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Serrano R, Solar Málaga S, González-Fernández L, Gervasi MG, García-Marín LJ, Bragado MJ, Martin-Hidalgo D. Glucose prevents the acquisition of the capacitated state in pig spermatozoa. Andrology 2024. [PMID: 38993010 DOI: 10.1111/andr.13691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mammalian spermatozoa need to undergo a process named capacitation to be able to fertilize an oocyte. During their journey in the female tract, spermatozoa obtain energy while exposed to a changing environment containing a variety of metabolic substrates. The energy requirements for sperm capacitation are species-specific. In addition, the available energy source can hinder the process of sperm capacitation and eventually the acrosome reaction. OBJECTIVES To evaluate whether the metabolic substrates available in the in vitro sperm capacitation medium allow or interfere with the pig sperm capacitation process. MATERIAL AND METHODS The effect of different metabolic substrates on sperm capacitation process was evaluated by analyzing phosphorylation in the p32 protein; the acrosome reaction and the ATP intracellular content. RESULTS The presence of glucose in the in vitro capacitating medium diminishes, in a concentration-dependent manner, parameters associated with the capacitated status: induced acrosome exocytosis, plasma membrane destabilization, and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Conversely, sperm incubation with pyruvate or lactate, either individually or in combination, allows the attainment of the capacitated status. Unexpectedly, pig spermatozoa incubated without any extracellular energy substrates or with a non-metabolizable substrate (l-glucose) for 4 h displayed similar sperm viability to the control and exhibited a capacitated phenotype. The capacitation-like phenotype observed in starved pig spermatozoa (absence of glucose, lactate, and pyruvate) was dependent on extracellular bicarbonate and calcium levels, and these spermatozoa exhibited lower intracellular ATP content compared to those not capacitated. Nevertheless, the intracellular content of calcium was not modified in comparison to the control. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the metabolic substrates used to fuel pig sperm metabolism are important in achieving the capacitated status. The results of this work could be used to refine the capacitating medium employed in pig in vitro fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebeca Serrano
- Grupo de Investigación Señalización Intracelular y Tecnología de la Reproducción (SINTREP), Instituto de Investigación INBIO G+C. Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Soraya Solar Málaga
- Grupo de Investigación Señalización Intracelular y Tecnología de la Reproducción (SINTREP), Instituto de Investigación INBIO G+C. Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Lauro González-Fernández
- Grupo de Investigación Señalización Intracelular y Tecnología de la Reproducción (SINTREP), Instituto de Investigación INBIO G+C. Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - María Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
| | - Luis Jesús García-Marín
- Grupo de Investigación Señalización Intracelular y Tecnología de la Reproducción (SINTREP), Instituto de Investigación INBIO G+C. Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - María Julia Bragado
- Grupo de Investigación Señalización Intracelular y Tecnología de la Reproducción (SINTREP), Instituto de Investigación INBIO G+C. Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Badajoz, Spain
| | - David Martin-Hidalgo
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Connecticut, Storrs, USA
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, Spain
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2
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González LN, Giaccagli MM, Herzfeld JD, Cuasnicú PS, Da Ros VG, Cohen DJ. A side-by-side comparison of different capacitation media in developing mouse sperm fertilizing ability. Sci Rep 2024; 14:14287. [PMID: 38907001 PMCID: PMC11192932 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65134-w] [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: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024] Open
Abstract
To acquire the ability to fertilize the egg, mammalian spermatozoa must undergo a series of changes occurring within the highly synchronized and specialized environment of the female reproductive tract, collectively known as capacitation. In an attempt to replicate this process in vitro, various culture media for mouse sperm were formulated over the past decades, sharing a similar overall composition but differing mainly in ion concentrations and metabolic substrates. The widespread use of the different media to study the mechanisms of capacitation might hinder a comprehensive understanding of this process, as the medium could become a confounding variable in the analysis. In this context, the present side-by-side study compares the influence of four commonly used culture media (FD, HTF and two TYH versions) on mouse sperm capacitation. We evaluated the induction of protein kinase A phosphorylation pathway, motility, hyperactivation and acrosome reaction. Additionally, in vitro fertilization and embryo development were also assessed. By analyzing these outcomes in two mouse colonies with different reproductive performance, our study provides critical insights to improve the global understanding of sperm function. The results obtained highlight the importance of considering variations in medium composition, and their potential implications for the future interpretation of results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucas N González
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María M Giaccagli
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jael D Herzfeld
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Patricia S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Vanina G Da Ros
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Débora J Cohen
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME), Fundación IBYME, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Vuelta de Obligado 2490, C1428ADN, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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3
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Schmidt CA, Hale BJ, Bhowmick D, Miller WJ, Neufer PD, Geyer CB. Pyruvate modulation of redox potential controls mouse sperm motility. Dev Cell 2024; 59:79-90.e6. [PMID: 38101411 PMCID: PMC10872278 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.011] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023]
Abstract
Sperm gain fertilization competence in the female reproductive tract through a series of biochemical changes and a requisite switch from linear progressive to hyperactive motility. Despite being essential for fertilization, regulation of sperm energy transduction is poorly understood. This knowledge gap confounds interpretation of interspecies variation and limits progress in optimizing sperm selection for assisted reproduction. Here, we developed a model of mouse sperm bioenergetics using metabolic phenotyping data, quantitative microscopy, and spectral flow cytometry. The results define a mechanism of motility regulation by microenvironmental pyruvate. Rather than being consumed as a mitochondrial fuel source, pyruvate stimulates hyperactivation by repressing lactate oxidation and activating glycolysis in the flagellum through provision of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD)+. These findings provide evidence that the transitions in motility requisite for sperm competence are governed by changes in the metabolic microenvironment, highlighting the unexplored potential of using catabolite combination to optimize sperm selection for fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron A Schmidt
- Department of Biology at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27858, USA; East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
| | - Benjamin J Hale
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Debajit Bhowmick
- Flow Cytometry Core Facility, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - William J Miller
- Department of Engineering, East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - P Darrell Neufer
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Physiology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA
| | - Christopher B Geyer
- East Carolina Diabetes and Obesity Institute at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC 27834, USA.
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4
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Gupta N, Soriano-Úbeda C, Stein P, Savy V, Papas BN, Ardestani G, Carvacho I, Alfandari D, Williams CJ, Fissore RA. Essential role of Mg 2+ in mouse preimplantation embryo development revealed by TRPM7 chanzyme-deficient gametes. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113232. [PMID: 37824328 PMCID: PMC10842026 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113232] [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: 04/11/2023] [Revised: 08/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
TRPM7 (transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily M member 7) is a chanzyme with channel and kinase domains essential for embryo development. Using gamete-specific Trpm7-null lines, we report that TRPM7-mediated Mg2+ influx is indispensable for reaching the blastocyst stage. TRPM7 is expressed dynamically from gametes to blastocysts; displays stage-specific localization on the plasma membrane, cytoplasm, and nucleus; and undergoes cleavage that produces C-terminal kinase fragments. TRPM7 underpins Mg2+ homeostasis, and excess Mg2+ but not Zn2+ or Ca2+ overcomes the arrest of Trpm7-null embryos; expressing Trpm7 mRNA restores development, but mutant versions fail or are partially rescued. Transcriptomic analyses of Trpm7-null embryos reveal an abundance of oxidative stress-pathway genes, confirmed by mitochondrial dysfunction, and a reduction in transcription factor networks essential for proliferation; Mg2+ supplementation corrects these defects. Hence, TRPM7 underpins Mg2+ homeostasis in preimplantation embryos, prevents oxidative stress, and promotes gene expression patterns necessary for developmental progression and cell-lineage specification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Gupta
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Cristina Soriano-Úbeda
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery, and Anatomy, Veterinary School, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Paula Stein
- Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Virginia Savy
- Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Brian N Papas
- Integrative Bioinformatics Support Group, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Goli Ardestani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; Clinical Research Embryologist, Boston IVF, Waltham, MA, USA
| | - Ingrid Carvacho
- Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Católica del Maule, Talca, Chile
| | - Dominique Alfandari
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Carmen J Williams
- Reproductive & Developmental Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Rafael A Fissore
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA.
