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Chorley BN, Klinefelter GR, Nelson GM, Strader LF, Nguyen HH, Schladweiler MC, Palmer G, Moore ML, Grindstaff RD, Padgett WT, Carswell GK, Fisher AA, Kodavanti UP, Dye JA, Miller CN. Episodic ozone exposure in Long-Evans rats has limited effects on cauda sperm motility and non-coding RNA populations. Reprod Toxicol 2024; 128:108631. [PMID: 38830453 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2024.108631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 05/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Epidemiological evidence suggests the potential for air pollutants to induce male reproductive toxicity. In experimental studies, exposure to ozone during sensitive windows in the sperm lifecycle has been associated with impaired sperm motility. Subsequently, we sought to investigate the effects of episodic exposure to ozone during sperm maturation in the rat. Long-Evans rats were exposed to either filtered air or ozone (0.4 or 0.8 ppm) for five non-consecutive days over two weeks. Ozone exposure did not impact male reproductive organ weights or sperm motility ∼24 hours following the final exposure. Furthermore, circulating sex hormones remained unchanged despite increased T3 and T4 in the 0.8 ppm group. While there was indication of altered adrenergic signaling attributable to ozone exposure in the testis, there were minimal impacts on small non-coding RNAs detected in cauda sperm. Only two piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) were altered in the mature sperm of ozone-exposed rats (piR-rno-346434 and piR-rno-227431). Data across all rats were next analyzed to identify any non-coding RNAs that may be correlated with reduced sperm motility. A total of 7 microRNAs (miRNAs), 8 RNA fragments, and 1682 piRNAs correlated well with sperm motility. Utilizing our exposure paradigm herein, we were unable to substantiate the relationship between ozone exposure during maturation with sperm motility. However, these approaches served to identify a suite of non-coding RNAs that were associated with sperm motility in rats. With additional investigation, these RNAs may prove to have functional roles in the acquisition of motility or be unique biomarkers for male reproductive toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian N Chorley
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gary R Klinefelter
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gail M Nelson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Lillian F Strader
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Helen H Nguyen
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Mette C Schladweiler
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Grant Palmer
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Makala L Moore
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Rachel D Grindstaff
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - William T Padgett
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Gleta K Carswell
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Anna A Fisher
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Urmila P Kodavanti
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Janice A Dye
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Colette N Miller
- Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, U S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States.
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2
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Zhang LX, Mao J, Zhou YD, Mao GY, Guo RF, Ge HS, Chen X. Evaluation of microRNA expression profiles in human sperm frozen using permeable cryoprotectant-free droplet vitrification and conventional methods. Asian J Androl 2024; 26:366-376. [PMID: 38738948 PMCID: PMC11280198 DOI: 10.4103/aja202390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
For sperm cryopreservation, the conventional method, which requires glycerol, has been used for a long time. In addition, the permeable cryoprotectant-free vitrification method has been continuously studied. Although the differences of cryopreservation effects between the two methods have being studied, differences in microRNA (miRNA) profiles between them remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the differences in miRNA expression profiles among conventional freezing sperm, droplet vitrification freezing sperm and fresh human sperm. We also analyzed the differences between these methods in terms of differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRs) related to early embryonic development and paternal epigenetics. Our results showed no significant differences between the cryopreservation methods in terms of sperm motility ratio, plasma membrane integrity, DNA integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, acrosome integrity, and ultrastructural damage. However, sperm miRNA-sequencing showed differences between the two methods in terms of the numbers of DEmiRs (28 and 19 with vitrification using a nonpermeable cryoprotectant and the conventional method, respectively) in postthaw and fresh sperm specimens. DEmiRs related to early embryonic development and paternal epigenetics mainly included common DEmiRs between the groups. Our results showed that the differences between conventional freezing and droplet vitrification were minimal in terms of miRNA expression related to embryonic development and epigenetics. Changes in sperm miRNA expression due to freezing are not always detrimental to embryonic development. This study compared differences in miRNA expression profiles before and after cryopreservation between cryopreservation by conventional and vitrification methods. It offers a new perspective to evaluate various methods of sperm cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Xin Zhang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Jing Mao
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Yan-Dong Zhou
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Guang-Yao Mao
