1
|
Mohanty G, Sanchez-Cardenas C, Paudel B, Tourzani DA, Salicioni AM, Santi CM, Gervasi MG, Pilsner JR, Darszon A, Visconti PE. Differential role of bovine serum albumin and HCO3- in the regulation of GSK3 alpha during mouse sperm capacitation. Mol Hum Reprod 2024; 30:gaae007. [PMID: 38341666 PMCID: PMC10914453 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
To become fertile, mammalian sperm are required to undergo capacitation in the female tract or in vitro in defined media containing ions (e.g. HCO3 -, Ca2+, Na+, and Cl-), energy sources (e.g. glucose, pyruvate) and serum albumin (e.g. bovine serum albumin (BSA)). These different molecules initiate sequential and concomitant signaling pathways, leading to capacitation. Physiologically, capacitation induces changes in the sperm motility pattern (e.g. hyperactivation) and prepares sperm for the acrosomal reaction (AR), two events required for fertilization. Molecularly, HCO3 - activates the atypical adenylyl cyclase Adcy10 (aka sAC), increasing cAMP and downstream cAMP-dependent pathways. BSA, on the other hand, induces sperm cholesterol release as well as other signaling pathways. How these signaling events, occurring in different sperm compartments and with different kinetics, coordinate among themselves is not well established. Regarding the AR, recent work has proposed a role for glycogen synthase kinases (GSK3α and GSK3β). GSK3α and GSK3β are inactivated by phosphorylation of residues Ser21 and Ser9, respectively, in their N-terminal domain. Here, we present evidence that GSK3α (but not GSK3β) is present in the anterior head and that it is regulated during capacitation. Interestingly, BSA and HCO3 - regulate GSK3α in opposite directions. While BSA induces a fast GSK3α Ser21 phosphorylation, HCO3 - and cAMP-dependent pathways dephosphorylate this residue. We also show that the HCO3--induced Ser21 dephosphorylation is mediated by hyperpolarization of the sperm plasma membrane potential (Em) and by intracellular pH alkalinization. Previous reports indicate that GSK3 kinases mediate the progesterone-induced AR. Here, we show that GSK3 inhibition also blocks the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin-induced AR, suggesting a role for GSK3 kinases downstream of the increase in intracellular Ca2+ needed for this exocytotic event. Altogether, our data indicate a temporal and biphasic GSK3α regulation with opposite actions of BSA and HCO3 -. Our results also suggest that this regulation is needed to orchestrate the AR during sperm capacitation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gayatri Mohanty
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Claudia Sanchez-Cardenas
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Bidur Paudel
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Darya A Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Ana M Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| | - Celia M Santi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA
| | - María G Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT, USA
| | - J Richard Pilsner
- C.S. Mott Center for Human Growth and Development, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
- Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, UNAM, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Pablo E Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang L, Liu K, Liu Z, Tao H, Fu X, Hou J, Jia G, Hou Y. Fetal hypoxia expose caused autophagy in ovary granulosa cells via PI3K/Akt/FoxO1 pathway and mitigated by melatonin subheading. J Adv Res 2023:S2090-1232(23)00345-4. [PMID: 37956860 DOI: 10.1016/j.jare.2023.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/15/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Fetal hypoxia has long-term effects on postnatal reproductive functions and the mitochondrial impairments of ovarian granulosa cells may be one of the causes. Melatonin applied to mitigate mitochondrial dysfunction and autophagy in mammalian cells has been reported. However, the potential mechanisms by which fetal hypoxia damages reproductive function in neonatal female mice and the melatonin effects on this problem remain unclear. OBJECTIVES This research aimed to explore the mechanism that fetal hypoxia damages reproductive function in neonatal female mice and attempt to improve the reproductive function by treating with melatonin in vivo and in vitro. METHODS We established a fetal hypoxia model and confirmed that fetal hypoxia affects ovarian function by inducing GC excessive autophagy. Transcriptomic analysis, gene interference, cell immunofluorescence, immunohistochemistry and western blot were conducted to explore and verify the underlying mechanisms in mice GCs and KGN cells. Finally, melatonin treatment was executed on hypoxia-treated mice GCs and KGN cells and melatonin injection to fetal-hypoxia-treated mice to determine its effect. RESULTS The results of in vitro experiments found that fetal hypoxia led to mitochondrial dysfunction in ovarian GCs causing autophagic cell death. And the PI3K/Akt/FoxO pathway mediated the occurrence of this process by transcriptome analysis of ovarian GCs from normal and fetal hypoxia mice, which was further verified in mice GCs and KGN cells. Additionally, melatonin administration prevented autophagic injuries and mitochondrial impairments in hypoxia-treated mice GCs and KGN cells. Meanwhile, in vivo experiments by melatonin injection ameliorated oxidative stress of ovary in fetal-hypoxia-treated mice and improved their low fertility. CONCLUSION Our data found that fetal hypoxia causes ovarian GCs excessive autophagy leading to low fertility in neonatal female mice and mitigated by melatonin. These results provide a potential therapy for hypoxic stress-related reproductive disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Luyao Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Kexiong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiqiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Haiping Tao
