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Abril-Parreño L, Druart X, Fair S, Krogenaes A. Metabolic signature of cervical mucus in ewe breeds with divergent cervical sperm transport: a focus on metabolites involved in amino acid metabolism. Metabolomics 2023; 19:59. [PMID: 37338596 DOI: 10.1007/s11306-023-02021-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Cervical artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen in sheep has yielded unacceptably low pregnancy rates. The exception is in Norway where vaginal AI yields non-return rates in excess of 60%, which has been attributed to the ewe breed used. OBJECTIVES AND METHODS This study aimed to characterise, for the first time, the ovine follicular phase cervical mucus metabolome, with a focus on the amino acid profile. Cervical mucus was collected from four European ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates following cervical AI with frozen-thawed semen. These were Suffolk (low fertility), Belclare (medium fertility), Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Fur (both high fertility). RESULTS A total of 689 metabolites were identified in the cervical mucus of all the four ewe breeds. Of these, 458 metabolites were altered by ewe breed, which had the greatest effect in the dataset (P < 0.05). We detected 194 metabolites involved in the amino acid pathway, of which 133, 56 and 63 were affected by ewe breed, type of cycle and their interaction, respectively (P < 0.05). N-methylhydantoin and N-carbamoylsarcosine (degradation products of creatinine pathway) exhibited the greatest fold change decrease in the Suffolk breed compared to Fur and NWS (P < 0.001). Oxidized metabolites were also decreased in Suffolk compared to high fertility breeds (P < 0.05). In contrast, other metabolites such as 3-indoxyl-sulfate, putrescine, cadaverine were significantly increased in Suffolk at the synchronised cycle. CONCLUSION The suboptimal amino acid profile in the cervical mucus of the low fertility Suffolk breed may have negative consequences for sperm transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Xavier Druart
- Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR 6175 INRA, CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Anette Krogenaes
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 5003 1432, Ås, Norway.
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Allai L, Druart X, Terzioğlu P, Louanjli N, Nasser B, Ozturk M, El Amiri B. The Addition of Opuntia ficus-indica Ethanolic Extract to a Skimmed Milk-Based Extender Impacts Ram Sperm Quality. Vet Med Int 2023; 2023:6248890. [PMID: 37063479 PMCID: PMC10101746 DOI: 10.1155/2023/6248890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2023] [Indexed: 04/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, researchers have focused on the use of natural antioxidants to improve semen quality as a key element for successful artificial insemination. In this context, the first aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant activity and composition (minerals, vitamins, and sugars) of Opuntia ficus-indica cladode ethanolic extract (ETHEX). A further purpose of the study was to investigate the effect of ETHEX supplementation on the quality of liquid ram semen extended with skim milk (SM) at 5°C. The antioxidant activity of ETHEX was studied using free radical 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH•) assay. The mineral composition and the sugar and vitamin contents of ETHEX were determined using an inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) and HPLC-DAD-RID analytical instruments. As a second part, semen was collected from five Boujaâd rams with an artificial vagina. The ejaculates with more than 70% motility were pooled, extended with skim milk (SM) extender without (control) or supplemented with 1-8% of ETHEX (37°C; 0.8 × 109 sperm/mL). Sperm quality parameters were assessed at 8, 24, 48, and 72 h. The results showed that ETHEX had a higher antioxidant activity compared to those of ascorbic acid and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT). Furthermore, ETHEX contains a considerable amount of minerals, vitamins, and sugars. The inclusion of 1 or 2% ETHEX in SM increased the sperm motility, viability, and membrane integrity and decreased the abnormality of spontaneous and catalyzed lipids peroxidation (p < 0.05) up to 72 h. In addition, semen diluted with 1 and 2% ETHEX decreased the level of DNA fragmentation compared to the control group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the ETHEX could be recommended to improve the quality of liquid ram spermatozoa. However, its effects on artificial insemination should be further studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Larbi Allai
- Laboratoire de Recherche Management de L'agriculture Durable (MAD), Ecole Supérieure de Technologie Sidi Bennour, Université Chouaïb Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco
- Animal Production Unit, Regional Center for Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Avenue Ennasr, P.O. Box 415 Rabat Principal, 10090 Rabat, Morocco
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Neurosciences, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan 1, BP 577, Setta 26000, Morocco
| | - Xavier Druart
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Nouzilly F-37380, France
| | - Pinar Terzioğlu
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Department of Polymer Materials Engineering, Bursa Technical University, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Noureddine Louanjli
- Labomac IVF Centers and Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Rue Moulay Abdellah N40, Casablanca, Morocco
| | - Boubker Nasser
- Laboratoire de Biochimie et Neurosciences, Faculté des Sciences et Techniques, Université Hassan 1, BP 577, Setta 26000, Morocco
| | - Mehmet Ozturk
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, Mugla Sıtkı Koçman University, Mugla 48121, Turkey
| | - Bouchra El Amiri
- Animal Production Unit, Regional Center for Agricultural Research of Settat, National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Avenue Ennasr, P.O. Box 415 Rabat Principal, 10090 Rabat, Morocco
- African Sustainable Agriculture Research Institute (ASARI), Mohammed VI Polytechnic University (UM6P), Laayoune 70000, Morocco
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Abril-Parreño L, Krogenæs A, Druart X, Saldova R, Cormican P, Meade K, Fair S. Ewe breed differences in cervical mucus biochemical and molecular composition: the role of sialylated cervical mucins. Anim Reprod Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2022.107103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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Schimpf U, Caldas-Silveira E, Katchan L, Vigier-Carriere C, Lantier I, Nachmann G, Gidlöf S, Jonasson AF, Björndahl L, Trombotto S, Druart X, Crouzier T. Topical reinforcement of the cervical mucus barrier to sperm. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabm2417. [PMID: 36449601 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm2417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Close to half of the world's pregnancies are still unplanned, reflecting a clear unmet need in contraception. Ideally, a contraceptive would provide the high efficacy of hormonal treatments, without systemic side effects. Here, we studied topical reinforcement of the cervical mucus by chitosan mucoadhesive polymers as a form of female contraceptive. Chitosans larger than 7 kDa effectively cross-linked human ovulatory cervical mucus to prevent sperm penetration in vitro. We then demonstrated in vivo using the ewe as a model that vaginal gels containing chitosan could stop ram sperm at the entrance of the cervical canal and prevent them from reaching the uterus, whereas the same gels without chitosan did not substantially limit sperm migration. Chitosan did not affect sperm motility in vitro or in vivo, suggesting reinforcement of the mucus physical barrier as the primary mechanism of action. The chitosan formulations did not damage or irritate the ewe vaginal epithelium, in contrast to nonoxynol-9 spermicide. The demonstration that cervical mucus can be reinforced topically to create an effective barrier to sperm may therefore form the technological basis for muco-cervical barrier contraceptives with the potential to become an alternative to hormonal contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Schimpf
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Material and Environmental Chemistry (MMK), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erika Caldas-Silveira
- PIXANIM, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Ljudmila Katchan
- Cirqle Biomedical Contraception ApS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Isabelle Lantier
- French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), UMR ISP, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gilai Nachmann
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels alle 8, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Aino Fianu Jonasson
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels alle 8, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lars Björndahl
- ANOVA-Andrology, Sexual Medicine, Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Norra Stationsgatan 69, 113 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stéphane Trombotto
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IMP, UMR 5223, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- PIXANIM, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,Cirqle Biomedical Contraception ApS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.,AIMES-Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Abril-Parreño L, Krogenæs AK, Druart X, Cormican P, Fair S, Meade KG. Cervical immune activation during the luteal phase may compromise subsequent trans-cervical ram sperm transport. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:967-976. [PMID: 35766421 PMCID: PMC9562110 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Worldwide, cervical artificial insemination using frozen–thawed semen yields low pregnancy rates. The only exception to this is in Norway, where vaginal insemination with frozen–thawed semen yields pregnancy rates in excess of 60% and which has been attributed to the specific ewe breed used. Our previous work demonstrated differences in cervical gene expression at the follicular phase of the estrous cycle in ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates. In this study, we characterized the cervical transcriptome of the same ewe breeds [Suffolk, Belclare, Fur, and Norwegian White Sheep (NWS)] during the luteal phase, as an optimal environment at the luteal phase could better prepare the cervix for sperm migration through the cervix at the subsequent follicular phase. High-quality RNA extracted from postmortem cervical tissue was analyzed by RNA sequencing. After stringent filtering, 1051, 1924, and 611 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were detected in the low-fertility Suffolk breed compared with Belclare, Fur, and NWS, respectively. Gene ontology analysis identified increased humoral adaptive immune response pathways in Suffolk. Increased expression of multiple immune genes supports the presence of an active immune response in the cervix of Suffolk ewes, which differentiates them significantly from the other three ewe breeds. Inflammatory pathways were upregulated in the Suffolk, resulting in higher expression of the potent pro-inflammatory cytokines. Therefore, higher levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines indicate unresolved inflammation in the cervix of the low-fertility Suffolk breed that could contribute to reduced cervical sperm transport in the next follicular phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Anette Kristine Krogenæs
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 5003 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Xavier Druart
- UMR-PRC, INRA-85, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Paul Cormican
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, C15 PW93, Grange, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kieran G Meade
