifuged and washed prior to evaluation, or 3) diluted with PBS prior to evaluation. Direct evaluation
showed an increase in high M540 fluorescence in spermatozoa treated with the inhibitors (4.7 ± 1.8 [control] vs. 70.4 ± 4.0 [CZ] and 71.4 ± 4.2 [W-7], mean % ± SD, P <
0.001); washing decreased the percentage of sperm showing high M540 fluorescence for W-7 (4.8 ± 2.2, mean % ± SD) but not for CZ (69.4 ± 3.9, mean % ± SD, P < 0.001), and dilution showed
an increase in high M540 fluorescence for both CZ and W-7; 8-Br-cAMP did not induce a rise in sperm showing high M540 fluorescence. Therefore, special care must be taken when M540 is used in
spermatozoa with CaM inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauro González-Fernández
- Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Institute of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Livestock (INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Beatriz Macías-García
- Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (CCMIJU), Assisted Reproduction Unit, 10071 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Violeta Calle-Guisado
- Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Institute of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Livestock (INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - Luis Jesús García-Marín
- Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Institute of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Livestock (INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
| | - María Julia Bragado
- Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Institute of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Livestock (INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
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Rocco M, Betarelli R, Placci A, Fernández-Novell JM, Spinaci M, Casao A, Muiño-Blanco T, Cebrián-Pérez JA, Peña A, Rigau T, Bonet S, Castillo-Martín M, Yeste M, Rodríguez-Gil JE. Melatonin affects the motility and adhesiveness of in vitro capacitated boar spermatozoa via a mechanism that does not depend on intracellular ROS levels. Andrology 2018; 6:720-736. [PMID: 29858528 DOI: 10.1111/andr.12504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 04/09/2018] [Accepted: 04/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
This work sought to address the effects of melatonin during in vitro capacitation (IVC) and progesterone-induced acrosome exocytosis (IVAE) in boar spermatozoa. With this purpose, two different experiments were set. In the first one, IVC and IVAE were induced in the absence or presence of melatonin, which was added either at the start of IVC or upon triggering the IVAE with progesterone. Different parameters were evaluated, including intracellular levels of peroxides and superoxides, free cysteine radicals and distribution of specific lectins. While melatonin neither affected most capacitation-associated parameters nor IVAE, it dramatically decreased sperm motility, with a maximal effect at 5 μm. This effect was accompanied by a significant increase in the percentage of agglutinated spermatozoa, which was independent from noticeable changes in the distribution of lectins. Levels of free cysteine radicals were significantly lower in melatonin treatments than in the control after 4 h of incubation in capacitating medium. The second experiment evaluated the effects of melatonin on in vitro fertilising ability of boar spermatozoa. Spermatozoa previously subjected to IVC in the presence of 1 μm melatonin and used for in vitro fertilisation exhibited less ability to bind the zona pellucida (ZP) and higher percentages of monospermy. In conclusion, melatonin affects sperm motility and the stability of nucleoprotein structure and also modulates the ability of in vitro capacitated boar spermatozoa to bind the oocyte ZP. However, such effects do not seem to be related to either its antioxidant properties or changes in the sperm glycocalix.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Rocco
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Department of Agriculture, Environment and Food Science, University of Molise, Campobasso, Italy
| | - Rafael Betarelli
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain.,Department of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Lavras, Lavras, Brazil
| | - Anna Placci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | | | - Marcella Spinaci
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Adriana Casao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Research Institute of Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Teresa Muiño-Blanco
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Research Institute of Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - José A Cebrián-Pérez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Cell Biology, Research Institute of Environmental Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Alejandro Peña
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Teresa Rigau
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
| | - Sergi Bonet
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Miriam Castillo-Martín
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Department of Biology, Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
| | - Joan E Rodríguez-Gil
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Spain
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Pini T, Leahy T, Paul de Graaf S. Seminal plasma and cryopreservation alter ram sperm surface carbohydrates and interactions with neutrophils. Reprod Fertil Dev 2018; 30:689-702. [DOI: 10.1071/rd17251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa deposited vaginally must navigate the physical, chemical and immune barriers of the cervix to reach the site of fertilisation. Characteristics that favour successful cervical transit remain largely unknown beyond the obvious factors of motility and viability. Epididymal and cryopreserved ram spermatozoa demonstrate poor cervical transit, for unknown reasons. We hypothesised that seminal plasma exposure and cryopreservation alter the surface sugars of these sperm populations and, consequently, their interaction with immune cells, both potential factors for successful cervical transit. The carbohydrate profiles of epididymal, ejaculated and frozen–thawed ram spermatozoa were assessed by flow cytometry and western blotting using lectins for galactose, sialic acid, N-acetylglucosamine and mannose. Seminal plasma exposure and cryopreservation caused significant changes to the relative amounts of surface sugars detected by flow cytometry and lectin blotting. Immune cell interaction was characterised using a neutrophil-binding assay. Seminal plasma acted as a robust protective mechanism, limiting binding of spermatozoa, whereas the media used for cryopreservation caused a significant disruption to opsonin-mediated binding. We were unable to demonstrate a link between changes to surface sugars and neutrophil susceptibility. Seminal plasma and cryopreservation clearly alter the sperm glycocalyx, as well as the interaction of spermatozoa with immune cells.
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Leahy T, Rickard JP, Aitken RJ, de Graaf SP. D-penicillamine prevents ram sperm agglutination by reducing the disulphide bonds of a copper-binding sperm protein. Reproduction 2016; 151:491-500. [PMID: 26860122 DOI: 10.1530/rep-15-0596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Accepted: 02/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Head-to-head agglutination of ram spermatozoa is induced by dilution in the Tyrode's capacitation medium with albumin, lactate and pyruvate (TALP) and ameliorated by the addition of the thiol d-penicillamine (PEN). To better understand the association and disassociation of ram spermatozoa, we investigated the mechanism of action of PEN in perturbing sperm agglutination. PEN acts as a chelator of heavy metals, an antioxidant and a reducing agent. Chelation is not the main mechanism of action, as the broad-spectrum chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and the copper-specific chelator bathocuproinedisulfonic acid were inferior anti-agglutination agents compared with PEN. Oxidative stress is also an unlikely mechanism of sperm association, as PEN was significantly more effective in ameliorating agglutination than the antioxidants superoxide dismutase, ascorbic acid, α-tocopherol and catalase. Only the reducing agents cysteine and DL-dithiothreitol displayed similar levels of non-agglutinated spermatozoa at 0 h compared with PEN but were less effective after 3 h of incubation (37 °C). The addition of 10 µM Cu(2+) to 250 µM PEN + TALP caused a rapid reversion of the motile sperm population from a non-agglutinated state to an agglutinated state. Other heavy metals (cobalt, iron, manganese and zinc) did not provoke such a strong response. Together, these results indicate that PEN prevents sperm association by the reduction of disulphide bonds on a sperm membrane protein that binds copper. ADAM proteins are possible candidates, as targeted inhibition of the metalloproteinase domain significantly increased the percentage of motile, non-agglutinated spermatozoa (52.0% ± 7.8) compared with TALP alone (10.6% ± 6.1).
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Affiliation(s)
- T Leahy
- Faculty of Veterinary ScienceThe University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J P Rickard
- Faculty of Veterinary ScienceThe University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
| | - R J Aitken
- Discipline of Biological SciencesFaculty of Science and IT and Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - S P de Graaf
- Faculty of Veterinary ScienceThe University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
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