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- Alvarez-Rodriguez, Manuel, 1983-, et al.
(author)
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Exogenous Individual Lecithin-Phospholipids (Phosphatidylcholine and Phosphatidylglycerol) Cannot Prevent the Oxidative Stress Imposed by Cryopreservation of Boar Sperm.
- 2017
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In: Journal of veterinary medicine and surgery. - : imedpub. - 2574-2868. ; 1:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Despite the use of high proportions of the chemically undefined lipoprotein/phospholipid-rich egg-yolk in extenders, boar sperm are highly sensitive to cooling, which induces ROS generation and disrupts the plasma membrane.Here, we studied whether replacement of hen egg-yolk by commercially defined lecithin phospholipids, derived from egg (LPGE: phosphatidyl glycerol, LPCE: phosphatidyl choline) or soybean (LPCS: phosphatidyl choline), could individually ameliorate such oxidative effects during cryopreservation of ejaculated (sperm rich fraction, SRF) or of cauda-epididymal sperm, retrieved post-mortem from the same males.Methods: A conventional extender (lactose buffer, with 20% egg-yolk, 0.5% OEP and 3% glycerol) was used as control. Cryodamage was assessed as loss of sperm motility, membrane and acrosome intactness, early membrane destabilization changes, mitochondrial potential, superoxide and ROS production, to finally determine lipid peroxidation (LPO) using specific probes.Results and conclusion: In general, the exogenous phospholipids assayed were unable of maintaining neither sperm motility nor viability post-thaw compared to controls, owing to increased ROS production and lipid peroxidation. In our study, mitochondrial superoxide production resulted in very high levels for all groups, whereas both ROS production and lipid peroxidation were reduced in the control group, containing emulsified hen egg yolk. Further studies using various dosage and combination of LPCS should be followed for their eventual protective effect.Keywords: Cryodamage; Sperm; Boar; Mitochondrial activation; Mitochondrial superoxide; ROS production; Lipid peroxidation
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2. |
- Alvarez-Rodriguez, Manuel, et al.
(author)
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Hyaluronan improves neither the long-term storage nor the cryosurvival of liquid-stored CD44-bearing Al boar spermatozoa
- 2018
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In: Journal of reproduction and development. - : SOCIETY REPRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT-SRD. - 0916-8818 .- 1348-4400. ; 64:4, s. 351-360
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid, HA) apparently improves sperm survival in vitro and in vivo (oviduct), maintaining sperm motility and inducing capacitation, but not acrosome exocytosis, either by direct action as a macromolecule or via CD44 membrane receptors. This study explored ejaculated, liquid-extended pig spermatozoa to ascertain (i) the presence (Western blotting) and specific location (immunocytochemistry) of the CD44 receptor, using a specific monoclonal commercial antibody; (ii) whether the CD44 receptor changed location when exposed to bicarbonate, a capacitating trigger, in vitro; and (iii) whether the addition of HA, of molecular size comparable to that produced in the oviduct sperm reservoir (0.0625 to 2.0 mg/ml; 0 HA: control), to semen extenders would improve sperm liquid storage in vitro or cryosurvival post freezing. Variables tested were sperm velocity and progressive motility (Qualisperm (TM)), sperm viability and acrosome status, membrane integrity and early destabilization, mitochondrial activation, and superoxide production (flow cytometry). The CD44 receptor presence in ejaculated, liquid-stored AI boar spermatozoa, as confirmed by a porcine-specific monoclonal antibody, maintained its membrane location under in vitro capacitation-inducing conditions. HA exposure to 24-, 48-, or 72-h liquid-stored (17-20 degrees C) spermatozoa lowered sperm velocity in membrane-intact spermatozoa, but increased mitochondrial superoxide production. Finally, HA addition during cooling did not improve cryosurvival but did increase mitochondrial activation and membrane destabilization in surviving cells. These results confirm the existence of a CD44 receptor in pig spermatozoa, but the usefulness of adding HA for long-term storage or cryopreservation of liquid-stored, extended boar semen remains in question, thereby warranting further non-empirical analyses of HA-sperm membrane interactions.
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3. |
- Atikuzzaman, Mohammad, et al.
(author)
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Conserved gene expression in sperm reservoirs between birds and mammals in response to mating.