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 W6F6, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Abril-Parreño L, Meade KG, Krogenæs AK, Druart X, Cormican P, Fair S. Ewe breed differences in the cervical transcriptome at the follicular phase of a synchronised oestrous cycle. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:363. [PMID: 35546662 PMCID: PMC9097332 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-08603-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cervical artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen results in unacceptably low pregnancy rates internationally. The exception is in Norway, where vaginal deposition of frozen-thawed semen to a natural oestrous routinely yields pregnancy rates in excess of 70%. Previous studies by our group has demonstrated that this is due to differences in cervical sperm transport. However, a potentially important contributory factor is that ewes are inseminated to a natural oestrous in Norway but to a synchronised oestrous across most of the rest of the world. In this study, we interrogated the gene expression of the sheep cervix of four ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates following cervical AI using frozen-thawed semen under the effect of exogenous hormones to synchronise the oestrous cycle. These four ewe breeds (n = 8 to 11 ewes per breed) are from two countries: Ireland (Belclare and Suffolk; medium and low fertility, respectively) and Norway (Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Fur; both with high fertility compared to the Irish ewe breeds). Results RNA extracted from cervical biopsies collected from these breeds was analysed by RNA-sequencing and differential gene expression analysis. Using the low-fertility Suffolk breed as a reference level; 27, 1827 and 2641 genes were differentially expressed in Belclare, Fur and NWS ewes, respectively (P < 0.05 and FC > 1.5). Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that Fur and NWS had an up-regulation of enriched pathways involved in muscle contraction and development compared to Suffolk. However, there was a down-regulation of the immune response pathway in NWS compared to Suffolk. In addition, GO analysis showed similar expression patterns involved in muscle contraction, extracellular matrix (ECM) development and cell-cell junction in both Norwegian ewe breeds, which differed to the Irish ewe breeds. Conclusions This novel study has identified a number of conserved and breed-specific biological processes under the effect of oestrous synchronisation that may impact cervical sperm transport during the follicular phase of the reproductive cycle. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12864-022-08603-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Kieran G Meade
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | | | - Xavier Druart
- UMR 6175 INRA, CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Paul Cormican
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co, Meath, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
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Abril-Parreño L, Morgan J, Krogenæs A, Druart X, Cormican P, Gallagher ME, Reid C, Meade K, Saldova R, Fair S. Biochemical and molecular characterisation of sialylated cervical mucins in sheep. Biol Reprod 2022; 107:419-431. [PMID: 35470857 PMCID: PMC9382375 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioac077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Sialic acid occupies terminal positions on O-glycans of cervical mucins, where they contribute to the increased viscosity of mucin thereby regulating sperm transport. This study characterised the sialylated cervical mucins from follicular phase mucus of six European ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates following cervical artificial insemination using frozen-thawed semen at both synchronised and natural oestrus cycles. These were Suffolk (low fertility) and Belclare (medium fertility) in Ireland, Ile de France and Romanov (both with medium fertility) in France and Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Fur (both with high fertility) in Norway. Expression of mucin and sialic acid related genes was quantified using RNA-sequencing in cervical tissue from Suffolk, Belclare, Fur and NWS only. Cervical tissue was also assessed for the percentage of cervical epithelial populated by mucin secreting goblet cells in the same four ewe breeds. Biochemical analysis showed that there was an effect of ewe breed on sialic acid species, which was represented by Suffolk having higher levels of Neu5,9Ac2 compared to NWS (P < 0.05). Suffolk ewes had a lower percentage of goblet cells than Fur and NWS (P < 0.05). Gene expression analysis identified higher expression of MUC5AC, MUC5B, ST6GAL1, ST6GAL2 and lower expression of ST3GAL3, ST3GAL4 and SIGLEC10 in Suffolk compared to high fertility ewe breeds (P < 0.05). Our results indicate that specific alterations in sialylated mucin composition may be related to impaired cervical sperm transport.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland.,Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, C15 PW93, Grange, Ireland
| | - Jack Morgan
- NIBRT GlycoScience Group, The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, A94 X099, Blackrock, Ireland
| | - Anette Krogenæs
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, 5003 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Xavier Druart
- UMR-PRC, INRA-85, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Paul Cormican
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, C15 PW93, Grange, Ireland
| | - Mary E Gallagher
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Colm Reid
- UCD Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, D04 W6F6, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Kieran Meade
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, D04 W6F6, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Radka Saldova
- NIBRT GlycoScience Group, The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, A94 X099, Blackrock, Ireland.,UCD School of Medicine, College of Health and Agricultural Science, University College Dublin, D07 A8NN, Dublin 4, Ireland.,CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, H91 W2TY, Galway, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, V94 T9PX, Limerick, Ireland
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Abril-Parreño L, Meade KG, Krogenæs AK, Druart X, Fair S, Cormican P. Conserved and breed-specific differences in the cervical transcriptome of sheep with divergent fertility at the follicular phase of a natural oestrus cycle. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:752. [PMID: 34666676 PMCID: PMC8527727 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-08060-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The outcome of cervical artificial insemination (AI) with frozen-thawed semen in sheep is limited by the inability of sperm to traverse the cervix of some ewe breeds. Previous research has demonstrated that cervical sperm transport is dependent on ewe breed, as sperm can traverse the cervix in greater numbers in some higher fertility ewe breeds. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying ewe breed differences in sperm transport through the cervix remain unknown. In this study, we aimed to characterise the cervical transcriptome of four European ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates following cervical AI using frozen-thawed semen at the follicular phase of a natural oestrous cycle. Cervical post mortem tissue samples were collected from two Irish ewe breeds (Belclare and Suffolk; medium and low fertility, respectively) and from two Norwegian ewe breeds (Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Fur; high fertility compared to both Irish breeds) at the follicular phase of a natural oestrous cycle (n = 8 to 10 ewes per breed). RESULTS High-quality RNA extracted from biopsies of the mid-region of the cervix was analysed by RNA-sequencing and Gene Ontology (GO). After stringent filtering (P < 0.05 and FC > 1.5), a total of 11, 1539 and 748 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in Belclare, Fur and NWS compared to the low fertility Suffolk breed, respectively. Gene ontology analysis identified significantly enriched biological processes involved in muscle contraction, extracellular matrix (ECM) development and the immune response. Gene co-expression analysis revealed similar patterns in muscle contraction and ECM development modules in both Norwegian ewe breeds, which differed to the Irish ewe breeds. CONCLUSIONS These breed-specific biological processes may account for impaired cervical sperm transport through the cervix in sheep during the follicular phase of the reproductive cycle. This novel and comprehensive dataset provides a rich foundation for future targeted initiatives to improve cervical AI in sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - Kieran G Meade
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | | | - Xavier Druart
- UMR 6175 INRA, CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.
| | - Paul Cormican
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co. Meath, Ireland
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Abril-Parreño L, Wilkinson H, Krogenæs A, Morgan J, Gallagher ME, Reid C, Druart X, Fair S, Saldova R. Identification and characterisation of O-linked glycans in cervical mucus as biomarkers of sperm transport: A novel sheep model. Glycobiology 2021; 32:23-35. [PMID: 34379775 PMCID: PMC8881736 DOI: 10.1093/glycob/cwab085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Cervical mucus plays an important role in female fertility, since it allows the entry of motile and morphological normal sperm while preventing the ascent of pathogens from the vagina. The function of cervical mucus is critically linked to its rheological properties that are in turn dictated by O-glycosylated proteins, called mucins. We aimed to characterize the O-glycan composition in the cervical mucus of six European ewe breeds with known differences in pregnancy rates following cervical/vaginal artificial insemination with frozen–thawed semen, which are due to reported differences in cervical sperm transport. These were Suffolk (low fertility) and Belclare (medium fertility) in Ireland, Ile de France and Romanov (both with medium fertility) in France, and Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) and Fur (both with high fertility) in Norway (n = 28–30 ewes/breed). We identified 124 O-glycans, from which 51 were the major glycans with core 2 and fucosylated glycans as the most common structures. The use of exogenous hormones for synchronization did not affect the O-glycan composition in both high-fertility ewe breeds, but it did in the other four ewe breeds. There was a higher abundance of the sulfated glycan (Galβ1–3[SO3-GlcNAcβ1–6]GalNAc), fucosylated glycan (GlcNAcβ1–3(Fucα1–2Galβ1–3)GalNAc) and core 4 glycan (GlcNAcβ1–3[GlcNAcβ1–6]GalNAc) in the low-fertility Suffolk breed compared with NWS (high fertility). In addition, core 4 glycans were negatively correlated with mucus viscosity. This novel study has identified O-glycans that are important for cervical sperm transport and could have applications across a range of species including human.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland.,Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Grange, Ireland
| | - Hayden Wilkinson
- NIBRT GlycoScience Group, The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Fosters Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Ireland.,CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
| | - Anette Krogenæs
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Jack Morgan
- NIBRT GlycoScience Group, The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Fosters Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Ireland
| | - Mary E Gallagher
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Colm Reid
- Veterinary Sciences Centre, University College Dublin, Belfield, Ireland
| | - Xavier Druart
- UMR-PRC, INRA-85, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Radka Saldova
- NIBRT GlycoScience Group, The National Institute for Bioprocessing Research and Training, Fosters Avenue, Mount Merrion, Blackrock, Ireland.,CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.,School of Medicine, College of Health and Agricultural Science, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland
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10
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Mahé C, Zlotkowska AM, Reynaud K, Tsikis G, Mermillod P, Druart X, Schoen J, Saint-Dizier M. Sperm migration, selection, survival, and fertilizing ability in the mammalian oviduct†. Biol Reprod 2021; 105:317-331. [PMID: 34057175 PMCID: PMC8335357 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioab105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 04/28/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro fertilization (IVF) gives rise to embryos in a number of mammalian species and is currently widely used for assisted reproduction in humans and for genetic purposes in cattle. However, the rate of polyspermy is generally higher in vitro than in vivo and IVF remains ineffective in some domestic species like pigs and horses, highlighting the importance of the female reproductive tract for gamete quality and fertilization. In this review, the way the female environment modulates sperm selective migration, survival, and acquisition of fertilizing ability in the oviduct is being considered under six aspects: (1) the utero-tubal junction that selects a sperm sub-population entering the oviduct; (2) the presence of sperm binding sites on luminal epithelial cells in the oviduct, which prolong sperm viability and plays a role in limiting polyspermic fertilization; (3) the contractions of the oviduct, which promote sperm migration toward the site of fertilization in the ampulla; (4) the regions of the oviduct, which play different roles in regulating sperm physiology and interactions with oviduct epithelial cells; (5) the time of ovulation, and (6) the steroid hormonal environment which regulates sperm release from the luminal epithelial cells and facilitates capacitation in a finely orchestrated manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Coline Mahé