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Run-Fa Guo
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Hong-Shan Ge
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou 225300, China
| | - Xia Chen
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical School, Nantong University, Nantong 226001, China
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3
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Sa P, Gòdia M, Lewis N, Lian Y, Clop A. Genomic, transcriptomic and epigenomic analysis towards the understanding of porcine semen quality traits. Past, current and future trends. Anim Reprod Sci 2024:107543. [PMID: 38981797 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107543] [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: 05/10/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
The importance of boar reproductive traits, including semen quality, in the sustainability of pig production system is increasingly being acknowledged by academic and industrial sectors. Research is needed to understand the biology and genetic components underlying these traits so that they can be incorporated into selection schemes and managerial decisions. This article reviews our current understanding of genome biology and technologies for genome, transcriptome and epigenome analysis which now facilitate the identification of causal variants affecting phenotypes more than ever before. Genetic and transcriptomic analysis of candidate genes, Genome-Wide Association Studies, expression microarrays, RNA-Seq of coding and noncoding genes and epigenomic evaluations have been conducted to profile the molecular makeups of pig sperm. These studies have provided insightful information for a several semen-related parameters. Nonetheless, this research is still incipient. The spermatozoon harbors a reduced transcriptome and highly modified epigenome, and it is assumed to be transcriptionally silent for nuclear gene expression. For this reason, the extent to which the sperm's RNA and epigenome recapitulate sperm biology and function is unclear. Hence, we anticipate that single-cell level analyses of the testicle and other male reproductive organs, which can reveal active transcription and epigenomic profiles in cells influencing sperm quality, will gain popularity and markedly advance our understanding of sperm-related traits. Future research will delve deeper into sperm fertility, boar resilience to environmental changes or harsh conditions, especially in the context of global warming, and also in transgenerational inheritance and how the environment influences the sperm transcriptome and epigenome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Sa
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Marta Gòdia
- Animal Breeding and Genomics, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, the Netherlands
| | - Nicole Lewis
- School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Canterbury, United Kingdom
| | - Yu Lian
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Alex Clop
- Centre for Research in Agricultural Genomics CRAG (CSIC-IRTA-UAB-UB), Cerdanyola del Vallés, Catalonia, Spain; Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
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4
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Taravat M, Roshanzamir A, Rahbar M, Topraggaleh TR, Asadpour R, Bucak MN. Apoptotic-Related MiRNAs Correlated with Functional and Flow Cytometric Parameters in Asthenozoospermic Holstein Bulls After Freeze-Thaw Process. Biopreserv Biobank 2024. [PMID: 38686528 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2023.0135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Many cellular processes in spermatozoa, including apoptosis and motility, are regulated by miRNA. Different miRNAs and molecular pathways are involved in asthenozoospermia (AS) conditions, which are thought to be one of the causes of infertility with reduced sperm motility. Thirty-two semen samples from four Holstein bulls with normozoospermia (NS), total motility ≥ 70%, and progressive motility ≥ 60%, and 32 semen samples from four bulls with AS, total motility ≤ 40%, and progressive motility ≤ 32% were used to investigate the function of apoptosis-related miRNAs in the AS group. Samples were then aspirated into a 0.5 mL straw after dilution with a Tris-egg yolk extender and frozen at -196°C. After freezing, semen samples were thawed for 2 weeks at 37°C and sperm kinematic parameters, plasma membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, DNA fragmentation, apoptosis status, and expression of apoptosis-related miRNAs (miR-2114, miR-296-3p, miR-455-3p, and miR345-3p) were evaluated. Our results showed that the functional and flow cytometric parameters of the NS group were significantly better than those of the AS group. In the NS group, miR-455-3pp and miR-2412 were upregulated, while miR-345-3p was downregulated compared with the AS group. In the AS group, miR-296-39, miR-2412, and miR-345-3p levels were strongly correlated with membrane integrity, DNA fragmentation, and apoptosis status. The findings demonstrated that the selected miRNAs based on bioinformatic analysis in AS and NS samples had a substantial association with functional and flow cytometry indicators and may be involved in regulating apoptosis and motility in AS samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morteza Taravat
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Amirmahdi Roshanzamir
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Tehran University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maryam Rahbar
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Tohid Rezaei Topraggaleh
- Department of Anatomical Science, School of Medicine, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Reza Asadpour
- Department of Clinical Science, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tabriz, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Mustafa Numan Bucak
- Department of Reproduction and Artificial Insemination, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Selcuk University, Konya, Turkey