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5
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O’Callaghan E, Navarrete-Lopez P, Štiavnická M, Sánchez JM, Maroto M, Pericuesta E, Fernández-González R, O’Meara C, Eivers B, Kelleher MM, Evans RD, Mapel XM, Lloret-Villas A, Pausch H, Balastegui-Alarcón M, Avilés M, Sanchez-Rodriguez A, Roldan ERS, McDonald M, Kenny DA, Fair S, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Lonergan P. Adenylate kinase 9 is essential for sperm function and male fertility in mammals. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2305712120. [PMID: 37812723 PMCID: PMC10589668 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2305712120] [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: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite passing routine laboratory tests for semen quality, bulls used in artificial insemination exhibit significant variation in fertility. Routine analysis of fertility data identified a dairy bull with extreme subfertility (10% pregnancy rate). To characterize the subfertility phenotype, a range of in vitro, in vivo, and molecular assays were carried out. Sperm from the subfertile bull exhibited reduced motility and severely reduced caffeine-induced hyperactivation compared to controls. Ability to penetrate the zona pellucida, cleavage rate, cleavage kinetics, and blastocyst yield after IVF or AI were significantly lower than in control bulls. Whole-genome sequencing from semen and RNA sequencing of testis tissue revealed a critical mutation in adenylate kinase 9 (AK9) that impaired splicing, leading to a premature termination codon and a severely truncated protein. Mice deficient in AK9 were generated to further investigate the function of the gene; knockout males were phenotypically indistinguishable from their wild-type littermates but produced immotile sperm that were incapable of normal fertilization. These sperm exhibited numerous abnormalities, including a low ATP concentration and reduced motility. RNA-seq analysis of their testis revealed differential gene expression of components of the axoneme and sperm flagellum as well as steroid metabolic processes. Sperm ultrastructural analysis showed a high percentage of sperm with abnormal flagella. Combined bovine and murine data indicate the essential metabolic role of AK9 in sperm motility and/or hyperactivation, which in turn affects sperm binding and penetration of the zona pellucida. Thus, AK9 has been found to be directly implicated in impaired male fertility in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena O’Callaghan
- Animal and Crop Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - Paula Navarrete-Lopez
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Miriama Štiavnická
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, LimerickV94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - José M. Sánchez
- Animal and Crop Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Maria Maroto
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Eva Pericuesta
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Raul Fernández-González
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Ciara O’Meara
- National Cattle Breeding Centre, County KildareW91 WF59, Ireland
| | - Bernard Eivers
- National Cattle Breeding Centre, County KildareW91 WF59, Ireland
| | - Margaret M. Kelleher
- Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Link Road, Ballincollig, County CorkP31 D452, Ireland
| | - Ross D. Evans
- Irish Cattle Breeding Federation, Link Road, Ballincollig, County CorkP31 D452, Ireland
| | - Xena M. Mapel
- Animal Genomics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich8092, Switzerland
| | - Audald Lloret-Villas
- Animal Genomics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich8092, Switzerland
| | - Hubert Pausch
- Animal Genomics, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, ETH Zürich, Zürich8092, Switzerland
| | - Miriam Balastegui-Alarcón
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Universidad de Murcia-Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla, Murcia30120, Spain
| | - Manuel Avilés
- Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, Universidad de Murcia-Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria Pascual Parrilla, Murcia30120, Spain
| | - Ana Sanchez-Rodriguez
- Departmento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid28006, Spain
| | - Eduardo R. S. Roldan
- Departmento de Biodiversidad y Biología Evolutiva, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid28006, Spain
| | - Michael McDonald
- Animal and Crop Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
| | - David A. Kenny
- Animal and Bioscience Department, Teagasc, Animal and Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Dunsany, County MeathC15 PW93, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, LimerickV94 T9PX, Ireland
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria-Centro Nacional integrado en la Agencia Estatal Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Madrid28040, Spain
| | - Patrick Lonergan
- Animal and Crop Sciences, School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, DublinD04 V1W8, Ireland
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6
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Luongo C, Llamas-López PJ, Garrappa G, Rodríguez-Tobón E, Grudzinska P, García-Vázquez FA. Impact of inclusion of post-spermatic ejaculate fraction in boar seminal doses on sperm metabolism, quality, and interaction with uterine fluid. Sci Rep 2023; 13:15258. [PMID: 37709904 PMCID: PMC10502139 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-42254-3] [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: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Boar ejaculate is composed of sperm cells and seminal plasma (SP) and is emitted in different fractions (pre-sperm fraction; spermatic-rich fraction; intermediate fraction; post-spermatic fraction), with different composition of SP and volume, which could influence the sperm quality during seminal doses preparation, conservation, and interaction with the female reproductive tract. In artificial insemination (AI) centers, seminal doses are usually prepared with the spermatic-rich and intermediate fractions, but the inclusion of other ejaculate fractions, although controversial, is beginning to be applied. The objective was to evaluate the synergic effect of accumulative ejaculated fractions on sperm functionality during seminal doses preparation, throughout storage and after incubation with uterine fluid (UF). For this purpose, a total of 57 ejaculates were collected, and the following experimental groups were prepared (n = 19 per group): (F1) spermatic-rich fraction; (F2) F1 plus intermediate fraction; (F3) F2 plus post-spermatic fraction. Each group was stored for 5 days at ∼16 °C, and the following parameters were evaluated: sperm metabolism of pure and diluted semen (day 1), sperm quality parameters (days 1, 3, 5), thermal-resistance test (TRT) and incubation with uterine fluid (UF) (day 5). Sperm metabolic rates between accumulative ejaculate fractions from pure and diluted semen did not show differences. Also, sperm quality parameters were not affected by the ejaculate fraction during storage. However, sperm subjected to TRT showed similar results except for progressive motility, which was better in F2 and F3 than F1. When sperm were incubated with UF, the quality decreased in each group, but sperm from F2 and F3 were less affected than those from F1. In conclusion, the post-spermatic fraction can be included in seminal doses for their use in AI-centers, with functionality of sperm of different SP origins not being impaired throughout the storage, and responding better to thermal and UF stress. However, further research in AI-centers is necessary to test the sperm behaviour under presented conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Luongo
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | | | - Gabriela Garrappa
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Animal del Chaco Semi-Arido (IIACS), Centro de Investigación Agropecuaria (CIAP), Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Tucuman, Argentina
| | - Ernesto Rodríguez-Tobón
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
- Departamento de Biología de La Reproducción, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Paulina Grudzinska
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco Alberto García-Vázquez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus de Excelencia Mare Nostrum, Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
- Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
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7
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Romarowski A, Fejzo J, Nayyab S, Martin-Hidalgo D, Gervasi MG, Balbach M, Violante S, Salicioni AM, Cross J, Levin LR, Buck J, Visconti PE. Mouse sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) revealed novel metabolic pathways. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1234221. [PMID: 37655160 PMCID: PMC10466171 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1234221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must undergo capacitation to become fertilization-competent. While working on mice, we recently developed a new methodology for treating sperm in vitro, which results in higher rates of fertilization and embryo development after in vitro fertilization. Sperm incubated in media devoid of nutrients lose motility, although they remain viable. Upon re-adding energy substrates, sperm resume motility and become capacitated with improved functionality. Here, we explore how sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) treatment affects sperm metabolism and capacitation-associated signaling. Using extracellular flux analysis and metabolite profiling and tracing via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), we found that the levels of many metabolites were altered during the starvation phase of SER. Of particular interest, two metabolites, AMP and L-carnitine, were significantly increased in energy-restricted sperm. Upon re-addition of glucose and initiation of capacitation, most metabolite levels recovered and closely mimic the levels observed in capacitating sperm that have not undergone starvation. In both control and SER-treated sperm, incubation under capacitating conditions upregulated glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. However, ATP levels were diminished, presumably reflecting the increased energy consumption during capacitation. Flux data following the fate of 13C glucose indicate that, similar to other cells with high glucose consumption rates, pyruvate is converted into 13C-lactate and, with lower efficiency, into 13C-acetate, which are then released into the incubation media. Furthermore, our metabolic flux data show that exogenously supplied glucose is converted into citrate, providing evidence that in sperm cells, as in somatic cells, glycolytic products can be converted into Krebs cycle metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Romarowski
