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Kerns K, Sharif M, Zigo M, Xu W, Hamilton LE, Sutovsky M, Ellersieck M, Drobnis EZ, Bovin N, Oko R, Miller D, Sutovsky P. Sperm Cohort-Specific Zinc Signature Acquisition and Capacitation-Induced Zinc Flux Regulate Sperm-Oviduct and Sperm-Zona Pellucida Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21062121. [PMID: 32204514 PMCID: PMC7139966 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21062121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Revised: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Building on our recent discovery of the zinc signature phenomenon present in boar, bull, and human spermatozoa, we have further characterized the role of zinc ions in the spermatozoa’s pathway to fertilization. In boar, the zinc signature differed between the three major boar ejaculate fractions, the initial pre-rich, the sperm-rich, and the post-sperm-rich fraction. These differences set in the sperm ejaculatory sequence establish two major sperm cohorts with marked differences in their sperm capacitation progress. On the subcellular level, we show that the capacitation-induced Zn-ion efflux allows for sperm release from oviductal glycans as analyzed with the oviductal epithelium mimicking glycan binding assay. Sperm zinc efflux also activates zinc-containing enzymes and proteases involved in sperm penetration of the zona pellucida, such as the inner acrosomal membrane matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2). Both MMP2 and the 26S proteasome showed severely reduced activity in the presence of zinc ions, through studies using by gel zymography and the fluorogenic substrates, respectively. In the context of the fertilization-induced oocyte zinc spark and the ensuing oocyte-issued polyspermy-blocking zinc shield, the inhibitory effect of zinc on sperm-borne enzymes may contribute to the fast block of polyspermy. Altogether, our findings establish a new paradigm on the role of zinc ions in sperm function and pave the way for the optimization of animal semen analysis, artificial insemination (AI), and human male-factor infertility diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karl Kerns
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Momal Sharif
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.S.); (D.M.)
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Michal Zigo
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Wei Xu
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3 N6, Canada; (W.X.); (R.O.)
| | - Lauren E. Hamilton
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3 N6, Canada; (W.X.); (R.O.)
| | - Miriam Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Mark Ellersieck
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
| | - Erma Z. Drobnis
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA;
| | - Nicolai Bovin
- Shemyakin Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Moscow 117997, Russia;
| | - Richard Oko
- Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON K7L 3 N6, Canada; (W.X.); (R.O.)
| | - David Miller
- Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; (M.S.); (D.M.)
| | - Peter Sutovsky
- Division of Animal Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA; (K.K.); (M.Z.); (L.E.H.); (M.S.); (M.E.)
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211-5300, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-573-882-3329
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Moncayo R, Moncayo H. A musculoskeletal model of low grade connective tissue inflammation in patients with thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO): the WOMED concept of lateral tension and its general implications in disease. BMC Musculoskelet Disord 2007; 8:17. [PMID: 17319961 PMCID: PMC1820789 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2474-8-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2006] [Accepted: 02/23/2007] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Low level connective tissue inflammation has been proposed to play a role in thyroid associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). The aim of this study was to investigate this postulate by a musculoskeletal approach together with biochemical parameters. Methods 13 patients with TAO and 16 controls were examined. Erythrocyte levels of Zn, Cu, Ca2+, Mg, and Fe were determined. The musculoskeletal evaluation included observational data on body posture with emphasis on the orbit-head region. The angular foot position in the frontal plane was quantified following gait observation. The axial orientation of the legs and feet was evaluated in an unloaded supine position. Functional propioceptive tests based on stretch stimuli were done by using foot inversion and foot rotation. Results Alterations in the control group included neck tilt in 3 cases, asymmetrical foot angle during gait in 2, and a reaction to foot inversion in 5 cases. TAO patients presented facial asymmetry with displaced eye fissure inclination (mean 9.1°) as well as tilted head-on-neck position (mean 5.7°). A further asymmetry feature was external rotation of the legs and feet (mean 27°). Both foot inversion as well as foot rotation induced a condition of neuromuscular deficit. This condition could be regulated by gentle acupressure either on the lateral abdomen or the lateral ankle at the acupuncture points gall bladder 26 or bladder 62, respectively. In 5 patients, foot rotation produced a phenomenon of moving toes in the contra lateral foot. In addition foot rotation was accompanied by an audible tendon snapping. Lower erythrocyte Zn levels and altered correlations between Ca2+, Mg, and Fe were found in TAO. Conclusion This whole body observational study has revealed axial deviations and body asymmetry as well as the phenomenon of moving toes in TAO. The most common finding was an arch-like displacement of the body, i.e. eccentric position, with foot inversion and head tilt to the contra lateral side and tendon snapping. We propose that eccentric muscle action over time can be the basis for a low grade inflammatory condition. The general implications of this model and its relations to Zn and Se will be discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roy Moncayo
- WOMED, Karl-Kapferer-Strasse 5, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Helga Moncayo
- WOMED, Karl-Kapferer-Strasse 5, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria
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