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Viana Neto AM, Guerreiro DD, Martins JAM, Vasconcelos FÁR, Melo RÉBF, Velho ALMCS, Neila-Montero M, Montes-Garrido R, Nagano CS, Araújo AA, Moura AA. Sperm traits and seminal plasma proteome of locally adapted hairy rams subjected to intermittent scrotal insulation. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 263:107439. [PMID: 38447240 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
The present study evaluated the effects of heat stress on reproductive parameters of hairy rams. Six animals were subjected to scrotal insulation during four consecutive nights (6 PM - 6 AM). Day (D) 0 was the first day of insulation. Scrotal circumference increased from 30.5 ± 0.3 cm (at pre-insulation) to 31.8 ± 0.4 cm on D4, decreased 3.9 cm on D28, returning to 30.6 ± 0.6 cm on D57. Sperm concentration decreased from 3.7 ± 0.12 ×109 sperm/mL before insulation to 2.6 ± 0.1 ×109 on D23, returning to normal on D57. Sperm motility averaged 75 ± 2.9% before insulation, was undetectable on D23, and became normal on D77. Sperm with normal morphology reached 5.9 ± 2.6% on D35 but recovered (86.8 ± 2.1%) on D91. Sperm DNA integrity decreased from 86.5 ± 4.7% before insulation to 11.1 ± 3.7% on D63, returning to pre-insulation values on D120. Sperm BSP immunostaining was reduced after scrotal insulation. Variations in seminal protein abundances coincided with changes in sperm parameters. Seminal plasma superoxide dismutase, carboxypeptidase Q-precursor and NPC intracellular cholesterol transporter 2 decreased on D18, returning to normal after D28. Albumin, inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase precursor, EGF-like repeat and discoid I-like domain-containing protein 3 and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor increased after insulation. In summary, intermittent scrotal insulation drastically altered ram sperm attributes and seminal proteins, especially those associated with oxidative stress. Knowledge of animal´s response to thermal stress is vital in the scenario of climate changes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Denise D Guerreiro
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Jorge A M Martins
- School of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Cariri, Juazeiro do Norte, Brazil
| | | | - R Évila B F Melo
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Marta Neila-Montero
- Itra-ULE, Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Rafael Montes-Garrido
- Itra-ULE, Animal Reproduction and Obstetrics, Department of Veterinary Medicine, Surgery and Anatomy, University of León, León, Spain
| | - Celso S Nagano
- Department of Fisheries Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Airton A Araújo
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil; School of Veterinary Medicine, Ceará State University, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Arlindo A Moura
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil.
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Álvarez-Rodríguez M, Martinez-Serrano CA, Gardela J, Nieto H, de Mercado E, Rodríguez-Martínez H. MicroRNA expression in specific segments of the pig periovulatory internal genital tract is differentially regulated by semen or by seminal plasma. Res Vet Sci 2024; 168:105134. [PMID: 38194892 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.105134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2023] [Revised: 12/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
microRNAs play pivotal roles during mammalian reproduction, including the cross-talk between gametes, embryos and the maternal genital tract. Mating induces changes in the expression of mRNA transcripts in the female, but whether miRNAs are involved remains to be elucidated. In the current study, we mapped 181 miRNAs in the porcine peri-ovulatory female reproductive tract: Cervix (Cvx), distal and proximal uterus (Dist-Ut, Prox-Ut), Utero-tubal-junction (UTJ), isthmus (Isth), ampulla (Amp), and infundibulum (Inf) when exposed to semen (natural mating (NM) or artificial insemination (AI-P1)) or to infusions of sperm-free seminal plasma (SP): the first 10 mL of the sperm rich fraction (SP-P1) or the entire ejaculate (SP-E). Among the most interesting findings, NM decreased mir-671, implicated in uterine development and pregnancy loss prior to embryo implantation, in Cvx, Dist-UT, Prox-UT, Isth, and Inf, while it increased in Amp. NM and SP-E induced the downregulation of miR-let7A-1 (Dist-UT, Prox-UT), a regulator of immunity during pregnancy. miR-34C-1, a regulator of endometrial receptivity gene expression, was increased in Dist-UT, UTJ and Amp (NM), in Prox-UT (AI-P1), and in Amp (SP-P1). miR-296, a modulator of the inflammatory response and apoptosis, was upregulated in the UTJ (all treatments). NM elicited the highest miRNA activity in the sperm reservoir (UTJ), suggesting that key-regulators such as miR-34c or miR-296 may modulate the metabolic processes linked to the adequate preparation for gamete encounter in the oviduct. Our results suggest that SP should be maintained in AI to warrant miRNA regulation within the female genital tract for reproductive success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cristina A Martinez-Serrano
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain; Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jaume Gardela
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden; IRTA, Programa de Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Unitat mixta d'Investigació IRTA-UAB en Sanitat Animal, Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Helena Nieto
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo de Mercado
- Department of Animal Reproduction, Spanish National Institute for Agricultural and Food Research and Technology (INIA-CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodríguez-Martínez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, 58185 Linköping, Sweden.