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jasna Fejzo
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Saman Nayyab
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | | | - Maria G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Melanie Balbach
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sara Violante
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ana M. Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Justin Cross
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lonny R. Levin
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jochen Buck
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
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8
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Keller A, Kerns K. Sperm capacitation as a predictor of boar fertility. Mol Reprod Dev 2023; 90:594-600. [PMID: 37306038 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2023] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Prediction of a boar's fertility level has great economic importance for sow herds. After standard sperm morphology and motility metrics are met, approximately 25% of boars have less than 80% conception rates. Due in part to the many factors involved in the fertilization process, a multifactorial model incorporating multiple relevant sperm physiology factors will likely lead to increased understanding of boar fertility. Here we review the current literature on boar sperm capacitation as a predictor of boar fertility. While limited, several studies have provided correlations between the percentage of sperm in an ejaculate that are capable of undergoing sperm capacitation in a chemically defined media and artificial insemination field fertility as well as proteome and other methods. Work summarized here underscores the need for further understanding of boar fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Keller
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Karl Kerns
- Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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9
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Balbach M, Ghanem L, Violante S, Kyaw A, Romarowski A, Cross JR, Visconti PE, Levin LR, Buck J. Capacitation induces changes in metabolic pathways supporting motility of epididymal and ejaculated sperm. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1160154. [PMID: 37440924 PMCID: PMC10335746 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1160154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm require sufficient energy to support motility and capacitation for successful fertilization. Previous studies cataloging the changes to metabolism in sperm explored ejaculated human sperm or dormant mouse sperm surgically extracted from the cauda epididymis. Due to the differences in methods of collection, it remains unclear whether any observed differences between mouse and human sperm represent species differences or reflect the distinct maturation states of the sperm under study. Here we compare the metabolic changes during capacitation of epididymal versus ejaculated mouse sperm and relate these changes to ejaculated human sperm. Using extracellular flux analysis and targeted metabolic profiling, we show that capacitation-induced changes lead to increased flux through both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation in mouse and human sperm. Ejaculation leads to greater flexibility in the ability to use different carbon sources. While epididymal sperm are dependent upon glucose, ejaculated mouse and human sperm gain the ability to also leverage non-glycolytic energy sources such as pyruvate and citrate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Balbach
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lubna Ghanem
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sara Violante
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Aye Kyaw
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ana Romarowski
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Justin R. Cross
- Donald B. and Catherine C. Marron Cancer Metabolism Center, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Lonny R. Levin
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jochen Buck
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
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10
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Takei GL, Ogura Y, Ujihara Y, Toyama F, Hayashi K, Fujita T. Hamster Sperm Possess Functional Na +/Ca 2+-Exchanger 1: Its Implication in Hyperactivation. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24108905. [PMID: 37240252 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24108905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Previous studies demonstrated that hamster sperm hyperactivation is suppressed by extracellular Na+ by lowering intracellular Ca2+ levels, and Na+/Ca2+-exchanger (NCX) specific inhibitors canceled the suppressive effects of extracellular Na+. These results suggest the involvement of NCX in the regulation of hyperactivation. However, direct evidence of the presence and functionality of NCX in hamster spermatozoa is still lacking. This study aimed to reveal that NCX is present and is functional in hamster spermatozoa. First, NCX1 and NCX2 transcripts were detected via RNA-seq analyses of hamster testis mRNAs, but only the NCX1 protein was detected. Next, NCX activity was determined by measuring the Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx using the Ca2+ indicator Fura-2. The Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx was detected in hamster spermatozoa, notably in the tail region. The Na+-dependent Ca2+ influx was inhibited by the NCX inhibitor SEA0400 at NCX1-specific concentrations. NCX1 activity was reduced after 3 h of incubation in capacitating conditions. These results, together with authors' previous study, showed that hamster spermatozoa possesses functional NCX1 and that its activity was downregulated upon capacitation to trigger hyperactivation. This is the first study to successfully reveal the presence of NCX1 and its physiological function as a hyperactivation brake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen L Takei
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
| | - Yuhei Ogura
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Ujihara
- Department of Electrical and Mechanical Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, Nagoya Institute of Technology, Nagoya 466-8555, Japan
| | - Fubito Toyama
- School of Engineering, Utsunomiya University, Yoto 7-1-2, Utsunomiya 321-8585, Japan
| | - Keitaro Hayashi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
| | - Tomoe Fujita
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Dokkyo Medical University, 880 Kitakobayashi, Mibu, Tochigi 321-0293, Japan
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11
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Oliveira CS, Silva MVGBD, Quintão CC, Otto PI, Alonso RV, Feres LF, Panetto JCDC, Machado MA, Camargo LSDA. Imputation accuracy for genomic selection using embryo biopsy samples in Gir. Reprod Biol 2023; 23:100765. [PMID: 37150127 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2023.100765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 04/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to establish a platform for genomic selection of in vitro-fertilized (IVF) Gir embryos. Multiple displacement amplification (MDA)-based embryo biopsy samples were genotyped, and genomic estimated breeding values (GEBV) for milk yield (305MY) were calculated. The concordance of GEBV and accuracy between embryo biopsies and the respective liveborn were assessed. Imputation was performed using two panels (Z-Chip and Bovine HD, Illumina) based on a database of 73,110 lactating cow's database and pedigree files from 147,131 animals. Biopsied embryos had similar pregnancy rates (39% vs 40%), pregnancy loss rates (18% vs 20%), and pregnancy length compared to Control embryos. After genotyping, low call rate means were detected for biopsy samples compared to the respective calf samples (0.80 vs 0.98). Imputation presented 0.83 (Z-Chip) and 0.96 (HD) accuracy (CORRanim). Embryo GEBV accuracy levels were higher in BovineHD imputation (0.82) than Z-Chip imputation (0.55) or no imputation (0.62), and the correlation between embryo/calf pairs' accuracy was 0.85 for BovineHD imputation, 0.11 for Z-Chip imputation, and 0.02 for no imputation. GEVB estimates correlation between embryo/calf pairs was 0.87 for BovineHD imputation, 0.80 for Z-Chip imputation, and 0.41 before imputation. The call rate of embryo samples did not affect the correlation between embryo/calf pairs for accuracy and GEBV before and after BovineHD imputation. Embryos obtained on the same farm presented GEBV 305MY differences of up to 800 kg, emphasizing the expected impact of embryo genomic selection for the Gir breed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Slade Oliveira
- Embrapa Dairy Cattle, 610 Eugenio do Nascimento Ave., Juiz de Fora, MG 36038-330, Brazil.