- 2017
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In: BMC Genomics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2164. ; 18:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Spermatozoa are stored in the oviductal functional sperm reservoir in animals with internal fertilization, including zoologically distant classes such as pigs or poultry. They are held fertile in the reservoir for times ranging from a couple of days (in pigs), to several weeks (in chickens), before they are gradually released to fertilize the newly ovulated eggs. It is currently unknown whether females from these species share conserved mechanisms to tolerate such a lengthy presence of immunologically-foreign spermatozoa. Therefore, global gene expression was assessed using cDNA microarrays on tissue collected from the avian utero-vaginal junction (UVJ), and the porcine utero-tubal junction (UTJ) to determine expression changes after mating (entire semen deposition) or in vivo cloacal/cervical infusion of sperm-free seminal fluid (SF)/seminal plasma (SP).RESULTS: In chickens, mating changed the expression of 303 genes and SF-infusion changed the expression of 931 genes, as compared to controls, with 68 genes being common to both treatments. In pigs, mating or SP-infusion changed the expressions of 1,722 and 1,148 genes, respectively, as compared to controls, while 592 genes were common to both treatments. The differentially expressed genes were significantly enriched for GO categories related to immune system functions (35.72-fold enrichment). The top 200 differentially expressed genes of each treatment in each animal class were analysed for gene ontology. In both pig and chicken, an excess of genes affecting local immune defence were activated, though frequently these were down-regulated. Similar genes were found in both the chicken and pig, either involved in pH-regulation (SLC16A2, SLC4A9, SLC13A1, SLC35F1, ATP8B3, ATP13A3) or immune-modulation (IFIT5, IFI16, MMP27, ADAMTS3, MMP3, MMP12).CONCLUSION: Despite being phylogenetically distant, chicken and pig appear to share some gene functions for the preservation of viable spermatozoa in the female reservoirs.
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5. |
- Barranco, Isabel, et al.
(author)
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Active paraoxonase 1 is synthesised throughout the internal boar genital organs.
- 2017
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In: Reproduction (Cambridge, England). - : Bioscientifica. - 1741-7899. ; 154:3, s. 237-243
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The paraoxonase type 1 (PON1) is an enzyme with antioxidant properties recently identified in the seminal plasma (SP) of several species, including the porcine. The aims of the present study were to (1) describe the immunohistochemical localisation of PON1 in the genital organs of fertile boars and (2) evaluate the relationship among PON1 activity and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration in fluids of the boar genital organs. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that PON1 was present in testis (specifically in Leydig cells, blood vessels, spermatogonia and elongated spermatids), epididymis (specifically in the cytoplasm of the principal epithelial cells, luminal secretion and in the surrounding smooth muscle) and the lining epithelia of the accessory sexual glands (cytoplasmic location in the prostate and membranous in the seminal vesicle and bulbourethral glands). The Western blotting analysis confirmed the presence of PON1 in all boar genital organs, showing in all of them a band of 51 kDa and an extra band of 45 kDa only in seminal vesicles. PON1 showed higher activity levels in epididymal fluid than those in SP of the entire ejaculate or of specific ejaculate portions. A highly positive relationship between PON1 activity and HDL-C concentration was found in all genital fluids. In sum, all boar genital organs contributing to sperm-accompanying fluid/s were able to express PON1, whose activity in these genital fluids is highly dependent on the variable HDL-C concentration present.
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6. |
- Barranco, Isabel, et al.
(author)
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Glutathione Peroxidase 5 Is Expressed by the Entire Pig Male Genital Tract and Once in the Seminal Plasma Contributes to Sperm Survival and In Vivo Fertility
- 2016
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In: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 11:9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glutathione peroxidase-5 (GPX5) is an H2O2-scavenging enzyme identified in boar seminal plasma (SP). This study attempted to clarify its origin and role on sperm survival and fertility after artificial insemination (AI). GPX5 was expressed (Western blot and immunocytochemistry using a rabbit primary polyclonal antibody) in testes, epididymis and accessory sex glands (6 boars). SP-GPX5 concentration differed among boars (11 boars, P amp;lt; 0.001), among ejaculates within boar (44 ejaculates, P amp;lt; 0.001) and among portions within ejaculate (15 ejaculates). The first 10 mL of the spermrich fraction (SRF, sperm-peak portion) had a significantly lower concentration (8.87 +/- 0.78 ng/mL) than the rest of the SRF and the post-SRF (11.66 +/- 0.79 and 12.37 +/- 0.79 ng/mL, respectively, P amp;lt; 0.005). Spermmotility of liquid-stored semen AI-doses (n = 44, at 15-17 degrees C during 72h) declined faster in AI-doses with low concentrations of SP-GPX5 compared to those with high-levels. Boars (n = 11) with high SP-GPX5 showed higher farrowing rates and litter sizes than those with low SP-GPX5 (a total of 5,275 inseminated sows). In sum, GPX5 is widely expressed in the boar genital tract and its variable presence in SP shows a positive relationship with sperm quality and fertility outcomes of liquid-stored semen AI-doses.