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Huang C, Ji XR, Huang ZH, Liu Q, Wang RJ, Fan LQ, Wu HL, Bo H, Zhu WB. Long-term storage modifies the microRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen. BIOMOLECULES & BIOMEDICINE 2024; 24:51-60. [PMID: 37573539 PMCID: PMC10787610 DOI: 10.17305/bb.2023.9421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
The global practice of cryopreservation of human semen is commonplace in Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) labs and sperm banks. However, information on the effects of long-term cryopreservation on semen is limited to clinical data summaries and descriptions. For this study, we prepared 4 semen specimens of fresh semen, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 1 year, 3 specimens cryostored for at least 5 years, 4 specimens cryostored for at least 10 years, and 3 specimens cryostored for at least 15 years. Total RNA was extracted from each sample, amplified, labeled, and mapped to the known primary microRNA (miRNA) in the miRBase database, enabling the prediction of novel miRNAs. We found that cryopreservation can lead to changes in miRNA expression, and with the increase in storage time, these changes became more pronounced. Meanwhile, the expression of let-7d-3p, let-7c-5p and let-7i-3p miRNAs changed dynamically over cryostorage time in frozen-thawed human sperm. Furthermore, we analyzed the time-dependent dynamics of cryostorage-expressed miRNAs and their target mRNAs and found that half of the target genes were expressed in oocytes. These intersection genes were mainly enriched in cancer and cytoskeletal signaling pathways. Our findings showed that the miRNA expression profile of cryopreserved human semen is modified by long-term storage. Furthermore, as the storage time increases, the impact on human sperm becomes more pronounced in terms of miRNAs, which may have an effect on subsequent fertilization and embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuan Huang
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Xi-Ren Ji
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Zeng-Hui Huang
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Qian Liu
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Rui-Jun Wang
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Li-Qing Fan
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hui-Lan Wu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Hao Bo
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Wen-Bing Zhu
- Clinical Research Center for Reproduction and Genetics in Hunan Province, Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of CITIC-Xiangya, Changsha, Hunan, China
- Institute of Reproductive and Stem Cell Engineering, Basic Medicine College, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
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8
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Hadlow JH, Lymbery RA, Evans JP. Paternal environment effects are driven by female reproductive fluid but not sperm age in an external fertilizer. Biol Lett 2023; 19:20230368. [PMID: 37991195 PMCID: PMC10664279 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2023.0368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Sperm ageing after ejaculation can generate paternal environment effects that impact offspring fitness. In many species, female reproductive fluids (FRFs), i.e. ancillary fluids released by eggs or within the female reproductive tract, may protect sperm from ageing and can additionally interact with sperm to influence offspring viability. This raises the intriguing prospect that FRFs may alleviate paternal effects associated with sperm ageing. Here, we test this novel hypothesis using the broadcast spawning mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. We show that incubating sperm in FRF prior to fertilization increases offspring viability, and that these effects occur independently of sperm age. Our results provide novel evidence that FRFs allow females to selectively bias fertilization toward higher quality sperm within an ejaculate, which in turn yields more viable offspring. We consider this FRF-mediated paternal effect in the context of female physiological control over fertilization and the transgenerational effects of female-regulated haploid selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica H. Hadlow
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Rowan A. Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
| | - Jonathan P. Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
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9
