1. |
- Munoz, P. Martin, et al.
(author)
-
Redox cycling induces spermptosis and necrosis in stallion spermatozoa while the hydroxyl radical (OH center dot) only induces spermptosis
- 2018
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : WILEY. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 53:1, s. 54-67
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oxidative stress is a major factor explaining sperm dysfunction of spermatozoa surviving freezing and thawing and is also considered a major inducer of a special form of apoptosis, visible after thawing, in cryopreserved spermatozoa. To obtain further insights into the link between oxidative stress and the induction of apoptotic changes, stallion spermatozoa were induced to oxidative stress through redox cycling after exposure to 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione), or hydroxyl radical formation after FeSO4 exposure. Either exposure induced significant increases (p amp;lt; 0.05) in two markers of lipid peroxidation: 8-iso-PGF(2) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). While both treatments induced changes indicative of spermptosis (caspase-3 activation and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential) (p amp;lt; 0.01), menadione induced sperm necrosis and a dramatic reduction in motility and thiol content in stallion spermatozoa. Thus, we provided evidence that oxidative stress underlies spermptosis, and thiol content is a key factor for stallion sperm function.
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2. |
- Ortega Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Stallion spermatozoa surviving freezing and thawing experience membrane depolarization and increased intracellular Na
- 2017
-
In: Andrology. - : WILEY. - 2047-2919 .- 2047-2927. ; 5:6, s. 1174-1182
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In order to gain insight of the modifications that freezing and thawing cause to the surviving population of spermatozoa, changes in the potential of the plasma membrane (Em) and intracellular Na+ content of stallion spermatozoa were investigated using flow cytometry. Moreover, caspase 3 activity was also investigated and the functionality of the Na+-K+ ATPase pump was investigated before and after freezing and thawing. Cryopreservation caused a significant (pamp;lt;0.001) increase in the subpopulation of spermatozoa with depolarized sperm membranes, concomitantly with an increase (pamp;lt;0.05) in intracellular Na+. These changes occurred in relation to activation of caspase 3 (pamp;lt;0.001). Cryopreservation reduced the activity of the Na-K+ pump and inhibition of the Na+-K+ ATPase pump with ouabain-induced caspase 3 activation. It is concluded that inactivation of Na+-K+ ATPase occurs during cryopreservation, an inhibition that could play a role explaining the accelerated senescence of the surviving population of spermatozoa.
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3. |
- Balao da Silva, C, et al.
(author)
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Effect of Hoechst 33342 on stallion spermatozoa incubated in KMT or Tyrodes modified INRA96
- 2012
-
In: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 131:3-4, s. 165-171
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The only known means of effectively separating populations of X and Y bearing sperms is the Beltsville sexing technology. The technology implies that each individual sperm is interrogated for DNA content, measuring the intensity of the fluorescence after staining the spermatozoa with Hoechst 33342. Because there are no data regarding the effect of the staining on stallion sperm, ejaculates were incubated up to 90 min in presence of 0, 4.5, 9, 22.5, 31.5, 45, 54, 67.5, 76.5 and 90 mu M of Hoechst 33342, in two media, KMT or INRA-Tyrodes. After 40 and 90 min of incubation, motility (CASA) and membrane integrity (flow cytometry after YoPro-1/Eth staining) were evaluated. In KMT extender sperm motility significantly decreased after 45 min of incubation when sperm were incubated in the presence of concentrations of Hoechst of 45 mu M or greater (P andlt; 0.05). When incubated in modified INRA96, stallion spermatozoa tolerated greater concentrations of Hoechst, because sperm motility only decreased when incubated in presence of 90 mu M (P andlt; 0.05) and membrane integrity was not affected. After 90 min of incubation the same effect was observed, but in this case at concentrations over 45 mu M the percentage of total motile sperm was also reduced although only in samples incubated in KMT. To produce this effect in samples incubated in Tyrodes modified INRA 96, Hoechst had to be present at concentrations over 67.5 mu M. Apparently, the detrimental effect of Hoechst to stallion spermatozoa varies depending on the media, and INRA modified extender may be an alternative to KMT.
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4. |
- Balao da Silva, C. M., et al.