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7. |
- Barranco, Isabel, et al.
(author)
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Measurement of Activity and Concentration of Paraoxonase 1 (PON-1) in Seminal Plasma and Identification of PON-2 in the Sperm of Boar Ejaculates
- 2015
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In: Molecular Reproduction and Development. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 1040-452X .- 1098-2795. ; 82:1, s. 58-65
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This study revealed and characterised the presence of the antioxidant enzymes paraoxonase (PON) type 1 (PON-1, extracellular) and type 2 (PON-2, intracellular) in boar semen. To evaluate PON-1, an entire ejaculate from each of ten boars was collected and the seminal plasma was harvested after double centrifugation (1,500g for 10min). Seminal plasma was analysed for concentration as well as enzymatic activity of PON-1 and total cholesterol levels. Seminal-plasma PON-1 concentration ranged from 0.961 to 1.670ng/ml while its enzymatic activity ranged from 0.056 to 0.400 IU/ml, which represent individual variance. Seminal-plasma PON-1 concentration and enzymatic activity were negatively correlated (r=-0.763; Pless than0.01). The activity of seminal-plasma PON-1 negatively correlated with ejaculate volume (r=-0.726, Pless than0.05), but positively correlated with sperm concentration (r=0.654, Pless than0.05). Total seminal-plasma cholesterol concentration positively correlated with PON-1 activity (r=0.773; Pless than0.01), but negatively correlated with PON-1 concentration (r=-0.709; Pless than0.05). The presence of intracellular PON-2 was determined via immunocytochemistry in spermatozoa derived from artificial insemination. PON-2 localised to the post-acrosomal area of the sperm head and principal piece of the tail in membrane-intact spermatozoa. In summary, PON is present in boar semen, with PON-1 at low levels in seminal plasma and PON-2 within the spermatozoa. Further studies are needed to characterise the relationship between antioxidant PONs with sperm and other seminal-plasma parameters. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 82: 58-65, 2015. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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8. |
- Gonzalez-Arto, Marta, et al.
(author)
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Melatonin receptors MT1 and MT2 are expressed in spermatozoa from several seasonal and nonseasonal breeder species
- 2016
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In: Theriogenology. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 0093-691X .- 1879-3231. ; 86:8, s. 1958-1968
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Melatonin is a ubiquitous and multipurpose molecule, and one of its roles is to regulate reproduction in some seasonal mammals. Our group has previously reported the variation in the melatonin levels in ram seminal plasma along the year and identified MT1 and MT2 receptors in ram spermatozoa. The objective of this study was to elucidate whether the presence of melatonin receptors (MT1 and MT2) in the sperm plasma membrane, and melatonin in the seminal plasma is related to seasonal breeding. For this purpose, the presence of melatonin receptors and tseasonal breeder (epididymal spermatozoa); bull as a conventional nonseasonhe levels of melatonin in seminal plasma have been examined in several species: donkey and stallion as long-day breeders; red deer as a wild, short-day, highly al breeder; boar as a seasonal breeder, under management techniques; and dog as possible a seasonal breeder not regulated by melatonin. We have detected measurable levels of melatonin in the seminal plasma of all ejaculated semen samples (from donkey, stallion, boar, bull, and dog). Also, and for the first time, we have demonstrated the presence of MT1 and MT2 melatonin receptors in the spermatozoa of all these species, regardless their type of reproduction or sperm source (ejaculated or epididymal), using indirect immunofluorescence techniques and Western blotting. Our findings suggest that melatonin and melatonin receptors may be universally distributed in the reproductive system of mammals and that the sperm melatonin receptors cells may not be necessarily related with seasonal reproduction. Furthermore, the presence of MT1 at the cytoplasmic droplet in immature ejaculated stallion spermatozoa found in one sample and epididymal red deer spermatozoa suggests that melatonin may be involved in specific functions during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, like protecting spermatozoa from oxidative damage, this activity being mediated through these receptors. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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9. |
- Iso-Touru, Terhi, et al.