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | | | - Karine Reynaud
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | - Xavier Druart
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France
| | - Jennifer Schoen
- Institute of Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology, FBN, Dummerstorf, Germany
| | - Marie Saint-Dizier
- CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, PRC, Nouzilly, France.,Tours University, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, Agrosciences Department, Tours, France
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11
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Abril-Parreño L, Krogenæs AK, Byrne CJ, Donovan A, Stuen S, Caldas E, Diskin M, Druart X, Fair S. Ewe breed differences in cervical anatomy and cervicovaginal mucus properties: An international study. Theriogenology 2020; 160:18-25. [PMID: 33166851 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.10.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
In sheep, cervical artificial insemination (AI) involves depositing semen at the cervical opening, as it is not possible to traverse the cervix due to its complex anatomy. However, internationally this method yields low pregnancy rates when frozen-thawed semen is used. An exception to this is in Norway, in which vaginal deposition of frozen-thawed semen to a natural estrus yields pregnancy rates around 70%. As the cervix and its secretions are the principal factors influencing sperm transport to the site of fertilization the aim of this study was to characterise the differences in the cervical anatomy as well as the cervicovaginal mucus properties of six European ewe breeds across three countries known to have differences in pregnancy rates following cervical AI with frozen-thawed semen. These were Suffolk and Belclare in Ireland, Fur and Norwegian White Sheep (NWS) in Norway and Ile de France and Romanov in France (n = 28-30 ewes/breed). Cervicovaginal mucus was collected at the follicular and luteal phases of both a synchronized and natural cycle and assessed for mucus weight, viscosity and colour. The anatomical characteristics of the cervix (length of the cervix, number of cervical rings and the appearance of the external os) were assessed post-mortem. There was a type of the cycle by ewe breed interaction represented by no differences in mucus production between ewe breeds at the natural cycle for both the follicular and luteal phases of the cycle. However, there were differences between ewe breeds at the synchronized cycle (P < 0.05). Belclare had the lowest mucus production at the follicular phase while NWS had the lowest amount of mucus at the luteal phase of the synchronized cycle. Overall, across all ewe breeds, mucus production was higher at the follicular than at the luteal phase (P < 0.05). Despite reports of Suffolk and NWS having the most divergent pregnancy rates following cervical AI with frozen-thawed semen, both breeds had the lowest overall mucus viscosity at the follicular phase of both types of cycle with no differences between both ewe breeds (P > 0.05). The length of the cervix, number of cervical rings and the external os type were affected by ewe breed (P < 0.05). Suffolk ewes had longer cervices but lower number of cervical rings than NWS and Fur ewes (both with higher pregnancy rates). In conclusion, while mucus production and mucus viscosity was affected by breed, these changes are not consistent with the known differences between ewe breeds in their pregnancy rates following cervical AI with frozen-thawed semen.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Abril-Parreño
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland; Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, C15 PW93, Ireland
| | - A K Krogenæs
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 369, Sentrum, Oslo, 0102, Norway
| | - C J Byrne
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Perth, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - A Donovan
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway, H65 R718, Ireland
| | - S Stuen
- Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Sandnes, Norway
| | - E Caldas
- UMR PR China, INRA 85, CNRS 7247, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportments, Institut National de La Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, 37380, France
| | - M Diskin
- Teagasc, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Mellows Campus, Athenry, Co. Galway, H65 R718, Ireland
| | - X Druart
- UMR PR China, INRA 85, CNRS 7247, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de La Reproduction et des Comportments, Institut National de La Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, 37380, France
| | - S Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Natural Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering. University of Limerick, Limerick, V94 T9PX, Ireland.
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12
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Saint-Dizier M, Mahé C, Reynaud K, Tsikis G, Mermillod P, Druart X. Sperm interactions with the female reproductive tract: A key for successful fertilization in mammals. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 516:110956. [PMID: 32712384 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Sperm migration through the female genital tract is not a quiet journey. Uterine contractions quickly operate a drastic selection, leading to a very restrictive number of sperm reaching the top of uterine horns and finally, provided the presence of key molecules on sperm, the oviduct, where fertilization takes place. During hours and sometimes days before fertilization, subpopulations of spermatozoa interact with dynamic and region-specific maternal components, including soluble proteins, extracellular vesicles and epithelial cells lining the lumen of the female tract. Interactions with uterine and oviductal cells play important roles for sperm survival as they modulate the maternal immune response and allow a transient storage before ovulation. The body of work reported here highlights the importance of sperm interactions with proteins originated from both the uterine and oviductal fluids, as well as hormonal signals around the time of ovulation for sperm acquisition of fertilizing competence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Saint-Dizier
- INRAE, UMR PRC, 37380, Nouzilly, France; University of Tours, Faculty of Sciences and Techniques, 37000, Tours, France.
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13
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Lomet D, Druart X, Hazlerigg D, Beltramo M, Dardente H. Circuit-level analysis identifies target genes of sex steroids in ewe seasonal breeding. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 512:110825. [PMID: 32422398 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110825] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 04/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Thyroid hormone (TH) and estradiol (E2) direct seasonal switches in ovine reproductive physiology. In sheep, as in other mammals and birds, control of thyrotropin (TSH) production by the pars tuberalis (PT) links photoperiod responsiveness to seasonal breeding. PT-derived TSH governs opposite seasonal patterns of the TH deiodinases Dio2/Dio3 expression in tanycytes of the neighboring medio-basal hypothalamus (MBH), which explain the key role of TH. We recently used RNA-Seq to identify seasonal markers in the MBH and define the impact of TH. This impact was found to be quite limited, in terms of number of target genes, and very restricted with regards to neuroanatomical location, as TH specifically impacts genes expressed in tanycytes and hypothalamus, not in the PT. Here we address the impact of E2 on these seasonal markers, which are specifically expressed in either PT, tanycytes or hypothalamus. We also investigate if progesterone (P4) may be involved in timing the seasonal transition to anestrus. Our analysis provides circuit-level insights into the impact of sex steroids on the ewe seasonal breeding cycle. First, seasonal gene expression in the PT is independent of the sex steroid status. The fact that seasonal gene expression in the PT is also TH-independent strengthens the view that the PT is a circannual timer. Second, select tanycytic markers display some level of responsiveness to E2 and P4, which indicates another potential level of feedback control by sex steroids. Third, Kiss1 neurons of the arcuate nucleus are responsive to both TH and E2, which places them at the crossroads of photoperiodic transduction pathway and sex steroid feedback. This provides strong support to the concept that these Kiss1 neurons are pivotal to the long-recognized "seasonal switch in the ability of E2 to exert negative feedback", which drives seasonal breeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Didier Lomet
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - David Hazlerigg
- Department of Arctic and Marine Biology, University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Massimiliano Beltramo
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Hugues Dardente
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRAE, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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14
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Pinet-Charvet C, Fleurot R, Derouin-Tochon F, de Graaf S, Druart X, Tsikis G, Taragnat C, Teixeira-Gomes AP, Labas V, Moreau T, Cayla X, Duittoz AH. Beta-nerve growth factor stimulates spontaneous electrical activity of in vitro embryonic mouse GnRH neurons through a P75 mediated-mechanism. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10654. [PMID: 32606357 PMCID: PMC7326925 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67665-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The control of ovulation helps guarantee the success of reproduction and as such, contributes to the fitness of a species. In mammals, two types of ovulation are observed: induced and spontaneous ovulation. Recent work on camelids, that are induced ovulators, highlighted the role of a factor present in seminal plasma, beta Nerve Growth Factor (β-NGF), as the factor that triggers ovulation in a GnRH dependent manner. In the present work, we characterized alpaca β-NGF (aβ-NGF) and its 3D structure and compared it with human recombinant β-NGF (hβ-NGF). We showed that the β-NGF enriched fraction of alpaca semen and the human recombinant protein, both stimulated spontaneous electrical activity of primary GnRH neurons derived from mouse embryonic olfactory placodes. This effect was dose-dependent and mediated by p75 receptor signaling. P75 receptors were found expressed in vitro by olfactory ensheathing cells (OEC) in close association with GnRH neurons and in vivo by tanycytes in close vicinity to GnRH fibers in adult mouse. Altogether, these results suggested that β-NGF induced ovulation through an increase in GnRH secretion provoked by a glial dependent P75 mediated mechanism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Pinet-Charvet
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC), ComUE Centre-Val de Loire, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Poitiers, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Renaud Fleurot
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Flavie Derouin-Tochon
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Simon de Graaf
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Catherine Taragnat
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ana-Paula Teixeira-Gomes
- Infectiologie et Santé Publique (ISP) UMR1282, INRA, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valérie Labas
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Thierry Moreau
- Biologie des Oiseaux et Aviculture (BOA) UMR Centre INRA Val de Loire, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Xavier Cayla
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - Anne H Duittoz
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC) UMR7247 INRA, CNRS, Centre INRA Val de Loire, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380, Nouzilly, France.