(author)
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Effect of Overnight Staining on the Quality of Flow Cytometric Sorted Stallion Sperm: Comparison with Tradtitional Protocols
- 2014
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Wiley. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 49:6, s. 1021-1027
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Flow cytometry is considered the only reliable method for the separation of X and Y chromosome bearing spermatozoa in equines. The MoFlo SX DP sorter is highly efficient, allowing the production of foals of the desired sex. However, to achieve acceptable pregnancy rates the currently used protocol requires working with fresh semen obtained close to, or at, the sorting facility. An alternative protocol was tested during two consecutive breeding seasons. Fresh stallion semen was cooled for 20 h, during which staining with Hoechst 33342 took place. On the following day, this sample was flow sorted and compared with spermatozoa from the same ejaculate that had been sexed on the previous day. All sperm parameters evaluated remained unchanged when fresh sorted and refrigerated sorted semen were compared. Pre-sorting storage at 5 degrees C did not alter sperm velocities nor kinetics, viability or membrane permeability, production of reactive oxygen species, mitochondrial membrane potential or DNA fragmentation index of the sorted sample. The findings open for the possibility of using semen from stallions housed far from the sorting facilities. Processed and stained sperm could be shipped refrigerated on the previous day, sorted and inseminated on the next day.
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5. |
- Balao da Silva, C. M., et al.
(author)
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Flow Cytometric Chromosomal Sex Sorting of Stallion Spermatozoa Induces Oxidative Stress on Mitochondria and Genomic DNA
- 2016
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : WILEY-BLACKWELL. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 51:1, s. 18-25
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- To date, the only repeatable method to select spermatozoa for chromosomal sex is the Beltsville sorting technology using flow cytometry. Improvement of this technology in the equine species requires increasing awareness of the modifications that the sorting procedure induces on sperm intactness. Oxidative stress is regarded as the major damaging phenomenon, and increasing evidence regards handling of spermatozoa - including sex sorting - as basic ground for oxidative damage. The aim of this study was to disclose whether the flow cytometric sorting procedure increases the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and to identify if ROS production relates to DNA damage in sorted spermatozoa using specific flow cytometry-based assays. After sorting, oxidative stress increased from 26% to 33% in pre-and post-incubation controls, to 46% after sex sorting (p < 0.05). Proportions of DNA fragmentation index post-sorting were approximately 10% higher (31.3%); an effect apparently conduced via oxidative DNA damage as revealed by the oxyDNA assay. The probable origin of this increased oxidative stress owes the removal of enough seminal plasma due to the unphysiological sperm extension, alongside a deleterious effect of high pressure on mitochondria during the sorting procedure.
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6. |
- Balao da Silva, C M., et al.
(author)
-
Sex sorting increases the permeability of the membrane of stallion spermatozoa
- 2013
-
In: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 138:3-4, s. 241-251
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- At present, the only repeatable means of selecting the sex of offspring is the Beltsville semen sorting technology using flow cytometry (FC). This technology has reached commercial status in the bovine industry and substantial advances have occurred recently in swine and ovine species. In the equine species, however, the technology is not as well developed. To better understand the changes induced in stallion spermatozoa during the sorting procedure, pooled sperm samples were sorted: sperm motility and kinematics were assessed using computer assisted sperm analysis, sperm membrane integrity was assessed using the YoPro-1 assay, while plasmalemmal stability and lipid architecture were assessed using Merocyanine 540/SYTOX green and Annexin-V, respectively. Lipid peroxidation was also investigated with the probe Bodipy(581/591)-C11. All assays were performed shortly after collection, after incubation and after sex sorting using FC. In order to characterize potential molecular mechanisms implicated in sperm damage, an apoptosis protein antibody dot plot array analysis was performed before and after sorting. While the percentage of total motile sperm remained unchanged, sex sorting reduced the percentages of progressive motile spermatozoa and of rapid spermatozoa as well as curvilinear velocity (VCL). Sperm membranes responded to sorting with an increase in the percentage of YoPro-1 positive cells, suggesting the sorted spermatozoa had a reduced energy status that was confirmed by measuring intracellular ATP content.
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7. |
- Macias Garcia, B., et al.