(author)
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A splice donor variant in CCDC189 is associated with asthenospermia in Nordic Red dairy cattle
- 2019
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In: BMC Genomics. - : BioMed Central. - 1471-2164. ; 20:1
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundCattle populations are highly amenable to the genetic mapping of male reproductive traits because longitudinal data on ejaculate quality and dense microarray-derived genotypes are available for thousands of artificial insemination bulls. Two young Nordic Red bulls delivered sperm with low progressive motility (i.e., asthenospermia) during a semen collection period of more than four months. The bulls were related through a common ancestor on both their paternal and maternal ancestry. Thus, a recessive mode of inheritance of asthenospermia was suspected.ResultsBoth bulls were genotyped at 54,001 SNPs using the Illumina BovineSNP50 Bead chip. A scan for autozygosity revealed that they were identical by descent for a 2.98 Mb segment located on bovine chromosome 25. This haplotype was not found in the homozygous state in 8557 fertile bulls although five homozygous haplotype carriers were expected (P = 0.018). Whole genome-sequencing uncovered that both asthenospermic bulls were homozygous for a mutation that disrupts a canonical 5′ splice donor site of CCDC189 encoding the coiled-coil domain containing protein 189. Transcription analysis showed that the derived allele activates a cryptic splice site resulting in a frameshift and premature termination of translation. The mutated CCDC189 protein is truncated by more than 40%, thus lacking the flagellar C1a complex subunit C1a-32 that is supposed to modulate the physiological movement of the sperm flagella. The mutant allele occurs at a frequency of 2.5% in Nordic Red cattle.ConclusionsOur study in cattle uncovered that CCDC189 is required for physiological movement of sperm flagella thus enabling active progression of spermatozoa and fertilization. A direct gene test may be implemented to monitor the asthenospermia-associated allele and prevent the birth of homozygous bulls that are infertile. Our results have been integrated in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Animals (OMIA) database (https://omia.org/OMIA002167/9913/).
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10. |
- Rodriguez-Martinez, Heriberto, et al.
(author)
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The ubiquitous hyaluronan: Functionally implicated in the oviduct?
- 2016
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In: Theriogenology. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE INC. - 0093-691X .- 1879-3231. ; 86:1, s. 182-186
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid) is a simple, nonantigenic, nonsulfated glycosaminoglycan present everywhere in the extracellular compartments of the body. Noteworthy, it is highly conserved phylogenetically, from sauropsida to mammals; and plays a plethora of roles from embryonic/fetal development to adult physiological and pathological events, including tumor development. In reproduction, hyaluronan has proven related to initial events as sperm survival, buildup of the sperm reservoir in the oviduct, regulation of sperm capacitation, and prefertilization to later participate in embryo, fetal, and placental development. Synthesis, binding (via the CD44 membrane receptor), and degradation of hyaluronan occur in male and female genital organs, the oviduct being no exception. This review discusses our current knowledge on roles of this ubiquitous glycosaminoglycan on the survival of immunologically foreign spermatozoa in the pig oviduct, a relevant event for fertility. During preovulatory storage in the functional tubal sperm reservoir, spermatozoa are entrapped in a mucus-like tubal fluid. This fluid contains fluctuating levels of hyaluronan, which is synthesized by the lining epithelium by hyaluronan synthase 3. Both hyaluronan and its CD44 receptor are particularly evident in the deep mucosal furrows of the sperm reservoir, in which most spermatozoa are embedded in; kept alive, uncapacitated but also undetected by the immune system of the female. Hyaluronan is also present in the seminal plasma, and evidence points toward an involvement of hyaluronan and its receptor in the local (tubal and possibly uterine) production of antiinflammatory cytokines, such as interleulcin-10, pertaining maternal immune tolerance of these foreign cells. (C) 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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