| | | | | | - Pamela Itajara Otto
- Embrapa Dairy Cattle, 610 Eugenio do Nascimento Ave., Juiz de Fora, MG 36038-330, Brazil; Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, 1000 Roraima Ave., Santa Maria, RS 97105-900, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Fernando Feres
- Jose do Rosario Vellano University (UNIFENAS), MG 179Rd., Alfenas, MG 37132-440, Brazil
| | | | - Marco Antonio Machado
- Embrapa Dairy Cattle, 610 Eugenio do Nascimento Ave., Juiz de Fora, MG 36038-330, Brazil
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12
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Tourzani DA, Yin Q, Jackson EA, Rando OJ, Visconti PE, Gervasi MG. Sperm Energy Restriction and Recovery (SER) Alters Epigenetic Marks during the First Cell Cycle of Development in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:640. [PMID: 36614081 PMCID: PMC9820464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) treatment developed in our laboratory was shown to improve fertilization and blastocyst development following in vitro fertilization (IVF) in mice. Here, we investigated the effects of SER on early embryogenesis. Developmental events observed during the first cell cycle indicated that progression through the pronuclear stages of SER-generated embryos is advanced in comparison with control-generated embryos. These findings prompted further analysis of potential effects of SER on pronuclear chromatin dynamics, focusing on the key H3K4me3 and H3K27ac histone modifications. Nearly all the SER-generated embryos displayed H3K4me3 in the male pronuclei at 12 h post-insemination (HPI), while a subset of the control-generated embryos did not. Additionally, SER-generated embryos displayed a more homogenous intensity of H3K27ac at 8 and 12 HPI compared to control embryos. These changes in histone modifications during the first cell cycle were accompanied by differences in gene expression at the two-cell stage; both of these changes in early embryos could potentially play a role in the improved developmental outcomes of these embryos later in development. Our results indicate that sperm incubation conditions have an impact on early embryo development and can be useful for the improvement of assisted reproductive technology outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qiangzong Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Erica A. Jackson
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Oliver J. Rando
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Maria G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
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13
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Briski O, Salamone DF. Past, present and future of ICSI in livestock species. Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106925. [PMID: 35148927 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.106925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
During the past 2 decades, intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has become a routine technique for clinical applications in humans. The widespread use among domestic species, however, has been limited to horses. In horses, ICSI is used to reproduce elite individuals and, as well as in humans, to mitigate or even circumvent reproductive barriers. Failures in superovulation and conventional in vitro fertilization (IVF) have been the main reason for the use of this technology in horses. In pigs, ICSI has been successfully used to produce transgenic animals. A series of factors have resulted in implementation of ICSI in pigs: need to use zygotes for numerous technologies, complexity of collecting zygotes surgically, and problems of polyspermy when there is utilization of IVF procedures. Nevertheless, there have been very few additional reports confirming positive results with the use of ICSI in pigs. The ICSI procedure could be important for use in cattle of high genetic value by maximizing semen utilization, as well as for utilization of spermatozoa from prepubertal bulls, by providing the opportunity to shorten the generation interval. When attempting to utilize ICSI in ruminants, there are some biological limitations that need to be overcome if this procedure is going to be efficacious for making genetic improvements in livestock in the future. In this review article, there is an overview and projection of the methodologies and applications that are envisioned for ICSI utilization in these species in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- O Briski
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Departamento de Producción Animal, Buenos Aires, Laboratorio Biotecnología Animal (LabBA), Av. San Martin 4453, Ciudad Autónoma de, Buenos Aires 1417, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D F Salamone
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Agronomía, Departamento de Producción Animal, Buenos Aires, Laboratorio Biotecnología Animal (LabBA), Av. San Martin 4453, Ciudad Autónoma de, Buenos Aires 1417, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires, Instituto de Investigaciones en Producción Animal (INPA), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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14
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Bovine ICSI: limiting factors, strategies to improve its efficiency and alternative approaches. ZYGOTE 2022; 30:749-767. [PMID: 36082429 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199422000296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technique mainly used to overcome severe infertility problems associated with the male factor, but in cattle its efficiency is far from optimal. Artificial activation treatments combining ionomycin (Io) with 6-dimethylaminopurine after piezo-ICSI or anisomycin after conventional ICSI have recently increased the blastocyst rate obtained. Compounds to capacitate bovine spermatozoa, such as heparin and methyl-β-cyclodextrin and compounds to destabilize sperm membranes such as NaOH, lysolecithin and Triton X-100, have been assessed, although they have failed to substantially improve post-ICSI embryonic development. Disulfide bond reducing agents, such as dithiothreitol (DTT), dithiobutylamine and reduced glutathione, have been assessed to decondense the hypercondensed head of bovine spermatozoa, the two latter being more efficient than DTT and less harmful. Although piezo-directed ICSI without external activation has generated high fertilization rates and modest rates of early embryo development, other studies have required exogenous activation to improve the results. This manuscript thoroughly reviews the different strategies used in bovine ICSI to improve its efficiency and proposes some alternative approaches, such as the use of extracellular vesicles (EVs) as 'biological methods of oocyte activation' or the incorporation of EVs in the in vitro maturation and/or culture medium as antioxidant defence agents to improve the competence of the ooplasm, as well as a preincubation of the spermatozoa in estrous oviductal fluid to induce physiological capacitation and acrosome reaction before ICSI, and the use of hyaluronate in the sperm immobilization medium.
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15
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Amaral A. Energy metabolism in mammalian sperm motility. WIREs Mech Dis 2022; 14:e1569. [DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Revised: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Amaral
- Department of Developmental Genetics Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics Berlin Germany
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16
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Dahan T, Breitbart H. Involvement of metabolic pathway in the sperm spontaneous acrosome reaction. Theriogenology 2022; 192:38-44. [PMID: 36044805 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to fertilize the egg, spermatozoa must undergo a series of biochemical processes in the female reproductive tract collectively called capacitation. Only capacitated sperm can interact with the egg resulting in the acrosome reaction (AR), allowing egg penetration and fertilization. Sperm can undergo spontaneous AR (sAR) before reaching the egg, preventing successful fertilization. Here we investigated the metabolic pathways involved in sperm capacitation and sAR. Inhibition of glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation did not affect capacitation or sAR levels; however, when both systems were inhibited, no capacitation occurred, and there was a significant increase in sAR. Under such ATP-starvation, the increase in sAR is triggered by Ca2+ influx into the sperm via the CatSper cation channel. Protein kinase A (PKA) is an essential key enzyme in sperm capacitation; there was no change in its activity when a single metabolic system was inhibited, while complete inhibition of was observed when the two systems were inhibited. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP), also known to occur in sperm capacitation, was partially reduced by inhibition of one metabolic system, and completely blocked when the two metabolic systems were inhibited. We conclude that ATP, PKA and PTP are involved in the mechanisms protecting sperm from sAR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsipora Dahan
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Haim Breitbart
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel.