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15
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Fair S, Meade KG, Reynaud K, Druart X, de Graaf SP. The biological mechanisms regulating sperm selection by the ovine cervix. Reproduction 2020; 158:R1-R13. [PMID: 30921769 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
In species where semen is deposited in the vagina, the cervix has the unique function of facilitating progress of spermatozoa towards the site of fertilisation while also preventing the ascending influx of pathogens from the vagina. For the majority of species, advances in assisted reproduction techniques facilitate the bypassing of the cervix and therefore its effect on the transit of processed spermatozoa has been largely overlooked. The exception is in sheep, as it is currently not possible to traverse the ovine cervix with an inseminating catheter due to its complex anatomy, and semen must be deposited at the external cervical os. This results in unacceptably low pregnancy rates when frozen-thawed or liquid stored (>24 h) semen is inseminated. The objective of this review is to discuss the biological mechanisms which regulate cervical sperm selection. We assess the effects of endogenous and exogenous hormones on cervical mucus composition and discuss how increased mucus production and flow during oestrus stimulates sperm rheotaxis along the crypts and folds of the cervix. Emerging results shedding light on the sperm-cervical mucus interaction as well as the dialogue between spermatozoa and the innate immune system are outlined. Finally, ewe breed differences in cervical function and the impact of semen processing on the success of fertilisation, as well as the most fruitful avenues of further investigation in this area are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, School of Natural Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - K G Meade
- Animal & Bioscience Research Department, Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre, Teagasc, Grange, Co Meath, Ireland
| | - K Reynaud
- UMR PRC, INRA 85, CNRS 7247, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - X Druart
- UMR PRC, INRA 85, CNRS 7247, Université de Tours, IFCE, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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16
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Leahy T, Rickard JP, Bernecic NC, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Ram seminal plasma and its functional proteomic assessment. Reproduction 2020; 157:R243-R256. [PMID: 30844754 DOI: 10.1530/rep-18-0627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Ejaculation results in the confluence of epididymal spermatozoa with secretions of the accessory sex glands. This interaction is not a prerequisite for fertilisation success, but seminal factors do play a crucial role in prolonging the survival of spermatozoa both in vitro and in vivo by affording protection from handling induced stress and some selective mechanisms of the female reproductive tract. Reproductive biologists have long sought to identify specific factors in seminal plasma that influence sperm function and fertility in these contexts. Many seminal plasma proteins have been identified as diagnostic predictors of sperm function and have been isolated and applied in vitro to prevent sperm damage associated with the application of artificial reproductive technologies. Proteomic assessment of the spermatozoon, and its surroundings, has provided considerable advances towards these goals and allowed for greater understanding of their physiological function. In this review, the importance of seminal plasma will be examined through a proteomic lens to provide comprehensive analysis of the ram seminal proteome and detail the use of proteomic studies that correlate seminal plasma proteins with ram sperm function and preservation ability.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Leahy
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J P Rickard
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, Australia
| | - N C Bernecic
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, Australia
| | - X Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et du Comportement, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, Australia
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17
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Ramal-Sanchez M, Bernabo N, Tsikis G, Blache MC, Labas V, Druart X, Mermillod P, Saint-Dizier M. Progesterone induces sperm release from oviductal epithelial cells by modifying sperm proteomics, lipidomics and membrane fluidity. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 504:110723. [PMID: 31972329 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Revised: 01/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The sperm reservoir is formed after insemination in mammals, allowing sperm storage in the oviduct until their release. We previously showed that physiological concentrations of progesterone (P4) trigger in vitro the sperm release from bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOECs), selecting a subpopulation of spermatozoa with a higher fertilizing competence. Here, by using Western-Blot, confocal microscopy and Intact Cell MALDI-TOF-Mass Spectrometry strategies, we elucidated the changes derived by the P4-induced release on sperm cells (BOEC-P4 spz). Our findings show that, compared to controls, BOEC-P4 spz presented a decrease in the abundance of Binder of Sperm Proteins (BSP) -3 and -5, suggesting one mechanism by which spermatozoa may detach from BOECs, and thus triggering the membrane remodeling with an increase of the sperm membrane fluidity. Furthermore, an interesting number of membrane lipids and proteins were differentially abundant in BOEC-P4 spz compared with controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Ramal-Sanchez
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France; Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy.
| | - Nicola Bernabo
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, Università degli Studi di Teramo, Italy
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marie-Claire Blache
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valerie Labas
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France; Plate-forme de Chirurgie et d'Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement (CIRE), Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules (PAIB), INRA, CHRU de Tours, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Mermillod
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marie Saint-Dizier
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PR China) UMR85, INRA, CNRS, 7247, IFCE, Nouzilly, France; Université de Tours, Faculté des Sciences et des Techniques, Tours, France
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18
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Desmarchais A, Téteau O, Papillier P, Jaubert M, Druart X, Binet A, Maillard V, Elis S. Bisphenol S Impaired In Vitro Ovine Early Developmental Oocyte Competence. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21041238. [PMID: 32059612 PMCID: PMC7072985 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21041238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widespread compound in the plastic industry that is especially used to produce baby bottles, food packaging and metal cans. BPA, an endocrine disruptor, leads to alterations in reproductive function and therefore has been banned from the food industry. Unregulated BPA analogues, particularly Bisphenol S (BPS), have emerged and are now used in the plastic industry. Thus, this study aimed to examine the acute effects of low and environmental doses of BPS on ewe oocyte quality and developmental competence, and its mechanism of action, during in vitro maturation. METHODS Ewe cumulus-oocyte complexes underwent in vitro maturation in the presence or absence of BPS (1 nM, 10 nM, 100 nM, 1 µM or 10 µM). Oocytes were then subjected to in vitro fertilisation and development. RESULTS 1 µM BPS induced a 12.7% decrease in the cleavage rate (p = 0.004) and a 42.6% decrease in the blastocyst rate (p = 0.017) compared to control. The blastocyst rate reduction was also observed with 10 nM BPS. Furthermore, 10 µM BPS reduced the oocyte maturation rate, and 1 µM BPS decreased cumulus cell progesterone secretion. PR and AMH gene expression were reduced in cumulus cells. BPS induced a 5-fold increase in MAPK 3/1 activation (p = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS BPS impaired ewe oocyte developmental competence. The data suggest that BPS might not be a safe BPA analogue. Further studies are required to elucidate its detailed mechanism of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Desmarchais
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Ophélie Téteau
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Pascal Papillier
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Manon Jaubert
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Xavier Druart
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Aurélien Binet
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
- CHRU de Tours, 37000 Tours, France
| | - Virginie Maillard
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
| | - Sebastien Elis
- UMR PRC, CNRS, IFCE, INRAE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France; (A.D.); (O.T.); (P.P.); (M.J.); (X.D.); (A.B.); (V.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33-2-47427598; Fax: +33-2-47427743
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Richard C, Druart X, Saint-Beuve T, Gelin V, Laffont L, Ruffini S, Ghazali S, Saint-Dizier M, Duranthon V, Sandra O, Grimard B, Mauffre V. 115 Invivo confocal laser endomicroscopy visualisation of fresh and frozen bull spermatozoa in the genital tract of dairy heifers. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/rdv32n2ab115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertility in cattle includes the ability of the uterus to provide the appropriate environment for pregnancy success, including the transport of spermatozoa before fertilization. Confocal laser endomicroscopy technology (Cellvizio) has been previously used in small ruminants to visualise labelled spermatozoa invivo in the uterine horns of ewes (Druart et al. 2009 Reprod. 138, 15-53). Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, no invivo study has reported a live visual analysis of the behaviour of spermatozoa in the bovine uterus upon AI. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental procedure to label bull spermatozoa and to visualise their progression in the uterine horns of dairy cows, using Cellvizio and uterine cervix catheterization. Fresh ejaculated bull spermatozoa were double-labelled with octadecyl rhodamine B chloride and MitoTracker Green FM dyes before dilution and freezing processing. At each step of the process, semen quality was evaluated with a semen quality analyzer (SQA-V b, Medical Electronic System) and compared to nonlabelled bull reference semen. The specificity of the labelling was validated invitro. We also developed a specific device to insert the Cellvizio fibre probe into the genital tract, in order to image vagina, cervix, and uterine body, as well as the proximal, middle, and distal parts of the uterine horn, including the utero-tubal junction (UTJ), before and after AI with fresh and frozen labelled spermatozoa. Then, 10 heifers were oestrus synchronized. Video sequences were recorded at oestrus (n=5), just before AI, at the time of AI (7-12h after the onset of oestrus), 30 and 120min after AI, and 14 days after oestrus (n=5; luteal phase), to investigate the effect of the steroid-primed uterine environment on the distribution and progression of spermatozoa in the genital tract. Using our approach, labelled spermatozoa were detected (1) at the day of oestrus and 14 days after oestrus, (2) in the uterine body at the time of AI, (3) in various parts of the genital tract 30min after AI, and (4) in the UTJ, the cervix, and the vagina 120min after AI. In addition, labelling the spermatozoa did not alter the fertilizing capacity: 4 of the 5 oestrus females were pregnant at Day 35. Additionally, an IVF test showed a blastocyst rate of 45.8% for labelled semen vs. 39.4% for the control group (Carvalho et al. 2017 Reprod. 154, 695-710). In conclusion, our study provides a method to phenotype in situ the transport of spermatozoa in the genital tract of heifers. Further investigations are in progress to optimize video quality, to develop an algorithm for an automatic analysis (spermatozoa count, speed, and path) of the recorded sequences.