(author)
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Membrane Lipids of the Stallion Spermatozoon in Relation to Sperm Quality and Susceptibility to Lipid Peroxidation
- 2011
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Blackwell Publishing. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 46:1, s. 141-148
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Contents: Lipids were extracted from ejaculated spermatozoa from seven individual stallions to distinguish neutral lipids (NL) and polar lipids (PL) and determine their variation among stallions and their relationship with sperm quality and sperm susceptibility to lipid peroxidation. The isolated fatty acids were correlated with sperm quality (membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) and expression of active caspases) and the sensitivity of the sperm plasma membrane to LPO. The miristic (C14: 0), palmitic (C16: 0), stearic (C18: 0) and oleic (C18: 1n9) acids were predominant among the NLs. Within the phospholipid fraction, the docosapentanoic acid (C22: 5n6) was dominant, albeit varying among stallions. Surprisingly, the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids was positively correlated with sperm quality and a low propensity for LPO, probably because these particular fatty acids provide a higher fluidity of the plasma membrane. The stallion showing the poorest sperm membrane integrity plus a high level of LPO in his ejaculate had a lower percentage (p less than 0.05) of this fatty acid in his sperm plasma membranes. © 2010 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.
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8. |
- Macias Garcia, B, et al.
(author)
-
Toxicity of glycerol for the stallion spermatozoa: Effects on membrane integrity and cytoskeleton, lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial membrane potential
- 2012
-
In: Theriogenology. - : Elsevier. - 0093-691X .- 1879-3231. ; 77:7, s. 1280-1289
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Glycerol is, to date, the most widely used cryoprotectant to freeze stallion spermatozoa at concentrations between 2% and 5%. Cryoprotectant toxicity has been claimed to be the single most limiting factor for the success of cryopreservation. In order to evaluate the toxic effects of the concentrations of glycerol used in practice, stallion spermatozoa were incubated in Biggers Whitten and Whittingham (BWW) media supplemented with 0%, 0.5%, 1.5%, 2.5%, 3.5%, and 5% glycerol. In two additional experiments, a hyposmotic (75 mOsm/kg) and a hyperosmotic (900 mOsm/kg) control media were included. Sperm parameters evaluated included cell volume, membrane integrity, lipid peroxidation, caspase 3, 7, and 8 activation, mitochondrial membrane potential, and integrity of the cytoskeleton. Glycerol exerted toxicity at concentrations 3.5% and the maximal toxicity was observed at 5%. The actin cytoskeleton was especially sensitive to glycerol presence, inducing rapid F actin depolymerization at concentrations over 1.5%. The sperm membrane and the mitochondria were other structures affected. The toxicity of glycerol is apparently related to osmotic and nonosmotic effects. In view of our results the concentration of glycerol in the freezing media for stallion spermatozoa should not surpass 2.5%.
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9. |
- Ortega Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Effect of Cryopreservation on Nitric Oxide Production by Stallion Spermatozoa
- 2009
-
In: Biology of Reproduction. - : Society for the Study of Reproduction. - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 81:6, s. 1106-1111
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The ability of stallion spermatozoa to produce nitric oxide (NO) before (fresh) and after freezing and thawing (FT) was evaluated by means of flow cytometry after loading the sperm suspension with the probe, 4,5-diaminofluorescenin diacetate. The presence of NO synthase (NOS) was investigated by Western blotting using anti-NOS1, anti-NOS3, or anti-universal NOS antibodies (Abs). While NO was detected both in fresh and FT sperm suspensions, its production increased after cryopreservation only when egg yolk was removed from the extender. Anti-NOS1 Ab intensively labeled a single band with an apparent molecular mass of approximately 83 kDa. On the other hand, the Ab developed against the NOS3 showed a band of approximately 96 kDa in fresh and FT sperm lysates. NO production was positively correlated with sperm motility and velocity after thaw, suggesting an NO role for the functionality of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa; but the production of NO is compromised in egg yolk-containing extenders.
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10. |
- Ortega-Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
-
Flow cytometry in Spermatology: A bright future ahead
- 2017
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : WILEY. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 52:6, s. 921-931
-
Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Techniques such as mass spectrometry have led to unprecedented knowledge of the proteins that are present in the spermatozoa of humans and other mammals. However, in spite of their high-throughput and fractioning techniques, most of the techniques in use only offer average values for the entire sperm population. Yet, ejaculate is very heterogeneous, and average values may mask relevant biological information. The application of flow cytometry may overcome this disadvantage, allowing proteomic analysis at the single-cell level. Moreover, recent advances in cytometry, allowing multiple analyses within a single cell combined with powerful statistical tools, as an expanding subfield in spermatology, are described. The increased use of advanced flow cytometers in andrology laboratories will allow the rapid development of multiparametric, multicolour flow cytometry in andrology that will expand the clinical applications and research possibilities of flow cytometry-based proteomic approaches, especially in the subfields of clinical andrology and sperm biotechnology.