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17
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Yang F, Gracia Gervasi M, Orta G, Tourzani DA, De la Vega-Beltrán JL, Ruthel G, Darszon A, Visconti PE, Wang PJ. C2CD6 regulates targeting and organization of the CatSper calcium channel complex in sperm flagella. Development 2022; 149:dev199988. [PMID: 34919125 PMCID: PMC8774747 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The CatSper cation channel is essential for sperm capacitation and male fertility. The multi-subunit CatSper complexes form highly organized calcium signaling nanodomains on flagellar membranes. Here, we report identification of an uncharacterized protein, C2CD6, as a subunit of the mouse CatSper complex. C2CD6 contains a calcium-dependent, membrane-targeting C2 domain. C2CD6 associates with the CatSper calcium-selective, core-forming subunits. Deficiency of C2CD6 depletes the CatSper nanodomains from the flagellum and results in male sterility. C2CD6-deficient sperm are defective in hyperactivation and fail to fertilize oocytes both in vitro and in vivo. CatSper currents are present but at a significantly lower level in C2CD6-deficient sperm. Transient treatments with either Ca2+ ionophore, starvation, or a combination of both restore the fertilization capacity of C2CD6-deficient sperm. C2CD6 interacts with EFCAB9, a pH-dependent calcium sensor in the CatSper complex. We postulate that C2CD6 facilitates incorporation of the CatSper complex into the flagellar plasma membrane and may function as a calcium sensor. The identification of C2CD6 may enable the long-sought reconstitution of the CatSper ion channel complex in a heterologous system for male contraceptive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jose Luis De la Vega-Beltrán
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Gordon Ruthel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - P. Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
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18
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Gonzalez SN, Sulzyk V, Weigel Muñoz M, Cuasnicu PS. Cysteine-Rich Secretory Proteins (CRISP) are Key Players in Mammalian Fertilization and Fertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:800351. [PMID: 34970552 PMCID: PMC8712725 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.800351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian fertilization is a complex process involving a series of successive sperm-egg interaction steps mediated by different molecules and mechanisms. Studies carried out during the past 30 years, using a group of proteins named CRISP (Cysteine-RIch Secretory Proteins), have significantly contributed to elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying mammalian gamete interaction. The CRISP family is composed of four members (i.e., CRISP1-4) in mammals, mainly expressed in the male tract, present in spermatozoa and exhibiting Ca2+ channel regulatory abilities. Biochemical, molecular and genetic approaches show that each CRISP protein participates in more than one stage of gamete interaction (i.e., cumulus penetration, sperm-ZP binding, ZP penetration, gamete fusion) by either ligand-receptor interactions or the regulation of several capacitation-associated events (i.e., protein tyrosine phosphorylation, acrosome reaction, hyperactivation, etc.) likely through their ability to regulate different sperm ion channels. Moreover, deletion of different numbers and combination of Crisp genes leading to the generation of single, double, triple and quadruple knockout mice showed that CRISP proteins are essential for male fertility and are involved not only in gamete interaction but also in previous and subsequent steps such as sperm transport within the female tract and early embryo development. Collectively, these observations reveal that CRISP have evolved to perform redundant as well as specialized functions and are organized in functional modules within the family that work through independent pathways and contribute distinctly to fertility success. Redundancy and compensation mechanisms within protein families are particularly important for spermatozoa which are transcriptionally and translationally inactive cells carrying numerous protein families, emphasizing the importance of generating multiple knockout models to unmask the true functional relevance of family proteins. Considering the high sequence and functional homology between rodent and human CRISP proteins, these observations will contribute to a better understanding and diagnosis of human infertility as well as the development of new contraceptive options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Patricia S. Cuasnicu
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
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19
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Marín-Briggiler CI, Luque GM, Gervasi MG, Oscoz-Susino N, Sierra JM, Mondillo C, Salicioni AM, Krapf D, Visconti PE, Buffone MG. Human Sperm Remain Motile After a Temporary Energy Restriction but do Not Undergo Capacitation-Related Events. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:777086. [PMID: 34869380 PMCID: PMC8633110 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.777086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To acquire fertilization competence, mammalian sperm must undergo several biochemical and physiological modifications known as capacitation. Despite its relevance, the metabolic pathways that regulate the capacitation-related events, including the development of hyperactivated motility, are still poorly described. Previous studies from our group have shown that temporary energy restriction in mouse sperm enhanced hyperactivation, in vitro fertilization, early embryo development and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer, and it improved intracytoplasmic sperm injection results in the bovine model. However, the effects of starvation and energy recovery protocols on human sperm function have not yet been established. In the present work, human sperm were incubated for different periods of time in medium containing glucose, pyruvate and lactate (NUTR) or devoid of nutrients for the starving condition (STRV). Sperm maintained in STRV displayed reduced percentages of motility and kinematic parameters compared to cells incubated in NUTR medium. Moreover, they did not undergo hyperactivation and showed reduced levels of ATP, cAMP and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Similar to our results with mouse sperm, starvation induced increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Starved human sperm were capable to continue moving for more than 27 h, but the incubation with a mitochondrial uncoupler or inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation led to a complete motility loss. When exogenous nutrients were added back (sperm energy recovery (SER) treatment), hyperactivated motility was rescued and there was a rise in sperm ATP and cAMP levels in 1 min, with a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and no changes in sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The finding that human sperm can remain motile for several hours under starvation due to mitochondrial use of endogenous metabolites implies that other metabolic pathways may play a role in sperm energy production. In addition, full recovery of motility and other capacitation parameters of human sperm after SER suggests that this treatment might be used to modulate human sperm fertilizing ability in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillermina M. Luque
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Natalia Oscoz-Susino
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jessica M. Sierra
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Mondillo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana M. Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Darío Krapf
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Mariano G. Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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20
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Takei GL, Tourzani DA, Paudel B, Visconti PE. Activation of cAMP-dependent phosphorylation pathways is independent of ROS production during mouse sperm capacitation. Mol Reprod Dev 2021; 88:544-557. [PMID: 34318548 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm have to undergo capacitation to fertilize the egg. At the molecular level, capacitation involves cAMP synthesis, protein kinase A activation, and downstream increase in tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, during capacitation, mammalian sperm actively generate reactive oxygen species (ROS). It has been proposed that ROS modulate phosphorylation pathways; however, the crosstalk between these signaling processes is not well-understood. In the present study, we used loss- and gain-of-function approaches to evaluate the interconnection between ROS and phosphorylation. We showed that BSA and HCO3 - , but not Ca2+ , in the capacitation media are required for ROS production. The synergic effect of these compounds was neither mediated by HCO3 - stimulation of cAMP synthesis nor by BSA-induced cholesterol efflux. The capacitation-induced ROS generation was blocked in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase, and apocynin. However, none of these compounds affected cAMP-dependent or tyrosine phosphorylation. On the other hand, the addition of NADPH to the media induced ROS generation in sperm incubated in the absence of BSA and HCO3 - without upregulating cAMP-dependent or tyrosine phosphorylation signaling. Most interestingly, catalase, but not SOD, blocked in vitro fertilization suggesting a role for H2 O2 in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gen L Takei
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Darya A Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bidur Paudel
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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21
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Sánchez-Cárdenas C, Romarowski A, Orta G, De la Vega-Beltrán JL, Martín-Hidalgo D, Hernández-Cruz A, Visconti PE, Darszon A. Starvation induces an increase in intracellular calcium and potentiates the progesterone-induced mouse sperm acrosome reaction. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21528. [PMID: 33742713 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100122r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 02/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