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Sahoo B, Gupta MK. Effect of arginine-induced motility and capacitation on RNA population in goat spermatozoa. Vet Res Commun 2023; 47:1427-1444. [PMID: 37162640 DOI: 10.1007/s11259-023-10092-3] [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: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In vitro capacitation is essential in assisted reproductive technologies (ART) for embryo production. Recently, arginine has been proven to enhance capacitation in mammalian spermatozoa. However, the detailed mechanism of action of arginine remains elusive. AIM This study investigated the effect of arginine-induced capacitation and motility enhancement on the spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) population in goats. MATERIAL AND METHODS Goat spermatozoa were treated with arginine for up to six hours and compared with non-treated or PHE (penicillamine, hypotaurine, and epinephrine)-treated spermatozoa at different intervals (0, 1, 2, 4, and 6 hours). Sperm parameters, including viability, individual motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and ROS production, were evaluated. The spRNA population was analyzed by short-read RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). RESULTS The percentage of capacitated (73.21 ± 4.22%) and acrosome reacted (18.35 ± 0.56%) spermatozoa was highest in arginine treatment, while PHE treatment showed the highest percentage (79.82 ± 4.31%) of motile spermatozoa from 0 to 4 hours of incubation. RNA-seq analysis identified 1,321 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in arginine-treated spermatozoa compared to the control. The PGK2, RNASE10, ODF1, and ROPN1L genes involved in sperm motility and ACR, DKKL1, KCNJ11, and PRND genes involved in the capacitation process were upregulated in arginine-treated spermatozoa. The DEGs regulate sperm capacitation-related cAMP-PKA, PI3-Akt, calcium, and MAPK signaling pathways. CONCLUSION The arginine-induced capacitation and enhanced sperm motility were associated with the upregulation of several genes involved in sperm motility and capacitation pathways. The comparative study also suggests that arginine may be used in lieu of PHE for motility enhancement and in vitro capacitation of goat spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Centre for Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India.
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Bollwein H, Malama E. Review: Evaluation of bull fertility. Functional and molecular approaches. Animal 2023; 17 Suppl 1:100795. [PMID: 37567681 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.100795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023] Open
Abstract
With the term "assisted reproduction technologies" in modern cattle farming, one could imply the collection of techniques that aim at the optimal use of bovine gametes to produce animals of high genetic value in a time- and cost-efficient manner. The accurate characterisation of sperm quality plays a critical role for the efficiency of several assisted reproduction-related procedures, such as sperm processing, in vitro embryo production and artificial insemination. Bull fertility is ultimately a collective projection of the ability of a series of ejaculates to endure sperm processing stress, and achieve fertilisation of the oocyte and production of a viable and well-developing embryo. In this concept, the assessment of sperm functional and molecular characteristics is key to bull fertility diagnostics and prognostics. Among others, functional features linked to sperm plasma membrane, acrosome and DNA integrity are usually assessed as a measure of the ability of sperm to express the phenotypes that will allow them to maintain their homeostasis and orchestrate-in a strict temporal manner-the course of events that will enable the delivery of their genetic content to the oocyte upon fertilisation. Nevertheless, measures of sperm functionality are not always adequate indicators of bull fertility. Nowadays, advancements in the field of molecular biology have facilitated the profiling of several biomolecules in male gametes. The molecular profiling of bovine sperm offers a deeper insight into the mechanisms underlying sperm physiology and, thus, can reveal novel candidate markers for bull fertility prognosis. In this review, the importance of three organelles (the nucleus, the plasma membrane and the acrosome) for the characterisation of sperm fertilising capacity and bull fertility is discussed at functional and molecular levels. In particular, information about sperm head morphometry, chromatin structure, viability as well as the ability of sperm to capacitate and undergo the acrosome reaction are presented in relation to the cryotolerance of male gametes and bull fertility. Finally, major spermatozoal coding and non-coding RNAs, and proteins that are involved in the above-mentioned aspects of sperm functionality are also summarised.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - E Malama
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Department for Farm Animals, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