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11. |
- Ortega Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Inhibition of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore reduces "apoptosis like" changes during cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa
- 2010
-
In: Theriogenology. - : Elsevier. - 0093-691X .- 1879-3231. ; 74:3, s. 458-465
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In order to evaluate to what extent the changes that occur during cryopreservation involve the mitochondrial permeability transition pore (PT-pore), a specific inhibitor was used during the cryopreservation process of stallion spermatozoa. Four ejaculates from each of 7 stallions were frozen using a standard protocol. Before freezing, each ejaculate was split into three subsamples. The first was supplemented with 2.5 mu M bongkrekic acid (BA) and the second with 5 mu M BA. The third subsample served as control. The BA significantly reduced the percentage of spermatozoa depicting active caspases after thawing, reduced the percentage of spermatozoa with increased membrane permeability, and increased the mitochondrial membrane potential of thawed sperm. Sperm motility was reduced as a result of the treatment. It is concluded that the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis seems to be an important factor involved in the sublethal damage that equine spermatozoa experience after freezing and thawing, and that sperm motility in the equine species is largely dependent on mitochondrial ATP produced by oxidative phosphorylation. (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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12. |
- Ortega Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
-
Lipid peroxidation, assessed with BODIPY-C-11, increases after cryopreservation of stallion spermatozoa, is stallion-dependent and is related to apoptotic-like changes
- 2009
-
In: Reproduction. - : BioScientifica. - 1470-1626 .- 1476-3990. ; 138:1, s. 55-63
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Lipid peroxidation (LPO) of stallion spermatozoa was assessed in fresh semen and in samples of the same ejaculates after freezing and thawing. Particular attention was paid to individual differences in the susceptibility to LPO and its possible relationship with freezability. Innate levels of LPO were very low in fresh spermatozoa but increased after thawing, a change that was largely stallion-dependent. The level of LPO in fresh spermatozoa was not correlated with that of the thawed spermatozoa. Negative correlations existed between LPO and intact membranes post-thaw (r= -0.789, Pless than0.001), and also between LPO and spermatozoa with high mitochondrial membrane potential (Delta psi m) post-thaw (r= -0.689, Pless than0.001). LPO was also highly and significantly correlated with caspase activity. The correlation between caspase activity in ethidium positive cells and LPO was r=0.772, Pless than0.001. This LPO is unlikely to represent, per se, a sign of cryopreservation-induced injury, but it is apparently capable of triggering apoptotic-like changes that could result in the sub-lethal cryodamage often seen among surviving spermatozoa. Reproduction (2009) 138 55-63
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13. |
- Gaitskell-Phillips, Gemma, et al.
(author)
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Seminal plasma AnnexinA2 protein is a relevant biomarker for stallions which require removal of seminal plasma for sperm survival upon refrigeration
- 2020
-
In: Biology of Reproduction. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 103:6, s. 1275-1288
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Some stallions yield ejaculates that do not tolerate conservation by refrigeration prior to artificial insemination (AI), showing improvement after removal of most of the seminal plasma (SP) by centrifugation. In this study, the SP-proteome of 10 different stallions was defined through high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis in relation to the ability of the ejaculates to maintain semen quality when cooled and stored at 5 degrees C. Stallions were classified into three groups, depending on this ability: those maintaining good quality after direct extension in a commercial extender (good), stallions requiring removal of seminal plasma (RSP) to maintain seminal quality (good-RSP), and stallions, unable to maintain good semen quality even after RSP (poor). Pathway enrichment analysis of the proteins identified in whole equine SP using human orthologs was performed using g: profiler showing enriched Reactome and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to hexose metabolism, vesicle mediated transport, post translational modification of proteins and immune response. Specific proteins overrepresented in stallions tolerating conservation by refrigeration included a peroxiredoxin-6 like protein, and transcobalamin-2, a primary vitamin B12-binding, and transport protein. Also, the protein involved in protein glycosylation, ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 was present in good stallions. These proteins were nearly absent in poor stallions. Particularly, annexinA2 appeared as to be the most powerful discriminant variable for identification of stallions needing RSP prior to refrigeration, with a P = 0.002 and a q value = 0.005. Overall this is the first detailed study of the equine SP-proteome, showing the potential value of specific proteins as discriminant bio-markers for clinical classification of stallions for AI. Summary sentence The seminal plasma protein Annexin A2 identifies ejaculates needing removal of seminal plasma prior to conservation in refrigeration.