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20
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David I, Kohnke P, Fehrenbach J, Lopes Simoes AR, Debreuve E, Descombes X, Plouraboue F, Degond P, Druart X. New objective measurements of semen wave motion are associated with fertility in sheep. Reprod Fertil Dev 2019. [PMID: 29514733 DOI: 10.1071/rd17472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In sheep, wave motion in semen is currently used by AI centres to select ejaculates for insemination. Despite its low cost, convenience and established ability to predict fertility, the subjectivity of this assessment is a limiting factor for its applicability. The aims of the present study were to establish an objective method for the analysis of wave motion and to assess the associations of objective parameters with fertility after cervical insemination. Collective sperm motion in undiluted semen was observed by phase contrast microscopy at low magnification in a 100-µm deep glass chamber. Images of moving dark waves over a grey background were recorded and analysed by the optic flow method, producing several velocity-related parameters. Turbulence was assessed from the motion of fluorescent polystyrene beads. Among objective parameters, optical flow entropy and the average speed of beads were both able to discriminate ejaculates suitable for insemination. Two synthetic variables of optic flow and bead motion and a global objective variable were computed from linear combinations of individual parameters and compared with the subjective motion score for their predictive value. These were as efficient as the wave motion score for assessing fertility and can be proposed for the assessment of ram semen in routine AI procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- I David
- GenPhySE, INRA, Université de Toulouse, ENVT, F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - P Kohnke
- INRA, UMR 6175, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - J Fehrenbach
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, 31062 Toulouse cedex 09, France
| | | | - E Debreuve
- Laboratoire I3S, UMR CNRS 6070, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - X Descombes
- Laboratoire I3S, UMR CNRS 6070, Sophia Antipolis, France
| | - F Plouraboue
- Université de Toulouse - INPT-UPS, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - P Degond
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - X Druart
- INRA, UMR 6175, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France
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21
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Pini T, de Graaf SP, Druart X, Tsikis G, Labas V, Teixeira-Gomes AP, Gadella BM, Leahy T. Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 have contrasting effects on the capacitation of ram spermatozoa. Biol Reprod 2019; 98:765-775. [PMID: 29415221 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioy032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2018] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Binder of Sperm Proteins (BSPs) are the most abundant seminal plasma protein family in the ram and bull. They have been extensively studied in the bull but less is known about their function in ovine seminal plasma and current knowledge suggests that BSPs may have different effects in these two species. In the bull, they facilitate capacitation and destabilize the sperm membrane during in vitro handling, whereas in the ram, they appear to stabilize the sperm membrane and prevent cryopreservation-induced capacitation-like changes. Further investigation into the effects of BSPs on ram spermatozoa under capacitating conditions is required to further clarify their physiological roles in the ram. We investigated the effects of Binder of Sperm Proteins 1 and 5 on epididymal ram spermatozoa in conditions of low, moderate, and high cAMP. BSPs had minimal effects on sperm function in low-cAMP conditions, but caused significant changes under cAMP upregulation. BSP1 stabilized the membrane and qualitatively reduced protein tyrosine phosphorylation, but significantly increased cholesterol efflux and induced spontaneous acrosome reactions. BSP5 slightly increased spontaneous acrosome reactions and caused sperm necrosis. However, BSP5 had minimal effects on membrane lipid order and cholesterol efflux and did not inhibit protein tyrosine phosphorylation. These findings demonstrate that under maximal cAMP upregulation, BSP1 affected ram spermatozoa in a manner comparable to bull spermatozoa, while BSP5 did not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Pini
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Francais du Cheval et de L'Equitation, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Francais du Cheval et de L'Equitation, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valerie Labas
- Plate-forme de Chirurgie et Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement, Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Ana Paula Teixeira-Gomes
- Plate-forme de Chirurgie et Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement, Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Nouzilly, France
| | - Barend M Gadella
- Department of Farm Animal Health and Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Tamara Leahy
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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22
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Abstract
The journey that spermatozoa take following deposition in the female tract is a long and perilous one. The barriers they face within the female tract differ depending on whether they are deposited in the vagina or uterus, like spermatozoa of the ram or boar respectively. Comparative studies on the transit of spermatozoa through the ewe and sow tracts serves to highlight similarities, or differences, in the way their sperm-surface properties enable them to overcome these barriers, progress through the tract and fertilise the oocyte. The female environment contributes towards this successful transit by providing a vehicle for sperm transport, aiding the removal of dead spermatozoa and other pathogens and applying strict selection pressures to ensure only those cells with the highest quality reach the site of fertilisation. Understanding the criteria behind these natural barriers helps an understanding of the limitations to fertility associated with preserved spermatozoa, and how in vitro manipulation can alter this complex interaction between spermatozoa and the female environment. Similar mechanisms or surface coat interactions exist in both species, but each has evolved to be used for physiologically disparate functions. Here we briefly describe the sperm surface characteristics of both fresh and frozen-thawed boar and ram spermatozoa and compare how these properties equip them to survive the physical, biochemical and immune interactions within the female reproductive tract.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Rickard
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW, 2006, Australia.
| | - K R Pool
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - X Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, Le Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Francais du Cheval et de L'Equitation, Université de Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW, 2006, Australia
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23
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Abstract
During ejaculation, the spermatozoa are transported by the seminal plasma, a fluid resulting from secretions originating mainly from the prostate and the seminal vesicles in mammals. The interaction of the seminal plasma with spermatozoa induces binding of seminal proteins onto the sperm surface and membrane remodeling potentially impacting the sperm transport, survival and fertilizing ability in the female genital tract. The seminal plasma also contains peptides and proteins involved in the inflammatory and immune response of the female tract. Therefore the seminal plasma proteome has been investigated in a large range of taxa, including mammals, birds, fishes and insect species. The association of the seminal plasma with semen preservation or fertility identified proteic markers of seminal plasma function in domestic species. This review summarizes the current knowledge in seminal plasma proteomes and proteic markers of sperm preservation in animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et du Comportement, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
| | - Simon de Graaf
- RMC Gunn Building (B19), Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia
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24
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Pini T, Rickard JP, Leahy T, Crossett B, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Cryopreservation and egg yolk medium alter the proteome of ram spermatozoa. J Proteomics 2018; 181:73-82. [PMID: 29627624 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2018.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2017] [Revised: 02/23/2018] [Accepted: 04/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation causes significant lethal and sub-lethal damage to spermatozoa. In order to improve freezing outcomes, a comprehensive understanding of sub-lethal damage is required. Cryopreservation induced changes to sperm proteins have been investigated in several species, but few have employed currently available state of the art, data independent acquisition mass spectrometry (MS) methods. We used the SWATH LC-MS method to quantitatively profile proteomic changes to ram spermatozoa following exposure to egg yolk and cryopreservation. Egg yolk contributed 15 proteins to spermatozoa, including vitellogenins, apolipoproteins and complement component C3. Cryopreservation significantly altered the abundance of 51 proteins. Overall, 27 proteins increased (e.g. SERPINB1, FER) and 24 proteins decreased (e.g. CCT subunits, CSNK1G2, TOM1L1) in frozen thawed ram spermatozoa, compared to fresh spermatozoa. Chaperones constituted 20% of the proteins lost from spermatozoa following cryopreservation. These alterations may interfere with both normal cellular functioning and the ability of frozen thawed spermatozoa to appropriately respond to stress. This is the first study to apply SWATH mass spectrometry techniques to characterise proteins contributed by egg yolk based freezing media and to profile cryopreservation induced proteomic changes to ram spermatozoa. SIGNIFICANCE This study profiles changes to the sperm proteome induced by exposure to egg yolk based media and the process of cryopreservation, and the biological consequences are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Pini
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - J P Rickard
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - T Leahy
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - B Crossett
- Sydney Mass Spectrometry, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - X Druart
- UMR6175 INRA, CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - S P de Graaf
- Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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25
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Lamy J, Nogues P, Combes-Soia L, Tsikis G, Labas V, Mermillod P, Druart X, Saint-Dizier M. Identification by proteomics of oviductal sperm-interacting proteins. Reproduction 2018. [PMID: 29540510 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The interactions between oviductal fluid (OF) proteins and spermatozoa play major roles in sperm selection, storage and capacitation before fertilization. However, only a few sperm-interacting proteins in the OF has been identified and very little is known about the regulation of sperm-oviduct interactions across the estrous cycle. Samples of bovine frozen-thawed sperm from three bulls were incubated with OF at pre-, post-ovulatory stages (Pre-/Post-ov) or luteal phase (LP) of the estrous cycle (7 mg/mL proteins, treated groups) or with a protein-free media (control). The proteomes of sperm cells were assessed by nanoLC-MS/MS and quantified by label-free methods. A total of 27 sperm-interacting proteins originating in the OF were identified. Among those, 14 were detected at all stages, eight at Post-ov and LP and five only at LP. The sperm-interacting proteins detected at all stages or at LP and Post-ov were on average more abundant at LP than at other stages (P < 0.05). At Pre-ov, OVGP1 was the most abundant sperm-interacting protein while at Post-ov, ACTB, HSP27, MYH9, MYH14 and OVGP1 were predominant. Different patterns of abundance of sperm-interacting proteins related to the stage were evidenced, which greatly differed from those previously reported in the bovine OF. In conclusion, this study highlights the important regulations of sperm-oviduct interactions across the estrous cycle and provides new protein candidates that may modulate sperm functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Lamy
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Perrine Nogues
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Lucie Combes-Soia
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France.,INRACIRE (Plate-forme de Chirurgie et d'Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement), PAIB (Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules), Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valérie Labas
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France.,INRACIRE (Plate-forme de Chirurgie et d'Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement), PAIB (Pôle d'Analyse et d'Imagerie des Biomolécules), Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Mermillod
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France
| | - Marie Saint-Dizier
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)UMR85, INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, Nouzilly, France .,University of ToursFaculty of Sciences and Techniques, Tours, France
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26
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Tsikis G, Reynaud K, Ferchaud S, Druart X. Seminal plasma differentially alters the resistance of dog, ram and boar spermatozoa to hypotonic stress. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 193:1-8. [PMID: 29706418 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 12/15/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
During ejaculation and the deposition in the female genital tract, spermatozoa undergo hypo-osmotic stress and need to withstand it for optimal fertility. Resistance to hypo-osmotic stress may be affected by the interaction of the spermatozoa with seminal fluid components. The hypo-osmotic resistance of epididymal and ejaculated spermatozoa from dogs, rams and boars was assessed by flow cytometric measurement of sperm viability after incubation in NaCl solutions with osmolalities ranging from 0 to 300 mmol/kg. The hypotonic resistance of epididymal spermatozoa was greater than those of ejaculated spermatozoa in all three species. Among species comparison revealed that ejaculated spermatozoa from dogs were much more resistant than those from rams and boars as 80.4 ± 5.3%, 56.7 ± 4.7 and 9.6 ± 3.6% of live spermatozoa were observed following exposure to an osmolality of 90 mmol/kg in dogs, rams and boars respectively. This can be explained by the fact that dog, ram and boar differ markedly in composition of the seminal plasma owing to the presence (ram, boar) or absence (dog) of seminal vesicles. Hypotonic resistance of epididymal and ejaculated dog spermatozoa was similar whereas ram and boar spermatozoa showed a marked drop in resistance after ejaculation. The in vitro incubation of boar epididymal spermatozoa with raw seminal plasma or the seminal plasma protein fraction induced a similar loss of resistance, suggesting that seminal proteins are involved in the lack of resistance to hypotonic stress of boar ejaculated spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Tsikis
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
| | - Karine Reynaud
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Stéphane Ferchaud
- INRA, GenESI, UE 1372 Génétique, expérimentations et systèmes innovants, F-86480 Rouillé, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