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Xiangwei Fu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Animal Breeding, Beijing Key Laboratory for Animal Genetic Improvement, College of Animal Science and Technology, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China; State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Breeding, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Sciences, Shihezi, China
| | - Jian Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Gongxue Jia
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Ecological Genomics, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Yunpeng Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Qian GQ, Wang XC, Zhang X, Shen B, Liu Q. Pyruvate kinase M in germ cells is essential for sperm motility and male fertility but not spermatogenesis. Asian J Androl 2023; 26:00129336-990000000-00134. [PMID: 37902871 PMCID: PMC10919421 DOI: 10.4103/aja202350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/01/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Male germ cells employ specific metabolic pathways throughout their developmental stages. In a previous study, we discovered heightened expression of pyruvate kinase M (PKM), a pivotal glycolytic enzyme, in spermatogonia and spermatids. To gain deeper insights into PKM's roles in spermatogenesis, sperm function, and male fertility, we engineered a conditional-knockout mouse model (Pkm-vKO mice) to selectively disrupt the Pkm gene within germ cells. Despite maintaining regular testicular histology and sperm morphology, the male Pkm-vKO mice were infertility, characterized by significant impairments in sperm motility and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation. In addition, Pkm-null spermatozoa exhibited similar deficits in protein tyrosine phosphorylation linked to capacitation, as well as compromised performance in in vitro fertilization experiments. To conclude, PKM's presence is not obligatory for the entirety of spermatogenesis in male germ cells; however, it emerges as a critical factor influencing sperm motility and overall male fertility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gao-Qing Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xiao-Chen Wang
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Bin Shen
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine and Offspring Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Romarowski A, Fejzo J, Nayyab S, Martin-Hidalgo D, Gervasi MG, Balbach M, Violante S, Salicioni AM, Cross J, Levin LR, Buck J, Visconti PE. Mouse sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) revealed novel metabolic pathways. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1234221. [PMID: 37655160 PMCID: PMC10466171 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1234221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must undergo capacitation to become fertilization-competent. While working on mice, we recently developed a new methodology for treating sperm in vitro, which results in higher rates of fertilization and embryo development after in vitro fertilization. Sperm incubated in media devoid of nutrients lose motility, although they remain viable. Upon re-adding energy substrates, sperm resume motility and become capacitated with improved functionality. Here, we explore how sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) treatment affects sperm metabolism and capacitation-associated signaling. Using extracellular flux analysis and metabolite profiling and tracing via nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS), we found that the levels of many metabolites were altered during the starvation phase of SER. Of particular interest, two metabolites, AMP and L-carnitine, were significantly increased in energy-restricted sperm. Upon re-addition of glucose and initiation of capacitation, most metabolite levels recovered and closely mimic the levels observed in capacitating sperm that have not undergone starvation. In both control and SER-treated sperm, incubation under capacitating conditions upregulated glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. However, ATP levels were diminished, presumably reflecting the increased energy consumption during capacitation. Flux data following the fate of 13C glucose indicate that, similar to other cells with high glucose consumption rates, pyruvate is converted into 13C-lactate and, with lower efficiency, into 13C-acetate, which are then released into the incubation media. Furthermore, our metabolic flux data show that exogenously supplied glucose is converted into citrate, providing evidence that in sperm cells, as in somatic cells, glycolytic products can be converted into Krebs cycle metabolites.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana Romarowski
