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Kafi A, Khalid M, Herath T, Kershaw C. Cysteine supplementation pre-freeze and post-thaw improves integrity and reduces oxidative stress in cryopreserved ram spermatozoa. Cryobiology 2024; 114:104854. [PMID: 38286327 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104854] [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: 08/05/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024]
Abstract
Cryopreserved ram sperm is highly sensitive to oxidative stress by reactive oxygen species (ROS) which impair sperm function and integrity. Antioxidants such as cysteine can mitigate the effect of ROS, although the optimal concentration or timing of supplementation is unknown. This study aimed to determine the effect of concentration and timing of cysteine supplementation on the integrity and function of cryopreserved ram spermatozoa. Nine ejaculates were collected from three Texel rams then cryopreserved and supplemented with cysteine (0, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/mL) added pre-freeze (PF), post-thaw (PT) or pre-freeze and post-thaw (PF + PT) generating seven treatments: 1) control 0 mg/mL, 2) PF 0.5 mg/mL, 3) PF 1 mg/mL, 4) PT 0.5 mg/mL, 5), PT 1.0 mg/mL, 6) PF + PT 0.5 mg/mL and 7) PF + PT 1.0 mg/mL. Sperm motility, viability, acrosome integrity, ROS production and penetrability through artificial cervical mucus were assessed post-thaw. Cysteine supplementation reduced ROS production which thereby improved spermatozoa motility, viability, acrosome integrity and penetrability (p < 0.001) Sperm integrity for all parameters was greatest in spermatozoa treated PF + PT with 1.0 mg/mL cysteine, although treatment pre-freeze or post-thaw also improved integrity beyond the control. This study has identified that 1.0 mg/mL cysteine is most beneficial and has highlighted the importance of preventing oxidative stress in spermatozoa post-thaw. These finding can help to mitigate the detrimental effect of cryopreservation on spermatozoa and aid the development of cryopreservation protocols in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Kafi
- Department of Animal Health, Behavior and Welfare, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
| | - Muhammad Khalid
- Department of Animal Health, Behavior and Welfare, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK
| | - Tharangani Herath
- Department of Animal Health, Behavior and Welfare, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
| | - Claire Kershaw
- Department of Animal Health, Behavior and Welfare, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK.
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Palacin-Martinez C, Anel-Lopez L, Alvarez M, Neila-Montero M, Montes-Garrido R, Soriano-Úbeda C, de Paz P, Anel L, Riesco MF. The characterization of CellROX™ probes could be a crucial factor in ram sperm quality assessment. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1342808. [PMID: 38476170 PMCID: PMC10927726 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1342808] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Several authors have demonstrated that low levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are necessary for the physiological functions of sperm, such as capacitation, hyperactivation, acrosomal reaction and fertilization. However, high levels of ROS are associated with oxidative stress and detrimental effects on fertility. Consequently, deep characterization of ROS presence using different fluorescent probes could be crucial. In this sense, the study of intracellular ROS localization and the relationships between ROS and other conventional parameters could improve the characterization of sperm quality for semen preservation protocols in rams. In this work, a multiparametric study was carried out by analyzing four experimental groups of ram sperm with different initial qualities: fresh semen (from both breeding and nonbreeding seasons), frozen-thawed semen and, a positive control group treated with hydrogen peroxide (300 μM) as a marker of extreme damage. Sperm analyses, including viability, apoptosis, lipid peroxidation, motility and kinetic parameters, were applied to compare several experimental groups with different sperm qualities. After that, the signals from two different ROS probes: CellROX™ Deep Red (CRDR) and Green (CRG), were examined by flow cytometry (percentage of cells that express ROS) and fluorescence microscopy (intracellular ROS location). Comparing conventional parameters, fresh samples from the breeding season showed the highest sperm quality, while the positive control samples showed the worst sperm quality. Concerning the ROS probes, the CRDR levels were higher in fresh samples from the breeding season than in the positive control and cryopreserved samples. Surprisingly, CRG presented its highest level (P < 0.05) in the positive control group treated with peroxide by flow cytometry. CRDR and CRG presented opposite labeling patterns that were corroborated by fluorescence microscopy, which determined that the probes localized in different parts of sperm. CRDR was found in the sperm mitochondrial region, while CRG was observed in the cell nucleus, suggesting that ROS localization is an important factor. Finally, our study indicates that CRDR is correlated with proper viability and sperm motility, and could be associated with high mitochondrial activity, while CRG is associated with sperm damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Palacin-Martinez
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Luis Anel-Lopez
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Anatomy, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Mercedes Alvarez
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Marta Neila-Montero
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Montes-Garrido
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Cristina Soriano-Úbeda
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Paulino de Paz
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Celular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Luis Anel
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Marta F. Riesco
- Investigación en Técnicas de Reproducción Asistida (Itra-ULE), Instituto de Desarrollo Ganadero y Sanidad Animal (INDEGSAL), University of León, León, Spain
- Celular Biology, Department of Molecular Biology, University of León, León, Spain