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27
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Almiñana C, Corbin E, Tsikis G, Alcântara-Neto AS, Labas V, Reynaud K, Galio L, Uzbekov R, Garanina AS, Druart X, Mermillod P. Oviduct extracellular vesicles protein content and their role during oviduct-embryo cross-talk. Reproduction 2017. [PMID: 28630101 DOI: 10.1530/rep-17-0054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires an appropriate communication between the mother and the embryo. Recently, exosomes and microvesicles, both membrane-bound extracellular vesicles (EVs) present in the oviduct fluid have been proposed as key modulators of this unique cross-talk. However, little is known about their content and their role during oviduct-embryo dialog. Given the known differences in secretions by in vivo and in vitro oviduct epithelial cells (OEC), we aimed at deciphering the oviduct EVs protein content from both sources. Moreover, we analyzed their functional effect on embryo development. Our study demonstrated for the first time the substantial differences between in vivo and in vitro oviduct EVs secretion/content. Mass spectrometry analysis identified 319 proteins in EVs, from which 186 were differentially expressed when in vivo and in vitro EVs were compared (P < 0.01). Interestingly, 97 were exclusively expressed in in vivo EVs, 47 were present only in in vitro and 175 were common. Functional analysis revealed key proteins involved in sperm-oocyte binding, fertilization and embryo development, some of them lacking in in vitro EVs. Moreover, we showed that in vitro-produced embryos were able to internalize in vivo EVs during culture with a functional effect in the embryo development. In vivo EVs increased blastocyst rate, extended embryo survival over time and improved embryo quality. Our study provides the first characterization of oviduct EVs, increasing our understanding of the role of oviduct EVs as modulators of gamete/embryo-oviduct interactions. Moreover, our results point them as promising tools to improve embryo development and survival under in vitro conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Almiñana
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Emilie Corbin
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Agostinho S Alcântara-Neto
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Valérie Labas
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France.,UFRCHU, Pôle d'Imagerie de la Plate-forme de Chirurgie et Imagerie pour la Recherche et l'Enseignement (CIRE), INRA Nouzilly, France
| | - Karine Reynaud
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Laurent Galio
- UMR1198Biologie du Développement et Reproduction, INRA Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Rustem Uzbekov
- Laboratoire Biologie Cellulaire et Microscopie ElectroniqueFaculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France.,Faculty of Bioengineering and BioinformaticsMoscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Anastasiia S Garanina
- Laboratoire Biologie Cellulaire et Microscopie ElectroniqueFaculté de Médecine, Université François Rabelais, Tours, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
| | - Pascal Mermillod
- UMR0085 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements (PRC)Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique (INRA)/CNRS/Univ. Tours, Nouzilly, France
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28
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Allai L, Druart X, Louanjli N, Contell J, Nasser B, El Amiri B. Improvements of ram semen quality using cactus seed oil during liquid preservation in Tris egg yolk and skim milk based extenders. Small Rumin Res 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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29
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Rickard JP, Schmidt RE, Maddison JW, Bathgate R, Lynch GW, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Variation in seminal plasma alters the ability of ram spermatozoa to survive cryopreservation. Reprod Fertil Dev 2017; 28:516-23. [PMID: 25138237 DOI: 10.1071/rd14123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 07/31/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Variation in the effect of seminal plasma on sperm function and fertility has been hypothesised to be due to differences between males and their seminal plasma composition. The freezing resilience of individual rams (n=17) was investigated to characterise inter-male variation. This was determined by measuring the degree of change in motility induced by cryopreservation (Experiment 1). Experiment 2 examined the effect of pooled seminal plasma from rams identified as having high or low resilience to freezing on the cryosurvival of washed spermatozoa from either high (n=3) or low (n=3) sperm freezing resilience rams. Immediately after thawing and throughout the incubation period (0-4h), spermatozoa from high-resilience rams frozen with high-resilience seminal plasma demonstrated superior motility to spermatozoa from high-resilience rams frozen with low-resilience seminal plasma (P<0.001). Similarly, spermatozoa from low-resilience rams frozen with high-resilience seminal plasma exhibited higher motility than spermatozoa from low-resilience rams frozen with low-resilience seminal plasma immediately after thawing (0h; P<0.001). The present study shows that variation in freezing resilience of ram spermatozoa is related to the source and composition of the seminal plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Rickard
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - R E Schmidt
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - J W Maddison
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - R Bathgate
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - G W Lynch
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - X Druart
- UMR 6175 INRA, CNRS-Université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - S P de Graaf
- RMC Gunn Building, Regimental Drive, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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Maddison JW, Rickard JP, Bernecic NC, Tsikis G, Soleilhavoup C, Labas V, Combes-Soia L, Harichaux G, Druart X, Leahy T, de Graaf SP. Oestrus synchronisation and superovulation alter the cervicovaginal mucus proteome of the ewe. J Proteomics 2017; 155:1-10. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2017.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2016] [Revised: 01/02/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Allai L, Druart X, Öztürk M, BenMoula A, Nasser B, El Amiri B. Protective effects of Opuntia ficus-indica extract on ram sperm quality, lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation during liquid storage. Anim Reprod Sci 2016; 175:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2016] [Revised: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/23/2016] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Creppy A, Plouraboué F, Praud O, Druart X, Cazin S, Yu H, Degond P. Symmetry-breaking phase transitions in highly concentrated semen. J R Soc Interface 2016; 13:20160575. [PMID: 27733694 PMCID: PMC5095218 DOI: 10.1098/rsif.2016.0575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2016] [Accepted: 09/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
New experimental evidence of self-motion of a confined active suspension is presented. Depositing fresh semen sample in an annular shaped microfluidic chip leads to a spontaneous vortex state of the fluid at sufficiently large sperm concentration. The rotation occurs unpredictably clockwise or counterclockwise and is robust and stable. Furthermore, for highly active and concentrated semen, richer dynamics can occur such as self-sustained or damped rotation oscillations. Experimental results obtained with systematic dilution provide a clear evidence of a phase transition towards collective motion associated with local alignment of spermatozoa akin to the Vicsek model. A macroscopic theory based on previously derived self-organized hydrodynamics models is adapted to this context and provides predictions consistent with the observed stationary motion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adama Creppy
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, IMFT (Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse), Allés Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France CNRS, IMFT, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Franck Plouraboué
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, IMFT (Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse), Allés Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France CNRS, IMFT, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Praud
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, IMFT (Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse), Allés Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France CNRS, IMFT, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | | | - Sébastien Cazin
- Université de Toulouse, INPT, UPS, IMFT (Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse), Allés Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France CNRS, IMFT, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Hui Yu
- CNRS, Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse UMR 5219, 31062 Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Degond
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK
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Pini T, Leahy T, Soleilhavoup C, Tsikis G, Labas V, Combes-Soia L, Harichaux G, Rickard JP, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Proteomic Investigation of Ram Spermatozoa and the Proteins Conferred by Seminal Plasma. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:3700-3711. [PMID: 27636150 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Sperm proteomes have emerged for several species; however, the extent of species similarity is unknown. Sheep are an important agricultural species for which a comprehensive sperm proteome has not been produced. In addition, potential proteomic factors from seminal plasma that may contribute to improved fertility after cervical insemination are yet to be explored. Here we use liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the proteome of ejaculated ram spermatozoa, with quantitative comparison to epididymal spermatozoa. We also present a comparison to published proteomes of five other species. We identified 685 proteins in ejaculated ram spermatozoa, with the most abundant proteins involved in metabolic pathways. Only 5% of ram sperm proteins were not detected in other species, which suggest highly conserved structures and pathways. Of the proteins present in both epididymal and ejaculated ram spermatozoa, 7% were more abundant in ejaculated spermatozoa. Only two membrane-bound proteins were detected solely in ejaculated sperm lysates: liver enriched gene 1 (LEG1/C6orf58) and epidermal growth factor-like repeats and discoidin I-like domains 3 (EDIL3). This is the first evidence that despite its relatively complex proteomic composition, seminal plasma exposure leads to few novel proteins binding tightly to the ram sperm plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Pini
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Tamara Leahy
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | | | - Guillaume Tsikis
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours , 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Valerie Labas
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours , 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | | | | | - Jessica P Rickard
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Xavier Druart
- PRC, INRA, CNRS, IFCE, Université de Tours , 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney , Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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Maddison JW, Rickard JP, Mooney E, Bernecic NC, Soleilhavoup C, Tsikis G, Druart X, Leahy T, de Graaf SP. Oestrus synchronisation and superovulation alter the production and biochemical constituents of ovine cervicovaginal mucus. Anim Reprod Sci 2016; 172:114-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 06/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Rickard JP, Leahy T, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Exposure to seminal plasma reduces the duration that epididymal ram spermatozoa exhibit wave motion. Anim Reprod Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.03.057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Dacheux JL, Dacheux F, Druart X. Epididymal protein markers and fertility. Anim Reprod Sci 2016; 169:76-87. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2016.02.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2016] [Revised: 02/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
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Almiñana C, Corbin E, Harichaux G, Labas V, Tsikis G, Soleilhavoup C, Reynaud K, Druart X, Mermillod P. 78 INTERCEPTION OF EXOSOMAL MESSAGES BETWEEN THE OVIDUCT AND THE EMBRYO: WHAT ARE THEY TWEETING ABOUT? Reprod Fertil Dev 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/rdv28n2ab78] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful pregnancy requires an appropriate communication between the mother and the embryo(s). Recent studies indicate that exosomes, small (30–100 nm) membrane-bound vesicles of endocytotic origin, could act as intercellular vehicles in this unique communication system in the uterus. However, little is known about the role of these vesicles in the oviduct. Our study aimed at (1) demonstrating the existence of oviducal-embryo communication via exosomes, (2) deciphering the exosomal dialogue between them at the proteomic level, and (3) comparing the exosomal proteomic content to the oviducal fluid proteomic content in order to highlight the key role of exosomes in this dialogue. Cow oviducts (pool of 6 oviducts at different stages of the cycle in 4 replicates) were flushed, and exosomes were isolated by serial ultracentrifugation. Exosomes were measured by dynamic light scattering analysis, resulting in exosomes (63.25–97.03 nm) and microvesicle observations (>100 nm). Bovine embryos were produced in vitro up to the blastocyst and hatching/hatched blastocyst stages. To demonstrate the existence of the oviducal-embryo communication via exosomes, oviducal exosomes were labelled with green fluorescent dye (PKH67), filtered (0.22 µm) to remove microvesicles, and co-incubated with blastocysts and hatching/hatched (H) blastocysts for 20 h, under 5% CO2 and 5% O2 conditions. Subsequently, embryos were washed in exosome-free medium, fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde, and labelled with Hoechst 33342 and Actin Red Phallodin. Confocal microscopy observations confirmed that exosomes were internalized by blastocysts and H-blastocysts and located around the nucleus, demonstrating the existence of an oviducal-embryo communication via exosomes. Moreover, our results showed that the zona pellucida does not represent a barrier for exosomes and they act as natural nanoshuttles bringing oviducal signals into the embryo. Then, proteomic analysis by LC1D-nanoESI-LTQ-Orbitrap was used to decipher oviducal exosomal content, identifying 480 proteins. Gene ontology analysis revealed that a high number of these proteins were involved in metabolism (24.9%), cellular process (19.3%), and 0.8% reproductive processes. Further analysis revealed that more than 56% of exosomal proteins involved in cellular process were associated with cell-to-cell communication. Finally, exosomal proteins were compared with proteins present in oviducal fluid from a pool of samples from cows at Day 0 and Day 10 of the oestrous cycle. Comparative analysis showed that from a total of 607 proteins identified in both oviducal exosomes and fluid sources, 105 were specific to exosomes, 127 were specific to fluid, whereas 375 were common to both sources. Our findings provide the first evidence of oviducal-embryo communication via exosomes, an important first step in furthering the understanding of the oviducal environment and the role of exosomes as early mediators of embryo-maternal cross talk.