We have recently reported two different methodologies that improve sperm functionality. The first method involved transient exposure to the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 , and the second required sperm incubation in the absence of energy nutrients (starvation). Both methods were associated with an initial loss of motility followed by a rescue step involving ionophore removal or addition of energy metabolites, respectively. In this work, we show that starvation is accompanied by an increase in intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+ ]i ). Additionally, the starved cells acquire a significantly enhanced capacity to undergo a progesterone-induced acrosome reaction. Electrophysiological measurements show that CatSper channel remains active in starvation conditions. However, the increase in [Ca2+ ]i was also observed in sperm from CatSper null mice. Upon starvation, addition of energy nutrients reversed the effects on [Ca2+ ]i and decreased the effect of progesterone on the acrosome reaction to control levels. These data indicate that both methods have common molecular features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Sánchez-Cárdenas
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Ana Romarowski
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | - José Luis De la Vega-Beltrán
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | - David Martín-Hidalgo
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA.,Research Group of Intracellular Signalling and Technology of Reproduction (Research Institute INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Arturo Hernández-Cruz
- Departamento de Neurociencia Cognitiva and Laboratorio Nacional de Canalopatías, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Ciudad Universitaria, México, México
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
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22
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Alves LQ, Ruivo R, Valente R, Fonseca MM, Machado AM, Plön S, Monteiro N, García-Parraga D, Ruiz-Díaz S, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Castro LFC. A drastic shift in the energetic landscape of toothed whale sperm cells. Curr Biol 2021; 31:3648-3655.e9. [PMID: 34171300 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2021.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa are a notable example of metabolic compartmentalization.1 Energy in the form of ATP production, vital for motility, capacitation, and fertilization, is subcellularly separated in sperm cells. While glycolysis provides a local, rapid, and low-yielding input of ATP along the flagellum fibrous sheath, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), far more efficient over a longer time frame, is concentrated in the midpiece mitochondria.2 The relative weight of glycolysis and OXPHOS pathways in sperm function is variable among species and sensitive to oxygen and substrate availability.3-5 Besides partitioning energy production, sperm cell energetics display an additional singularity: the occurrence of sperm-specific gene duplicates and alternative spliced variants, with conserved function but structurally bound to the flagellar fibrous sheath.6,7 The wider selective forces driving the compartmentalization and adaptability of this energy system in mammalian species remain largely unknown, much like the impact of ecosystem resource availability (e.g., carbohydrates, fatty acids, and proteins) and dietary adaptations in reproductive physiology traits.8 Here, we investigated the Cetacea, an iconic group of fully aquatic and carnivorous marine mammals, evolutionarily related to extant terrestrial herbivores.9 In this lineage, episodes of profound trait remodeling have been accompanied by clear genomic signatures.10-14 We show that toothed whales exhibit impaired sperm glycolysis, due to gene and exon erosion, and demonstrate that dolphin spermatozoa motility depends on endogenous fatty acid β-oxidation, but not carbohydrates. Such unique energetic rewiring substantiates the observation of large mitochondria in toothed whale spermatozoa and emphasizes the radical physiological reorganization imposed by the transition to a carbohydrate-depleted marine environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Q Alves
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Raquel Ruivo
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - Raul Valente
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Miguel M Fonseca
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal
| | - André M Machado
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal
| | - Stephanie Plön
- Department of Pathology, Stellenbosch University, PO Box 241, Cape Town 8000, South Africa
| | - Nuno Monteiro
- FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; CIBIO - Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, Campus Agrário de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, Portugal
| | - David García-Parraga
- Veterinary Services, L'Oceanográfic, Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias, Junta de Murs i Vals, s/n, 46013 Valencia, Spain
| | - Sara Ruiz-Díaz
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Mistral Fertility Clinics S.L., Clínica Tambre, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Departamento de Reproducción Animal, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - L Filipe C Castro
- CIMAR/CIIMAR - Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto, Avenida General Norton de Matos, S/N, 4450-208 Matosinhos, Portugal; FCUP - Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto (U. Porto), Rua do Campo Alegre, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal.
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23
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Lombó M, Ruiz-Díaz S, Gutiérrez-Adán A, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ. Sperm Metabolomics through Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061669. [PMID: 34205204 PMCID: PMC8227655 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-NMR) is of special interest for the analysis of metabolites present in seminal plasma and spermatozoa. This metabolomic approach has been used to identify the presence of new biomarkers or their proportions in a non-invasive manner and is, therefore, an interesting tool for male fertility diagnosis. In this paper, we review current knowledge of the use of 1 H-NMR to examine sperm metabolomics in different species with special attention paid to humans and farm animals. We also describe the use of 1 H-NMR to establish a possible relationship between the mammalian diet and the presence of certain hydrophilic and lipophilic metabolites in spermatozoa. Abstract This report reviews current knowledge of sperm metabolomics analysis using proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1 H-NMR) with particular emphasis on human and farm animals. First, we present the benefits of NMR over other techniques to identify sperm metabolites and then describe the specific methodology required for NMR sperm analysis, stressing the importance of analyzing metabolites extracted from both the hydrophilic and lipophilic phases. This is followed by a description of advances produced to date in the use of NMR to diagnose infertility in humans and to identify metabolic differences among the sperm of mammalian herbivore, carnivore, and omnivore species. This last application of NMR mainly seeks to explore the possible use of lipids to fuel sperm physiology, contrary to previous theories that glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) are the only sources of sperm energy. This review describes the use of NMR to identify sperm and seminal plasma metabolites as possible indicators of semen quality, and to examine the metabolites needed to maintain sperm motility, induce their capacitation, and consequently, to predict animal fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Lombó
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (S.R.-D.); (A.G.-A.)
| | - Sara Ruiz-Díaz
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (S.R.-D.); (A.G.-A.)
- Mistral Fertility Clinics S.L., Clínica Tambre, 28002 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alfonso Gutiérrez-Adán
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (S.R.-D.); (A.G.-A.)
| | - María-Jesús Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Av. Puerta de Hierro, 18, 28040 Madrid, Spain; (M.L.); (S.R.-D.); (A.G.-A.)
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University Complutense of Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Correspondence:
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24
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Chen S, Yang W, Zhang X, Jin J, Liang C, Wang J, Zhang J. Melamine induces reproductive dysfunction via down-regulated the phosphorylation of p38 and downstream transcription factors Max and Sap1a in mice testes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:144727. [PMID: 33736362 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Melamine poisoning incidents and potential health risks raise global attention. Recent studies imply that melamine exposure is related to male reproductive dysfunction, however, the underlying mechanisms are unclear. In this study, 32 male Kunming mice were administered with 0, 12.5, 25, and 50 mg/L melamine via drinking water for 13 weeks, respectively. Sperm quality, testicular morphology, and the mRNA expression levels of MAPK family members p38, ERK5, ERK1/2, JNK1/2/3 and their downstream transcription factors GADD153, MAX, MEF2C, CREB, c-Myc, JunD, c-JUN, Sap1a, p53, ATF-2, Elk1, and Nur77 in testes were investigated. The results revealed that low-dose melamine exposure reduced sperm quality, altered the testicular histological structure, and reduced the mRNA expression levels of p38, ERK1/2, MAX and Sap1a in the testes. The p38 and phosphorylated-p38 expressions analysis further suggested that the down-regulated phosphorylation of p38 and downstream transcription factors MAX and Sap1a play key roles in male reproductive dysfunction caused by melamine. Altogether, our study provides a new insight to elucidate the underlying mechanisms by which melamine induces male reproductive toxicity, and to evaluate the health risks of melamine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuming Chen
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Wei Yang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Xiaoyan Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Jiyin Jin
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Chen Liang
- College of Animal Science, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Jundong Wang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China
| | - Jianhai Zhang
- Shanxi Key Laboratory of Ecological Animal Science and Environmental Veterinary Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu, Shanxi 030801, PR China.