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jasna Fejzo
- Institute for Applied Life Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Saman Nayyab
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | | | - Maria G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Melanie Balbach
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Sara Violante
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Ana M. Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Justin Cross
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Lonny R. Levin
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jochen Buck
- Department of Pharmacology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Tourzani DA, Yin Q, Jackson EA, Rando OJ, Visconti PE, Gervasi MG. Sperm Energy Restriction and Recovery (SER) Alters Epigenetic Marks during the First Cell Cycle of Development in Mice. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 24:640. [PMID: 36614081 PMCID: PMC9820464 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24010640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The sperm energy restriction and recovery (SER) treatment developed in our laboratory was shown to improve fertilization and blastocyst development following in vitro fertilization (IVF) in mice. Here, we investigated the effects of SER on early embryogenesis. Developmental events observed during the first cell cycle indicated that progression through the pronuclear stages of SER-generated embryos is advanced in comparison with control-generated embryos. These findings prompted further analysis of potential effects of SER on pronuclear chromatin dynamics, focusing on the key H3K4me3 and H3K27ac histone modifications. Nearly all the SER-generated embryos displayed H3K4me3 in the male pronuclei at 12 h post-insemination (HPI), while a subset of the control-generated embryos did not. Additionally, SER-generated embryos displayed a more homogenous intensity of H3K27ac at 8 and 12 HPI compared to control embryos. These changes in histone modifications during the first cell cycle were accompanied by differences in gene expression at the two-cell stage; both of these changes in early embryos could potentially play a role in the improved developmental outcomes of these embryos later in development. Our results indicate that sperm incubation conditions have an impact on early embryo development and can be useful for the improvement of assisted reproductive technology outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Qiangzong Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Erica A. Jackson
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Oliver J. Rando
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biotechnology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Maria G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Sciences Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Dahan T, Breitbart H. Involvement of metabolic pathway in the sperm spontaneous acrosome reaction. Theriogenology 2022; 192:38-44. [PMID: 36044805 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
In order to fertilize the egg, spermatozoa must undergo a series of biochemical processes in the female reproductive tract collectively called capacitation. Only capacitated sperm can interact with the egg resulting in the acrosome reaction (AR), allowing egg penetration and fertilization. Sperm can undergo spontaneous AR (sAR) before reaching the egg, preventing successful fertilization. Here we investigated the metabolic pathways involved in sperm capacitation and sAR. Inhibition of glycolysis or oxidative phosphorylation did not affect capacitation or sAR levels; however, when both systems were inhibited, no capacitation occurred, and there was a significant increase in sAR. Under such ATP-starvation, the increase in sAR is triggered by Ca2+ influx into the sperm via the CatSper cation channel. Protein kinase A (PKA) is an essential key enzyme in sperm capacitation; there was no change in its activity when a single metabolic system was inhibited, while complete inhibition of was observed when the two systems were inhibited. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP), also known to occur in sperm capacitation, was partially reduced by inhibition of one metabolic system, and completely blocked when the two metabolic systems were inhibited. We conclude that ATP, PKA and PTP are involved in the mechanisms protecting sperm from sAR.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tsipora Dahan
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel
| | - Haim Breitbart