This research was supported by the EU AgreenSkills fellowship n° 267196 and EU FECUND Project no 312097.
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Soleilhavoup C, Riou C, Tsikis G, Labas V, Harichaux G, Kohnke P, Reynaud K, de Graaf SP, Gerard N, Druart X. Proteomes of the Female Genital Tract During the Oestrous Cycle. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 15:93-108. [PMID: 26518761 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.052332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2015] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The female genital tract includes several anatomical regions whose luminal fluids successively interact with gametes and embryos and are involved in the fertilisation and development processes. The luminal fluids from the inner cervix, the uterus and the oviduct were collected along the oestrous cycle at oestrus (Day 0 of the cycle) and during the luteal phase (Day 10) from adult cyclic ewes. The proteomes were assessed by GeLC-MS/MS and quantified by spectral counting. A set of 940 proteins were identified including 291 proteins differentially present along the cycle in one or several regions. The global analysis of the fluid proteomes revealed a general pattern of endocrine regulation of the tract, with the cervix and the oviduct showing an increased differential proteins abundance mainly at oestrus while the uterus showed an increased abundance mainly during the luteal phase. The proteins more abundant at oestrus included several families such as the heat shock proteins (HSP), the mucins, the complement cascade proteins and several redox enzymes. Other proteins known for their interaction with gametes such as oviductin (OVGP), osteopontin, HSPA8, and the spermadhesin AWN were also overexpressed at oestrus. The proteins more abundant during the luteal phase were associated with the immune system such as ceruloplasmin, lactoferrin, DMBT1, or PIGR, and also with tissue remodeling such as galectin 3 binding protein, alkaline phosphatase, CD9, or fibulin. Several proteins differentially abundant between estrus and the luteal phase, such as myosin 9 and fibronectin, were also validated by immunohistochemistry. The potential roles in sperm transit and uterine receptivity of the proteins differentially regulated along the cycle in the female genital tract are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement Soleilhavoup
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Cindy Riou
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Guillaume Tsikis
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Valerie Labas
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; **INRA, Plate-forme d'Analyse Intégrative des Biomolécules (PAIB), Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gregoire Harichaux
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; **INRA, Plate-forme d'Analyse Intégrative des Biomolécules (PAIB), Laboratoire de Spectrométrie de Masse, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Philippa Kohnke
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Karine Reynaud
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ‡‡Alfort Veterinary School, 94700 Maisons Alfort, France
| | - Simon P de Graaf
- §§Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Nadine Gerard
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- From the ‡INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; §CNRS, UMR7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; ¶Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; ‖IFCE, Institut Français du Cheval et de l'Equitation, F-37380 Nouzilly, France;
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Mata-Campuzano M, Soleilhavoup C, Tsikis G, Martinez-Pastor F, de Graaf SP, Druart X. Motility of liquid stored ram spermatozoa is altered by dilution rate independent of seminal plasma concentration. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 162:31-6. [PMID: 26421370 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2015] [Revised: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 09/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The fertility after use of liquid stored ram semen following cervical AI rapidly decreases if semen is stored beyond 12h. The dilution of seminal plasma is often cited as a key contributor to the diminished motility and fertility of ram spermatozoa subjected to liquid preservation. Two experiments were conducted to assess the effect of spermatozoa concentration (i.e. dilution rate) and percentage of seminal plasma on the motility and viability of liquid stored ram spermatozoa. In Experiment 1, semen was diluted to one of seven concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 1.4×10(9)spermatozoa/ml with milk and assessed for motility after 3 or 24h of storage at 15°C. In Experiment 2, semen was collected and washed to remove seminal plasma before re-dilution to 0.2-1.4×10(9)spermatozoa/ml with milk containing 0%, 20% or 40% (final v/v ratio) seminal plasma and assessed for viability and motility after 3 or 24h of storage at 15°C. Whereas motility was not affected by spermatozoa concentration after 3h of storage, the proportion of progressive spermatozoa decreased after 24h of storage when spermatozoa concentration was greater than 1.0×10(9)spermatozoa/ml. The duration of preservation and the spermatozoa concentration affected spermatozoa motility but had no impact on spermatozoa viability. This negative effect of greater spermatozoa concentrations on motility was independent of the presence and the concentration of seminal plasma. The seminal plasma at both concentrations (20% and 40%) had a protective effect on spermatozoa motility after 24h of storage. These findings have the potential to improve the efficiency of cervical AI with liquid stored ram semen.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - C Soleilhavoup
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - G Tsikis
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380 Nouzilly, France
| | | | - S P de Graaf
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - X Druart
- INRA, UMR 85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; CNRS, UMR 7247, F-37380 Nouzilly, France; Université François Rabelais de Tours, F-37000 Tours, France; IFCE, F-37380 Nouzilly, France.
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Meslin C, Laurin M, Callebaut I, Druart X, Monget P. Evolution of species-specific major seminal fluid proteins in placental mammals by gene death and positive selection. CTOZ 2015. [DOI: 10.1163/18759866-08403003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The seminal fluid is a complex substance composed of a variety of secreted proteins and has been shown to play an important role in the fertilisation process in mammals and also in Drosophila. Several genes under positive selection have been documented in some rodents and primates. Our study documents this phenomenon in several other mammalian taxa. We study the evolution of genes that encode for 20 proteins that are quantitatively predominant in the seminal fluid of at least one out of seven domestic animal species. We analyse the amino acid composition of these proteins for positive selection and for the presence of pseudogenes. Genes that disappeared through pseudogenisation include KLK2 in cattle, horse and mice. Traces of positive selection are found in seven genes. The identified amino acids are located in regions exposed to the protein surface, suggesting a role in the interaction of gametes, with possible impact on the process of speciation. Moreover, we found no evidence that the predominance of proteins in seminal fluid and their mode of evolution are correlated, and the uncoupled patterns of change suggest that this result is not due solely to lack of statistical power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camille Meslin
- 1 UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 2 UMR7247, CNRS Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 3 Université François Rabelais de Tours F-37041 Tours France
- 4 Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, Nouzilly F-37380 France
| | - Michel Laurin
- 5 CR2P (UMR 7207), Sorbonne Universités, CNRS/MNHN/UPMC, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle Bâtiment de Géologie Case Postale 48, 57 rue Cuvier 75005 Paris France
- 7 E-mail:
| | - Isabelle Callebaut
- 6 IMPMC, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Univ Paris 06, UMR CNRS 7590, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle IRD UMR 206 75005 Paris France
| | - Xavier Druart
- 1 UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 2 UMR7247, CNRS Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 3 Université François Rabelais de Tours F-37041 Tours France
- 4 Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, Nouzilly F-37380 France
| | - Philippe Monget
- 1 UMR85 Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, INRA Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 2 UMR7247, CNRS Nouzilly F-37380 France
- 3 Université François Rabelais de Tours F-37041 Tours France
- 4 Institut Français du Cheval et de l’Equitation, Nouzilly F-37380 France
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Abstract
Collective motion of self-sustained swarming flows has recently provided examples of small-scale turbulence arising where viscous effects are dominant. We report the first observation of universal enstrophy cascade in concentrated swarming sperm consistent with a body of evidence built from various independent measurements. We found a well-defined k^{-3} power-law decay of a velocity field power spectrum and relative dispersion of small beads consistent with theoretical predictions in 2D turbulence. Concentrated living sperm displays long-range, correlated whirlpool structures of a size that provides an integral scale of turbulence. We propose a consistent explanation for this quasi-2D turbulence based on self-structured laminated flow forced by steric interactions and alignment, a state of active matter that we call "swarming liquid crystal." We develop scaling arguments consistent with this interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adama Creppy
- University of Toulouse, INPT-UPS, IMFT, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, France, and IMFT-CNRS, UMR 5502, 1, Allée du Professeur Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | - Olivier Praud
- University of Toulouse, INPT-UPS, IMFT, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, France, and IMFT-CNRS, UMR 5502, 1, Allée du Professeur Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Franck Plouraboué
- University of Toulouse, INPT-UPS, IMFT, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides de Toulouse, France, and IMFT-CNRS, UMR 5502, 1, Allée du Professeur Camille Soula, 31400 Toulouse, France
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David I, Kohnke P, Lagriffoul G, Praud O, Plouarboué F, Degond P, Druart X. Mass sperm motility is associated with fertility in sheep. Anim Reprod Sci 2015; 161:75-81. [PMID: 26364125 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2015.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2015] [Revised: 08/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
The study was to focus on the relationship between wave motion (mass sperm motility, measured by a mass sperm motility score, manually assessed by artificial insemination (AI) center operators) and fertility in male sheep. A dataset of 711,562 artificial inseminations performed in seven breeds by five French AI centers during the 2001-2005 time period was used for the analysis. Factors influencing the outcome of the insemination, which is a binary response observed at lambing of either success (1) or failure (0), were studied using a joint model within each breed and AI center (eight separate analyses). The joint model is a multivariate model where all information related to the female, the male and the insemination process were included to improve the estimation of the factor effects. Results were consistent for all analyses. The male factors affecting AI results were the age of the ram and the mass motility. After correction for the other factors of variation, the lambing rate increased quasi linearly from three to more than ten points with the mass sperm motility score depending on the breed and the AI center. The consistency of the relationship for all breeds indicated that mass sperm motility is predictive of the fertility resulting when sperm are used from a specific ejaculate. Nonetheless, predictability could be improved if an objective measurement of mass sperm motility were available as a substitute for the subjective scoring currently in use in AI centers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid David
- INRA, GenPhySE (Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage), F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; Université de Toulouse, INP, ENSAT, GenPhySE (Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage), F-31326 Castanet-Tolosan, France; Université de Toulouse, INP, ENVT, GenPhySE (Génétique, Physiologie et Systèmes d'Elevage), F-31076 Toulouse, France.