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25
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Crean AJ, Immler S. Evolutionary consequences of environmental effects on gamete performance. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2021; 376:20200122. [PMID: 33866815 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2020.0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Variation in pre- and post-release gamete environments can influence evolutionary processes by altering fertilization outcomes and offspring traits. It is now widely accepted that offspring inherit epigenetic information from both their mothers and fathers. Genetic and epigenetic alterations to eggs and sperm-acquired post-release may also persist post-fertilization with consequences for offspring developmental success and later-life fitness. In externally fertilizing species, gametes are directly exposed to anthropogenically induced environmental impacts including pollution, ocean acidification and climate change. When fertilization occurs within the female reproductive tract, although gametes are at least partially protected from external environmental variation, the selective environment is likely to vary among females. In both scenarios, gamete traits and selection on gametes can be influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature and pollution as well as intrinsic factors such as male and female reproductive fluids, which may be altered by changes in male and female health and physiology. Here, we highlight some of the pathways through which changes in gamete environments can affect fertilization dynamics, gamete interactions and ultimately offspring fitness. We hope that by drawing attention to this important yet often overlooked source of variation, we will inspire future research into the evolutionary implications of anthropogenic interference of gamete environments including the use of assisted reproductive technologies. This article is part of the theme issue 'How does epigenetics influence the course of evolution?'
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela J Crean
- Charles Perkins Centre, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Simone Immler
- School of Biological Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, UK
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26
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Xie M, Zhang G, Zhang H, Chen F, Chen Y, Zhuang Y, Huang Z, Zou F, Liu M, An G, Kang X, Chen Z. Adenylate kinase 1 deficiency disrupts mouse sperm motility under conditions of energy stress†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1121-1131. [PMID: 32744313 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian spermatozoa are highly polarized cells characterized by compartmentalized cellular structures and energy metabolism. Adenylate kinase (AK), which interconverts two ADP molecules into stoichiometric amounts of ATP and AMP, plays a critical role in buffering adenine nucleotides throughout the tail to support flagellar motility. Yet the role of the major AK isoform, AK1, is still not well characterized. Here, by using a proteomic analysis of testis biopsy samples, we found that AK1 levels were significantly decreased in nonobstructive azoospermia patients. This result was further verified by immunohistochemical staining of AK1 on a tissue microarray. AK1 was found to be expressed in post-meiotic round and elongated spermatids in mouse testis and subsequent mature sperm in the epididymis. We then generated Ak1 knockout mice, which showed that AK1 deficiency did not induce any defects in testis development, spermatogenesis, or sperm morphology and motility under physiological conditions. We further investigated detergent-modeled epididymal sperm and included individual or mixed adenine nucleotides to mimic energy stress. When only ADP was available, Ak1 disruption largely compromised sperm motility, manifested as a smaller beating amplitude and higher beating frequency, which resulted in less effective forward swimming. The energy restriction/recover experiments with intact sperm further addressed this finding. Besides, decreased AK activity was observed in sperm of a male fertility disorder mouse model induced by cadmium chloride. These results cumulatively demonstrate that AK1 was dispensable for testis development, spermatogenesis, or sperm motility under physiological conditions, but was required for sperm to maintain a constant adenylate energy charge to support sperm motility under conditions of energy stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minyu Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guofei Zhang
- Department of Urology, Nanhai Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Hanbin Zhang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feilong Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuge Zhuang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zicong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Feng Zou
- Department of Urology, Nanhai Hospital, Southern Medical University, Foshan, China
| | - Min Liu
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Geng An
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiangjin Kang
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Third Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenguo Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Construction and Detection in Tissue Engineering, Department of Cell Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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27
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Rodríguez-Tobón E, Fierro R, González-Márquez H, García-Vázquez FA, Arenas-Ríos E. Boar sperm incubation with reduced glutathione (GSH) differentially modulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation patterns and reorganization of calcium in sperm, in vitro fertilization, and embryo development depending on concentrations. Res Vet Sci 2020; 135:386-396. [PMID: 33153763 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2020.10.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The sperm in the female's reproductive tract undergo changes to fertilize the oocyte (sperm capacitation). These changes are regulated by redox system. However, some assisted reproductive technologies require sperm capacitation under in vitro conditions, though this increases the generation of ROS. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of GSH as an antioxidant agent during the capacitation of boar sperm [evaluated by calcium compartmentalization, tyrosine phosphorylation (Tyr-P), motility, viability, and acrosomal integrity], in vitro fertilization (evaluated by penetration, monospermy, and efficiency %), and later embryo development (evaluated by cleavage and blastocyst rates, total number of cells per blastocyst and blastocyst diameter). Four experimental groups with different GSH concentrations (0-control, 0.5, 1, and 5 mM) were formed. When 1-GSH was added to the medium, the percentage of capacitated sperm increased after 4 h of incubation; the localization of Tyr-P was modified at 1 h and 4 h of incubation depending on the GSH concentration. Percentages of total and progressive sperm motility also increased at 4 h of incubation, but only in the 5-GSH group compared to control. Viability, acrosomal integrity, and general Tyr-P (Western blot) not differ among the experimental groups. The addition of GSH during gamete interaction increased penetration, monospermy, and efficiency rates in the 1-GSH group compared to the others. However, the effect of GSH was not observed in cleavage and blastocyst rates compared to the control. In conclusion, adding GSH modulates sperm capacitation (by means of calcium compartmentalization and tyrosine phosphorilation pattern) depending on its concentration, and improves IVF output at 1-GSH during gamete interaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernesto Rodríguez-Tobón
- Doctorado en Ciencias Biológicas y de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Unidad Iztapalapa, CDMX, Mexico
| | - Reyna Fierro
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Iztapalapa, CDMX, Mexico.
| | - Humberto González-Márquez
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Unidad Iztapalapa, CDMX, Mexico.
| | - Francisco A García-Vázquez
- Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Campus Internacional de Excelencia para la educación superior e investigación "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Murcia, Spain; Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (IMIB-Arrixaca), Murcia, Spain.
| | - Edith Arenas-Ríos
- Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción, Unidad Iztapalapa, CDMX, Mexico.