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14. |
- Macias Garcia, B., et al.
(author)
-
Centrifugation on a single layer of colloid selects improved quality spermatozoa from frozen-thawed stallion semen
- 2009
-
In: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 114:1-3, s. 193-202
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study attempted to select the subpopulation of stallion spermatozoa that best survived a conventional freezing and thawing procedure, using centrifugation of post-thawed semen samples through a single layer of a glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-coated silica colloid with a species-specific formulation (Androcoll-E (TM)). Sperm motility, sperm chromatin structure, membrane integrity and mitorchondrial membrane potential were studied in filtered and non-filtered spermatozoa. Single-layer centrifugation (SLC) using Androcoll-E (TM) significantly improved all the sperm parameters studied, implying SLC may be a simple approach to improve the quality of frozen-thawed (FT) spermatozoa for AI. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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15. |
- Macias Garcia, B, et al.
(author)
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Fatty acids and plasmalogens of the phospholipids of the sperm membranes and their relation with the post-thaw quality of stallion spermatozoa
- 2011
-
In: THERIOGENOLOGY. - : Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam.. - 0093-691X. ; 75:5, s. 811-818
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Fatty acids and plasmalogens were extracted from the phospholipids of the plasma membrane of stallion spermatozoa, to determine their relation with sperm quality after freezing and thawing. Sperm quality was rated using a quality index that combined the results of the analysis of sperm motility and velocity (CASA analysis), membrane status and mitochondrial membrane potential (flow cytometry) post thaw. Receiving operating system (ROC) curves were used to evaluate the value of specific lipid components of the sperm membrane herein studied as forecast of potential freezeability. From all parameters studied the ratio of percentage of C16 plasmalogens related to total phospholipids was the one with the better diagnostic value. For potentially bad freezers, the significant area under the ROC-curve was 0.74, with 75% sensitivity and 79.9% specificity for a cut off value of 26.9. Also the percentage of plasmalogens respect to total phospholipids gave good diagnostic value for bad freezers. On the other hand, the percentage of C18 fatty aldehydes related to total phospholipids of the sperm membrane properly forecasted freezeability with an area under the ROC curve of 0.70 with 70% sensitivity and 62.5% specificity for a cut off value of 0.32.
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16. |
- Macias Garcia, B., et al.
(author)
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Single-Layer Centrifugation Through Colloid Positively Modifies the Sperm Subpopulation Structure of Frozen-Thawed Stallion Spermatozoa
- 2009
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 44:3, s. 523-526
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The present study attempted to select the subpopulation of stallion spermatozoa that best survived a conventional freezing and thawing procedure, using centrifugation of post-thawed semen samples through a single layer of a glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane-coated silica colloid with a species-specific formulation (Androcoll-E (TM)). After freezing and thawing, four sperm subpopulations were identified, listed as FT1 to FT4. While subpopulations FT1 and FT2 were characterized by low sperm velocity, high velocities characterized the ones called FT3 and FT4. The single-layer centrifugation (SLC)-handled sperm sample was enriched in subpopulation FT3, reaching a proportion of 82.6% of the present spermatozoa, in contrast with the non-filtered control post-thawed semen, where this sperm subpopulation only accounted for 16.3% of the total. It is concluded that in the equine industry, the SLC is a practical, easy-to-perform approach to improve the quality of equine frozen-thawed semen samples.
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17. |
- Morillo Rodriguez, A, et al.
(author)
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Freezing stallion semen with the new Caceres extender improves post thaw sperm quality and diminishes stallion-to-stallion variability
- 2011
-
In: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 127:1-2, s. 78-83
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Ejaculates from 7 stallions were split and simultaneously frozen in three different extenders, INRA 96 egg yolk glycerol, Ghent and the newly developed extender Caceres. After thawing, samples were evaluated for motility (CASA system) sperm membrane integrity and early membrane changes (YoPro-1/Eth staining), acrosome integrity (FICT-PNA), and mitochondrial membrane potential (JC-1) (flow cytometry). Samples frozen in Caceres extender consistently showed the best results in post-thaw motility (increases ranging from 11 to 17%, p andlt; 0.05) and velocity (p andlt; 0.05), membrane integrity (increases ranging from 11 to 14%, p andlt; 0.05) and mitochondrial membrane potential (p andlt; 0.05). It is concluded that this new extender should be included in a freezeability test to determine the best extender for each individual.