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 5290002, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yang F, Gracia Gervasi M, Orta G, Tourzani DA, De la Vega-Beltrán JL, Ruthel G, Darszon A, Visconti PE, Wang PJ. C2CD6 regulates targeting and organization of the CatSper calcium channel complex in sperm flagella. Development 2022; 149:dev199988. [PMID: 34919125 PMCID: PMC8774747 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199988] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The CatSper cation channel is essential for sperm capacitation and male fertility. The multi-subunit CatSper complexes form highly organized calcium signaling nanodomains on flagellar membranes. Here, we report identification of an uncharacterized protein, C2CD6, as a subunit of the mouse CatSper complex. C2CD6 contains a calcium-dependent, membrane-targeting C2 domain. C2CD6 associates with the CatSper calcium-selective, core-forming subunits. Deficiency of C2CD6 depletes the CatSper nanodomains from the flagellum and results in male sterility. C2CD6-deficient sperm are defective in hyperactivation and fail to fertilize oocytes both in vitro and in vivo. CatSper currents are present but at a significantly lower level in C2CD6-deficient sperm. Transient treatments with either Ca2+ ionophore, starvation, or a combination of both restore the fertilization capacity of C2CD6-deficient sperm. C2CD6 interacts with EFCAB9, a pH-dependent calcium sensor in the CatSper complex. We postulate that C2CD6 facilitates incorporation of the CatSper complex into the flagellar plasma membrane and may function as a calcium sensor. The identification of C2CD6 may enable the long-sought reconstitution of the CatSper ion channel complex in a heterologous system for male contraceptive development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fang Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Maria Gracia Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Gerardo Orta
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - Jose Luis De la Vega-Beltrán
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Gordon Ruthel
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alberto Darszon
- Departamento de Genética del Desarrollo y Fisiología Molecular, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Cuernavaca, México
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
| | - P. Jeremy Wang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Marín-Briggiler CI, Luque GM, Gervasi MG, Oscoz-Susino N, Sierra JM, Mondillo C, Salicioni AM, Krapf D, Visconti PE, Buffone MG. Human Sperm Remain Motile After a Temporary Energy Restriction but do Not Undergo Capacitation-Related Events. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:777086. [PMID: 34869380 PMCID: PMC8633110 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.777086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
To acquire fertilization competence, mammalian sperm must undergo several biochemical and physiological modifications known as capacitation. Despite its relevance, the metabolic pathways that regulate the capacitation-related events, including the development of hyperactivated motility, are still poorly described. Previous studies from our group have shown that temporary energy restriction in mouse sperm enhanced hyperactivation, in vitro fertilization, early embryo development and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer, and it improved intracytoplasmic sperm injection results in the bovine model. However, the effects of starvation and energy recovery protocols on human sperm function have not yet been established. In the present work, human sperm were incubated for different periods of time in medium containing glucose, pyruvate and lactate (NUTR) or devoid of nutrients for the starving condition (STRV). Sperm maintained in STRV displayed reduced percentages of motility and kinematic parameters compared to cells incubated in NUTR medium. Moreover, they did not undergo hyperactivation and showed reduced levels of ATP, cAMP and protein tyrosine phosphorylation. Similar to our results with mouse sperm, starvation induced increased intracellular Ca2+ concentrations. Starved human sperm were capable to continue moving for more than 27 h, but the incubation with a mitochondrial uncoupler or inhibitors of oxidative phosphorylation led to a complete motility loss. When exogenous nutrients were added back (sperm energy recovery (SER) treatment), hyperactivated motility was rescued and there was a rise in sperm ATP and cAMP levels in 1 min, with a decrease in intracellular Ca2+ concentration and no changes in sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The finding that human sperm can remain motile for several hours under starvation due to mitochondrial use of endogenous metabolites implies that other metabolic pathways may play a role in sperm energy production. In addition, full recovery of motility and other capacitation parameters of human sperm after SER suggests that this treatment might be used to modulate human sperm fertilizing ability in vitro.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Guillermina M. Luque
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Natalia Oscoz-Susino
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Jessica M. Sierra
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carolina Mondillo
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Ana M. Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Darío Krapf
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (CONICET-UNR), Rosario, Argentina
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, United States
| | - Mariano G. Buffone
- Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (IBYME-CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Tourzani DA, Battistone MA, Salicioni AM, Breton S, Visconti PE, Gervasi MG. Caput Ligation Renders Immature Mouse Sperm Motile and Capable to Undergo cAMP-Dependent Phosphorylation. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms221910241. [PMID: 34638585 PMCID: PMC8549708 DOI: 10.3390/ijms221910241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian sperm must undergo two post-testicular processes to become fertilization-competent: maturation in the male epididymis and capacitation in the female reproductive tract. While caput epididymal sperm are unable to move and have not yet acquired fertilization potential, sperm in the cauda epididymis have completed their maturation, can move actively, and have gained the ability to undergo capacitation in the female tract or in vitro. Due to the impossibility of mimicking sperm maturation in vitro, the molecular pathways underlying this process remain largely unknown. We aimed to investigate the use of caput epididymal ligation as a tool for the study of sperm maturation in mice. Our results indicate that after seven days of ligation, caput sperm gained motility and underwent molecular changes comparable with those observed for cauda mature sperm. Moreover, ligated caput sperm were able to activate pathways related to sperm capacitation. Despite these changes, ligated caput sperm were unable to fertilize in vitro. Our results suggest that transit through the epididymis is not required for the acquisition of motility and some capacitation-associated signaling but is essential for full epididymal maturation. Caput epididymal ligation is a useful tool for the study of the molecular pathways involved in the acquisition of sperm motility during maturation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Darya A. Tourzani
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Science Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (D.A.T.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Maria A. Battistone
- Program in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Ana M. Salicioni
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Science Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (D.A.T.); (A.M.S.)
| | - Sylvie Breton
- Program in Membrane Biology, Nephrology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; (M.A.B.); (S.B.)
| | - Pablo E. Visconti
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Science Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (D.A.T.); (A.M.S.)
- Correspondence: (P.E.V.); (M.G.G.); Tel.: +1-413-545-5565 (P.E.V.)
| | - Maria G. Gervasi
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Integrated Science Building, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA; (D.A.T.); (A.M.S.)
- Correspondence: (P.E.V.); (M.G.G.); Tel.: +1-413-545-5565 (P.E.V.)
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Reynoso S, Castillo V, Katkar GD, Lopez-Sanchez I, Taheri S, Espinoza C, Rohena C, Sahoo D, Gagneux P, Ghosh P. GIV/Girdin, a non-receptor modulator for Gαi/s, regulates spatiotemporal signaling during sperm capacitation and is required for male fertility. eLife 2021; 10:69160. [PMID: 34409938 PMCID: PMC8376251 DOI: 10.7554/elife.69160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
For a sperm to successfully fertilize an egg, it must first undergo capacitation in the female reproductive tract and later undergo acrosomal reaction (AR) upon encountering an egg surrounded by its vestment. How premature AR is avoided despite rapid surges in signaling cascades during capacitation remains unknown. Using a combination of conditional knockout (cKO) mice and cell-penetrating peptides, we show that GIV (CCDC88A), a guanine nucleotide-exchange modulator (GEM) for trimeric GTPases, is highly expressed in spermatocytes and is required for male fertility. GIV is rapidly phosphoregulated on key tyrosine and serine residues in human and murine spermatozoa. These phosphomodifications enable GIV-GEM to orchestrate two distinct compartmentalized signaling programs in the sperm tail and head; in the tail, GIV enhances PI3K→Akt signals, sperm motility and survival, whereas in the head it inhibits cAMP surge and premature AR. Furthermore, GIV transcripts are downregulated in the testis and semen of infertile men. These findings exemplify the spatiotemporally segregated signaling programs that support sperm capacitation and shed light on a hitherto unforeseen cause of infertility in men.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sequoyah Reynoso
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Vanessa Castillo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Gajanan Dattatray Katkar
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Inmaculada Lopez-Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Sahar Taheri
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jacob's School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Celia Espinoza
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Cristina Rohena
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Debashis Sahoo
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jacob's School of Engineering, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States.,Moore's Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States.,Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Pascal Gagneux
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States
| | - Pradipta Ghosh
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States.,Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States.,Moore's Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, San Diego, United States.,Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Washington DC, United States
| |
Collapse
|