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28
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Curci L, Brukman NG, Weigel Muñoz M, Rojo D, Carvajal G, Sulzyk V, Gonzalez SN, Rubinstein M, Da Ros VG, Cuasnicú PS. Functional redundancy and compensation: Deletion of multiple murine Crisp genes reveals their essential role for male fertility. FASEB J 2020; 34:15718-15733. [PMID: 33037689 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202001406r] [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: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian Cysteine-RIch Secretory Protein (CRISP) family includes four members present in sperm and reported to regulate Ca2+ channels and fertilization. Based on our previous observations using single knockouts models and suggesting the existence of functional compensation among CRISP proteins, we investigated their relevance for male fertility by generating multiple Crisp gene mutants by CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Whereas targeting of Crisp1 and Crisp3 yielded subfertile males with early embryo developmental defects, the same deletion in zygotes from fertile Crisp2-/- .Crisp4-/- mice led to the generation of both triple and quadruple knockout mice exhibiting a complete or severe disruption of male fertility due to a combination of sperm transport, fertilization, and embryo developmental defects linked to intracellular Ca2+ dysregulation. These observations reveal that CRISP proteins are essential for male fertility and organize in functional modules that contribute distinctly to fertility success, bringing insights into the mechanisms underlying functional redundancy/compensation in protein families and emphasizing the importance of generating multiple and not just single knockout which might be masking the true functional relevance of family genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Curci
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - N G Brukman
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Weigel Muñoz
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - D Rojo
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - G Carvajal
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V Sulzyk
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - S N Gonzalez
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - M Rubinstein
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - V G Da Ros
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - P S Cuasnicú
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IByME-CONICET), Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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29
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Hidalgo DM, Romarowski A, Gervasi MG, Navarrete F, Balbach M, Salicioni AM, Levin LR, Buck J, Visconti PE. Capacitation increases glucose consumption in murine sperm. Mol Reprod Dev 2020; 87:1037-1047. [PMID: 32914502 DOI: 10.1002/mrd.23421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Accepted: 08/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Mammalian sperm acquire fertilization capacity in the female reproductive tract in a process known as capacitation. During capacitation, sperm change their motility pattern (i.e., hyperactivation) and become competent to undergo the acrosome reaction. We have recently shown that, in the mouse, sperm capacitation is associated with increased uptake of fluorescently labeled deoxyglucose and with extracellular acidification suggesting enhanced glycolysis. Consistently, in the present work we showed that glucose consumption is enhanced in media that support mouse sperm capacitation suggesting upregulation of glucose metabolic pathways. The increase in glucose consumption was modulated by bicarbonate and blocked by protein kinase A and soluble adenylyl cyclase inhibitors. Moreover, permeable cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) agonists increase glucose consumption in sperm incubated in conditions that do not support capacitation. Also, the increase in glucose consumption was reduced when sperm were incubated in low calcium conditions. Interestingly, this reduction was not overcome with cAMP agonists. Despite these findings, glucose consumption of sperm from Catsper1 knockout mice was similar to the one from wild type suggesting that other sources of calcium are also relevant. Altogether, these results suggest that cAMP and calcium pathways are involved in the regulation of glycolytic energy pathways during murine sperm capacitation.
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Affiliation(s)
- David M Hidalgo
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.,Research Group of Intracellular Signaling and Technology of Reproduction (SINTREP), Institute of Biotechnology in Agriculture and Livestock (INBIO G+C), University of Extremadura, Caceres, Spain
| | - Ana Romarowski
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - María G Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Felipe Navarrete
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Melanie Balbach
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell New York, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Ana M Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lonny R Levin
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell New York, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Jochen Buck
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell New York, New York City, New York, USA
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
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Roldan ERS. Assessments of sperm quality integrating morphology, swimming patterns, bioenergetics and cell signalling. Theriogenology 2020; 150:388-395. [PMID: 32093962 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.02.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Spermatozoa are diverse in form and function and these differences impact on their fertilizing capacity. Because of considerable inter-male and inter-species differences in sperm traits, assessments of sperm quality demand that we consider variations at different levels. We should thus pay attention not only to average values but also intra- and inter-sperm population variations and subpopulation structure. Sperm shape and size evolve in reponse to postcopulatory sexual selection. Assessments of morphological variation, with conventional microscopy or with computer-assisted systems, should bear this in mind. In rodents sperm head shape is asymmetric so it requires more complex tools, such as geometric morphometrics. Sperm function also evolves under postcopulatory sexual selection and this could be used as a basis to assess sperm performance. Sperm cells swim actively to overcome barriers in the female tract and develop a peculiar motility pattern in the final stages prior to and during fertilization. Both types of movement can be analyzed by computer-assisted microscopy systems. Sperm have high energetic demands for cell homeostasis, motility, and signalling. Bioenergetics can be analyzed by various means, including extracellular flux analyses to characterize glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration. Finally, cell signalling during capacitation has received much attention and can be assessed by microscopy (conventional or computer-assisted) or flow cytometry. Recent advances in image-flow cytometry affords analyses of high cell numbers with spatial localization of subcellular changes, which will have a big impact in the development of functional tests for the andrology clinic and in sperm preservation and use in artificial insemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo R S Roldan
- Department of Biodiversity and Evolutionary Biology, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC), c/José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
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Ruiz-Díaz S, Luongo C, Fuentes-Albero MC, Abril-Sánchez S, Sánchez-Calabuig MJ, Barros-García C, De la Fe C, García-Galán A, Ros-Santaella JL, Pintus E, Garcia-Párraga D, García-Vázquez FA. Effect of temperature and cell concentration on dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) spermatozoa quality evaluated at different days of refrigeration. Anim Reprod Sci 2019; 212:106248. [PMID: 31864493 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2019.106248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2019] [Revised: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The use of cryopreserved dolphin spermatozoa facilitates the exchange of genetic material between aquatic parks and makes spermatozoa accessible to laboratories for studies to further our understanding of marine mammal reproduction. Sperm cryopreservation in the bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) has been developed for the exchange of gametes within the ex situ population. The aim of this study was to develop an effective method for refrigeration of bottlenose dolphin spermatozoa diluted in a commercial extender (BTS). In Experiment 1, the effect of temperature (5 compared with 15 °C) on sperm quality was evaluated during 7 days of storage at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml. In Experiment 2, the effect of the storage concentration (100 × 106 compared with 20 × 106 spermatozoa/ml) on sperm quality was assessed during 7 days of storage at 5 °C. In Experiment 1, total motility (including % of rapid sperm) was greater at 5 than 15 °C. When the effect of storage concentration was evaluated (Experiment 2), total motility and ALH were greater at the higher storage concentration (100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml). For both experiments, values for viability, acrosome integrity, and normal morphology variables were consistent throughout the 7 days of refrigeration. In Experiment 3, a microbiological study was performed to evaluate the effect of the refrigeration temperature and days of storage on bacterial growth. The results of microbiological analysis indicated there was Staphylococcus aureus in some samples, however, there was no effect of temperature or days of refrigeration. In conclusion, bottlenose dolphin semen can be refrigerated for a short to medium period of storage and there is maintenance of functionality of sperm when stored at 100 × 106 spermatozoa/ml at 5 °C.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Ruiz-Díaz
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | - C Luongo
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | | | - S Abril-Sánchez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain
| | - M J Sánchez-Calabuig
- Department of Animal Reproduction, INIA, Madrid, Spain; Department of Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Madrid, Spain
| | - C Barros-García
- Biology Department, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - C De la Fe
- Ruminant Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n., 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - A García-Galán
- Ruminant Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Regional Campus of International Excellence "Campus Mare Nostrum", Universidad de Murcia, Campus de Espinardo s/n., 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - J L Ros-Santaella
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - E Pintus
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká 129, 165 00, Praha 6-Suchdol, Czech Republic
| | - D Garcia-Párraga
- Biology Department, Avanqua-Oceanogràfic S.L, 46013, Valencia, Spain; Research Department, Fundación Oceanogràfic, 46013, Valencia, Spain
| | - F A García-Vázquez
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Murcia, Campus Mare Nostrum, Spain.
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