| | - Philippa Kohnke
- INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, Haras Nationaux, SPARC (Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements), 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gilles Lagriffoul
- Institut de l'Elevage, ANIO, BP 42118, 31320 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Olivier Praud
- Université de Toulouse - INPT-UPS, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Franck Plouarboué
- Université de Toulouse - INPT-UPS, Institut de Mécanique des Fluides, 31000 Toulouse, France
| | - Pierre Degond
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
| | - Xavier Druart
- INRA, CNRS, Université de Tours, Haras Nationaux, SPARC (Station de Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements), 37380 Nouzilly, France
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Riou C, Gargaros A, Harichaux G, Brionne A, Gautron J, Druart X, Labas V, Gerard N. 15 SPERM STORAGE IN FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE TRACT: STUDY OF MOLECULES INVOLVED. Reprod Fertil Dev 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/rdv27n1ab15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Because of prolonged sperm storage in their oviduct, domestic hens can produce fertile eggs for up to 3 weeks following a single AI. The oviduct secretions may have an effect on sperm survival, but its composition during fertilization is unknown. In the present study, we compared the proteomic content of uterine fluid collected from two lines of hens divergent by their duration of fertility period (DFP), which defined sperm-storage duration. The first line displays a shorter period of sperm storage (10 days, line DFP–), whereas the second displays a longer period of sperm storage (21 days, DFP+). The aim was to identify proteins or peptides that may be involved in spermatozoa survival. Uterine fluid was collected 10 h after oviposition either before (n = 5/line) or 24 h after (n = 5/line) AI. Samples were pooled by condition: DFP+ before AI, DFP+ after AI, DFP– before AI, and DFP– after AI. Bottom-up approach using sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and nano LC-MS/MS was performed (3 replicates). Data were matched against the NCBInr database (2014) using Mascot, and identifications were validated by the peptide and protein Prophet algorithm using Scaffold software. To determine the differences in protein expression, spectral counting and XIC quantitative methods were employed using Scaffold Q+ (P < 0.05, ratio > 2). Two proteins were up-regulated and one was down-regulated in oviductal secretion of both lines in response to AI. However, AI induced a significantly different abundance between protein content of DFP– and DFP+ fluids. A panel of 8 proteins, included one DFP+-specific protein, was more abundant in DFP+ line than in DFP–. Only one protein was less abundant in DFP+ line than in DFP–. In conclusion, the presence of sperm in the genital tract induced quantitative differences of the protein content of the uterine fluid in DFP– and DFP+ hen lines. These differences imply proteins that are known as male proteins (sperm, seminal plasma, testis). Analysis of sperm protein modifications after storage will help us to understand the functional implication of these candidates.
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Rickard JP, Pini T, Soleilhavoup C, Cognie J, Bathgate R, Lynch GW, Evans G, Maxwell WMC, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa. Reproduction 2014. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0285e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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Rickard JP, Pini T, Soleilhavoup C, Cognie J, Bathgate R, Lynch GW, Evans G, Maxwell WMC, Druart X, de Graaf SP. Seminal plasma aids the survival and cervical transit of epididymal ram spermatozoa. Reproduction 2014; 148:469-78. [DOI: 10.1530/rep-14-0285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Seminal plasma purportedly plays a critical role in reproduction, but epididymal spermatozoa are capable of fertilisation following deposition in the uterus, calling into question the biological requirement of this substance. Through a combination of direct observation of spermatozoa in utero using probe-based Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy, in vivo assessment of sperm fertility and in vitro analysis of various sperm functional parameters, this study investigated the role of seminal plasma in spermatozoa transit through the cervix of the ewe. Following deposition in the cervical os, epididymal spermatozoa previously exposed to seminal plasma displayed an enhanced ability to traverse the cervix as evidenced by both significantly higher pregnancy rates and numbers of spermatozoa observed at the utero-tubal junction when compared with epididymal spermatozoa not previously exposed to seminal plasma. The beneficial effect of seminal plasma on sperm transport was clearly localised to transit through the cervix as pregnancy rates of spermatozoa deposited directly into the uterus were unaffected by exposure to seminal plasma. This phenomenon was not explained by changes to sperm motion characteristics, as seminal plasma had no effect on the motility, kinematic parameters or mitochondrial membrane potential of spermatozoa. Rather, in vitro testing revealed that seminal plasma improved the ability of epididymal spermatozoa to penetrate cervical mucus recovered from ewes in oestrus. These results demonstrate that the survival and transport of ram spermatozoa through the cervix of the ewe is not linked to their motility or velocity but rather the presence of some cervical penetration trait conferred by exposure to seminal plasma.
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Soleilhavoup C, Tsikis G, Labas V, Harichaux G, Kohnke P, Dacheux J, Guérin Y, Gatti J, de Graaf S, Druart X. Ram seminal plasma proteome and its impact on liquid preservation of spermatozoa. J Proteomics 2014; 109:245-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2014.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 07/01/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Dacheux JL, Belleannée C, Guyonnet B, Labas V, Teixeira-Gomes AP, Ecroyd H, Druart X, Gatti JL, Dacheux F. The contribution of proteomics to understanding epididymal maturation of mammalian spermatozoa. Syst Biol Reprod Med 2012; 58:197-210. [DOI: 10.3109/19396368.2012.663233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
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Kershaw-Young CM, Druart X, Vaughan J, Maxwell WMC. β-Nerve growth factor is a major component of alpaca seminal plasma and induces ovulation in female alpacas. Reprod Fertil Dev 2012; 24:1093-7. [DOI: 10.1071/rd12039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2012] [Accepted: 03/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovulation in camelids is induced by an unidentified protein in the seminal plasma of the male termed ‘ovulation-inducing factor’. This protein has been reported to be a 14-kDa protein under reducing conditions, which, when purified from seminal plasma, induces ovulation in llamas. The identification of this protein and investigation of its potential to induce ovulation in camelids may aid the development of protocols for the induction of ovulation. In the present study, alpaca seminal plasma proteins were separated using one-dimensional sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and the most abundant protein of 14 kDa was identified as β-nerve growth factor (β-NGF) by liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Female alpacas (n = 5 per group) were given intramuscular injections of: (1) 1 mL of 0.9% saline; (2) 4 µg buserelin, a gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist; (3) 2 mL alpaca seminal plasma; or (4) 1 mg human β-NGF. Ovulation was detected by transrectal ultrasonography 8 days after treatment and confirmed by plasma progesterone concentrations. Ovulation occurred in 0%, 80%, 80% and 80% of animals treated with saline, buserelin, seminal plasma and β-NGF, respectively. Treatment type did not affect the diameter of the corpus luteum, but plasma progesterone concentrations were lower in saline-treated animals than in the other treatment groups owing to the lack of a corpus luteum. The present study is the first to identify the ovulation-inducing factor protein in alpacas. β-NGF successfully induces ovulation in alpacas and this finding may lead to new methods for the induction of ovulation in camelids.
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Druart X, Cognie J, Baril G, Clement F, Dacheux JL, Gatti JL. [In vivo imaging of ram spermatozoa in the ewe genital tract using fibered confocal microscopy]. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 39:633-5. [PMID: 22000831 DOI: 10.1016/j.gyobfe.2011.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2011] [Accepted: 08/19/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Sperm transit in the female tract is one of the key factors in the success of fertilization after artificial insemination in sheep species. However, its study is limited by the absence of in vivo imaging methods. The imaging of ram sperm in the female genital tract was made possible using the confocal fibered microscopy and fluorescent stains adapted to spermatozoa. Our results show the active role of the uterotubal junction in the selection of sperm during their transit.
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Affiliation(s)
- X Druart
- UMR 6175 Inra, CNRS-université de Tours-Haras Nationaux, physiologie de la reproduction et des comportements, 37380 Nouzilly, France.
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