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Lacalle E, Fernández-Alegre E, Gómez-Giménez B, Álvarez-Rodríguez M, Martín-Fernández B, Soriano-Úbeda C, Martínez-Pastor F. Application of Flow Cytometry Using Advanced Chromatin Analyses for Assessing Changes in Sperm Structure and DNA Integrity in a Porcine Model. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:1953. [PMID: 38396632 PMCID: PMC10888687 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25041953] [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: 12/23/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Chromatin status is critical for sperm fertility and reflects spermatogenic success. We tested a multivariate approach for studying pig sperm chromatin structure to capture its complexity with a set of quick and simple techniques, going beyond the usual assessment of DNA damage. Sperm doses from 36 boars (3 ejaculates/boar) were stored at 17 °C and analyzed on days 0 and 11. Analyses were: CASA (motility) and flow cytometry to assess sperm functionality and chromatin structure by SCSA (%DFI, DNA fragmentation; %HDS, chromatin maturity), monobromobimane (mBBr, tiol status/disulfide bridges between protamines), chromomycin A3 (CMA3, protamination), and 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG, DNA oxidative damage). Data were analyzed using linear models for the effects of boar and storage, correlations, and multivariate analysis as hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA). Storage reduced sperm quality parameters, mainly motility, with no critical oxidative stress increases, while chromatin status worsened slightly (%DFI and 8-oxo-dG increased while mBBr MFI-median fluorescence intensity-and disulfide bridge levels decreased). Boar significantly affected most chromatin variables except CMA3; storage also affected most variables except %HDS. At day 0, sperm chromatin variables clustered closely, except for CMA3, and %HDS and 8-oxo-dG correlated with many variables (notably, mBBr). After storage, the relation between %HDS and 8-oxo-dG remained, but correlations among other variables disappeared, and mBBr variables clustered separately. The PCA suggested a considerable influence of mBBr on sample variance, especially regarding storage, with SCSA and 8-oxo-dG affecting between-sample variability. Overall, CMA3 was the least informative, in contrast with results in other species. The combination of DNA fragmentation, DNA oxidation, chromatin compaction, and tiol status seems a good candidate for obtaining a complete picture of pig sperm nucleus status. It raises many questions for future molecular studies and deserves further research to establish its usefulness as a fertility predictor in multivariate models. The usefulness of CMA3 should be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estíbaliz Lacalle
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (E.L.); (B.M.-F.)
- Bianor Biotech SL, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | - Belén Gómez-Giménez
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (E.L.); (B.M.-F.)
| | - Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology, Spanish Scientific Research Council (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Beatriz Martín-Fernández
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (E.L.); (B.M.-F.)
- Department of Molecular Biology (Cell Biology), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Cristina Soriano-Úbeda
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Veterinary Anatomy (Animal Medicine and Surgery), University of León, 24071 León, Spain;
| | - Felipe Martínez-Pastor
- Institute of Animal Health and Cattle Development (INDEGSAL), University of León, 24071 León, Spain; (E.L.); (B.M.-F.)
- Department of Molecular Biology (Cell Biology), University of León, 24071 León, Spain
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Jurado-Campos A, Soria-Meneses PJ, Arenas-Moreira M, Alonso-Moreno C, Rodríguez-Robledo V, Soler AJ, Garde JJ, Del Rocío Fernández-Santos M. Minimizing sperm oxidative stress using nanotechnology for breeding programs in rams. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2023; 14:106. [PMID: 37559077 PMCID: PMC10413538 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-023-00907-3] [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: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Artificial insemination (AI) is a routine breeding technology in animal reproduction. Nevertheless, the temperature-sensitive nature and short fertile lifespan of ram sperm samples hamper its use in AI. In this sense, nanotechnology is an interesting tool to improve sperm protection due to the development of nanomaterials for AI, which could be used as delivery vehicles. In this work, we explored the feasibility of vitamin E nanoemulsion (NE) for improving sperm quality during transport. RESULTS With the aim of evaluating this proposal, ejaculates of 7 mature rams of Manchega breed were collected by artificial vagina and extended to 60 × 106 spz/mL in Andromed®. Samples containing control and NE (12 mmol/L) with and without exogenous oxidative stress (100 µmol/L Fe2+/ascorbate) were stored at 22 and 15 ºC and motility (CASA), viability (YO-PRO/PI), acrosomal integrity (PNA-FITC/PI), mitochondrial membrane potential (Mitotracker Deep Red 633), lipoperoxidation (C11 BODIPY 581/591), intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and DNA status (SCSA®) monitored during 96 h. Our results show that NE could be used to maintain ram spermatozoa during transport at 15 and 22 ºC for up to 96 h, with no appreciable loss of kinematic and physiological characteristics of freshly collected samples. CONCLUSIONS The storage of ram spermatozoa in liquid form for 2-5 d with vitamin E nanoemulsions may lead more flexibility to breeders in AI programs. In view of the potential and high versatility of these nanodevices, further studies are being carried out to assess the proposed sperm preservation medium on fertility after artificial insemination.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - María Arenas-Moreira
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Orgánica Y Bioquímica-Centro de Innovación en Química Avanzada (ORFEO-CINQA), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008, Albacete, Spain
- Centro Regional de Investigación Biomédicas, Unidad nanoDrug, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Carlos Alonso-Moreno
- Departamento de Química Inorgánica, Orgánica Y Bioquímica-Centro de Innovación en Química Avanzada (ORFEO-CINQA), Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008, Albacete, Spain
- Centro Regional de Investigación Biomédicas, Unidad nanoDrug, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 02008, Albacete, Spain
| | - Virginia Rodríguez-Robledo
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario, S/N, 02071, Albacete, Spain
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - Ana Josefa Soler
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario, S/N, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - José Julián Garde
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario, S/N, 02071, Albacete, Spain
| | - María Del Rocío Fernández-Santos
- SaBio IREC (CSIC-UCLM-JCCM), Campus Universitario, S/N, 02071, Albacete, Spain.
- Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad de Castilla La Mancha, 02071, Albacete, Spain.
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