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18. |
- Ortega-Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Apoptotic markers can be used to forecast the freezeability of stallion spermatozoa
- 2009
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In: Animal Reproduction Science. - : Elsevier Masson. - 0378-4320 .- 1873-2232. ; 114:4, s. 393-403
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In an attempt to identify valuable markers for potential freezeability of the equine spermatozoa, three ejaculates were collected from five Andalusian stallions and frozen using a standard protocol. Before freezing, three apoptotic cell markers were studied by flow cytometry (early changes in sperm membranes, mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activity). Post-thaw, spermatozoa were again evaluated for these parameters. Sperm kinematics using CASA were also studied before and after freezing and thawing. Receiving operating system curves were used to evaluate the relative value of the apoptotic markers herein studied, as forecast for potential freezeability. From all parameters studied, the outcome of JC-1 (as proportion of spermatozoa showing simultaneously orange and green fluorescence) had the highest diagnostic power. For potentially bad freezers (less than 25% of intact spermatozoa post-thaw), the significant area under the ROC-curve was 0.985, with a 100% sensitivity and 99.8% specificity for a cut off value of 55.7. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
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19. |
- Ortega-Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Does the Microbial Flora in the Ejaculate Affect the Freezeability of Stallion Sperm?
- 2009
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 44:3, s. 518-522
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In an attempt to evaluate the possible relationship between the microbial flora in the stallion ejaculate and its ability to freeze, three ejaculates from five stallions were frozen using a standard protocol. Before freezing, an aliquot was removed for bacteriological analysis. Bacterial growth was observed in all the ejaculates studied. The isolated microorganisms were: Staphylococcus spp. and Micrococcus spp. (in all the stallions), beta-haemolytic Streptococcus (in stallions 3 and 4), Corynebacterium spp. (in stallions 1, 3-5), Rhodococcus spp. (in stallion number 2), Pseudomonas spp. (in stallion number 1) and Klebsiella spp. (in stallions 1, 3 and 5). The presence and richness of Klebsiella and beta-haemolytic Streptococcus in the ejaculate were related to two sperm variables post-thaw, namely the proportion of dead spermatozoa (ethidium+ cells; r = 0.55, p less than 0.05) and the amplitude of lateral displacement of the sperm head (ALH, mu m; r = -0.56, p less than 0.05), respectively. The degree of growth of Corynebacterium spp. in the ejaculate was positively correlated with the percentage of spermatozoa showing high caspase activity post-thaw (r = 0.62, p less than 0.05). The presence and number of colonies of beta-haemolytic Streptococcus were negatively correlated (r = -0.55, p less than 0.05) with low sperm caspase activity. It is concluded that the microbial flora of the equine ejaculate may be responsible for some of the sublethal damage experimented by the spermatozoa during cryopreservation.
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20. |
- Ortega-Ferrusola, C., et al.
(author)
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Identification of Sperm Subpopulations in Stallion Ejaculates: Changes after Cryopreservation and Comparison with Traditional Statistics
- 2009
-
In: Reproduction in domestic animals. - : Wiley-Blackwell. - 0936-6768 .- 1439-0531. ; 44:3, s. 419-423
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- In an attempt to improve the information obtained after computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA), data from five stallions (three ejaculates from each) were analysed before (fresh, extended semen) and after cryopreservation using traditional statistics as well as a cluster analysis. The data matrix consisted of 13 987 observations of individual spermatozoa for fresh, extended semen, and 8305 for frozen-thawed samples. As expected, freezing and thawing resulted in a marked decrease of CASA-derived variables of sperm kinematics. All sperm velocities were significantly lower in frozen-thawed samples than in samples before cooling. Using sperm velocities, six sperm subpopulations were identified in fresh semen (S1-S6). As such, subpopulations S1 and S2 were characterized by low sperm velocities, subpopulations S3 and S4 corresponded to spermatozoa depicting medium speed values, and finally, subpopulations S5 and S6 were those depicting the highest velocities. After freezing and thawing, four sperm subpopulations were identified, listed as nr FT1 to FT4. While subpopulations FT1-FT3 were characterized by low sperm velocities, and thus corresponded speed-wise to those listed as S1-S4 for fresh, extended semen, the one called number FT4 in frozen semen was characterized by high velocities, of the same range as that of the subpopulations S5 and S6 for fresh spermatozoa. The sperm subpopulation structure varied among stallions, but the cluster analysis hereby assayed was able to provide valuable information about the freezability of the samples that the customary statistics did not reveal.
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21. |
- Ortiz-Rodriguez, Jose Manuel, et al.
(author)
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The incorporation of cystine by the soluble carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) is a component of the redox regulatory mechanism in stallion spermatozoa
- 2019
-
In: Biology of Reproduction. - : OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. - 0006-3363 .- 1529-7268. ; 101:1, s. 208-222
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Oxidative stress is considered amajor mechanism causing sperm damage during cryopreservation and storage, and underlies male factor infertility. Currently, oxidative stress is no longer believed to be caused only by the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, but rather by the deregulation of redox signaling and control mechanisms. With this concept in mind, here, we describe for the first time the presence of the soluble carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) antiporter, which exchanges extracellular cystine (Cyss) for intracellular glutamate, in stallion spermatozoa, as well as its impact on sperm function using the specific inhibitor sulfasalazine. Spermatozoa incubated with Cyss exhibited an increased intracellular GSH content compared with controls (P amp;lt; 0.01): 50% in fresh extended stallion spermatozoa and 30% in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. This effect was prevented by the addition of sulfasalazine to the media. Cystine supplementation also reduced the oxidation-reduction potential of spermatozoa, with sulfasalazine only preventing this effect on fresh spermatozoa that were incubated for 3 h at 37 degrees C, but not in frozen-thawed spermatozoa. While sulfasalazine reduced the motility of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, it increased motility in fresh samples. The present findings provide new and relevant data on the mechanism regulating the redox status of spermatozoa and suggest that a different redox regulatory mechanism exists in cryopreserved spermatozoa, thus providing new clues to improve current cryopreservation technologies and treat male factor infertility. Summary Sentence The SLC7A11 antiporter that exchanges cystine by intracellular glutamate is present and functional in stallion spermatozoa, but cryopreserved spermatozoa may present altered functionality.
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22. |
- Ortiz-Rodriguez, Jose M., et al.
(author)
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Transcriptome analysis reveals that fertilization with cryopreserved sperm downregulates genes relevant for early embryo development in the horse
- 2019
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In: PLOS ONE. - : PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE. - 1932-6203. ; 14:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Artificial insemination with cryopreserved spermatozoa is a major assisted reproductive technology in many species. In horses, as in humans, insemination with cryopreserved sperm is associated with lower pregnancy rates than those for fresh sperm, however, direct effects of sperm cryopreservation on the development of resulting embryos are largely unexplored. The aim of this study was to investigate differences in gene expression between embryos resulting from fertilization with fresh or cryopreserved sperm. Embryos were obtained at 8, 10 or 12 days after ovulation from mares inseminated post-ovulation on successive cycles with either fresh sperm or frozen-thawed sperm from the same stallion, providing matched embryo pairs at each day. RNA was isolated from two matched pairs (4 embryos) for each day, and cDNA libraries were built and sequenced. Significant differences in transcripts per kilobase million (TPM) were determined using (i) genes for which the expression difference between treatments was higher than 99% of that in the random case (P amp;lt; 0.01), and (ii) genes for which the fold change was amp;gt;= 2, to avoid expression bias in selection of the candidate genes. Molecular pathways were explored using the DAVID webserver, followed by network analyses using STRING, with a threshold of 0.700 for positive interactions. The transcriptional profile of embryos obtained with frozen-thawed sperm differed significantly from that for embryos derived from fresh sperm on all days, showing significant down-regulation of genes involved in biological pathways related to oxidative phosphorylation, DNA binding, DNA replication, and immune response. Many genes with reduced expression were orthologs of genes known to be embryonic lethal in mice. This study, for the first time, provides evidence of altered transcription in embryos resulting from fertilization with cryopreserved spermatozoa in any species. As sperm cryopreservation is commonly used in many species, including human, the effect of this intervention on expression of developmentally important genes in resulting embryos warrants attention.
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