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Sahoo B, Mishra B, Bhaskar R, Vikas YNV, Umesh A, Guttula PK, Gupta MK. Analyzing the effect of heparin on in vitro capacitation and spermatozoal RNA population in goats. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 241:124502. [PMID: 37080410 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124502] [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: 07/03/2022] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Heparin is a glycosaminoglycan polymer that is commonly used as an anticoagulant. Heparin also induces in vitro capacitation in spermatozoa, although its molecular mechanism is elusive. This study investigated the effect of heparin on in vitro capacitation and spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) population in goats. Goat spermatozoa were treated with 20 μM heparin for 0-6 h and evaluated for motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction, and spRNA population by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq). It was observed that heparin enhanced sperm motility up to 6 h of incubation (p < 0.05). Heparin also induced capacitation and acrosome reaction within 4 h. RNA-seq identified 1254 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between heparin-treated and control spermatozoa. Most DEGs (1251 nos.) were upregulated and included 1090 protein-coding genes. A few genes (PRND, ITPR1, LLCFC1, and CHRM2) showed >5-fold increased expression in heparin-treated spermatozoa compared to the control. The upregulated genes were found to be involved in cAMP-PKA, PI3-Akt, calcium, MAPK signaling, and oxidative stress pathways. DCFDA staining confirmed the increased oxidative stress in heparin-treated spermatozoa compared to the control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the results of the present study suggest that heparin enhances sperm motility and induces capacitation by upregulation of the spRNA population and oxidative stress pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Balaram Mishra
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Rakesh Bhaskar
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Y N V Vikas
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Anushri Umesh
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Guttula
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha 769 008, India.
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12
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Yuan X, Wang Y, Ali MA, Qin Z, Guo Z, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Zhou G, Yang J, Chen L, Shen L, Zhu L, Zeng C. Odorant Receptor OR2C1 Is an Essential Modulator of Boar Sperm Capacitation by Binding with Heparin. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021664. [PMID: 36675176 PMCID: PMC9861704 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Heparin, a class of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), is widely used to induce sperm capacitation and fertilization. How heparin induces sperm capacitation remains unclear. Olfactory receptors (ORs) which are G protein-coupled receptors, have been proposed to be involved in sperm capacitation. However, the interaction between ORs and odor molecules and the molecular mechanism of ORs mediating sperm capacitation are still unclear. The present study aimed to explore the underlying interaction and mechanism between heparin and ORs in carrying out the boar sperm capacitation. The results showed that olfactory receptor 2C1 (OR2C1) is a compulsory unit which regulates the sperm capacitation by recognizing and binding with heparin, as determined by Dual-Glo Luciferase Assay and molecular docking. In addition, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation indicated that OR2C1 binds with heparin via a hydrophobic cavity comprises of Arg3, Ala6, Thr7, Asn171, Arg172, Arg173, and Pro287. Furthermore, we demonstrated that knocking down OR2C1 significantly inhibits sperm capacitation. In conclusion, we highlighted a novel olfactory receptor, OR2C1, in boar sperm and disclosed the potential binding of heparin to Pro287, a conserved residue in the transmembrane helices region 7 (TMH7). Our findings will benefit the further understanding of ORs involved in sperm capacitation and fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yihan Wang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Malik Ahsan Ali
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad 38000, Punjab, Pakistan
| | - Ziyue Qin
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Zhihua Guo
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Ming Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Guangbin Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Jiandong Yang
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Lei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Linyuan Shen
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Li Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
| | - Changjun Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Livestock and Poultry Multi-Omics, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, College of Animal Science and Technology, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-28-8629-1010
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Rodriguez-Martinez H, Roca J, Alvarez-Rodriguez M, Martinez-Serrano CA. How does the boar epididymis regulate the emission of fertile spermatozoa? Anim Reprod Sci 2022; 246:106829. [PMID: 34452796 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2021.106829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The epididymis is responsible for peripheral immune tolerance of maturing spermatozoa even though these have xeno-antigens foreign to the male and female immune system. The epididymis also produces factors required for fertilization and serves as a sperm repository until the time of ejaculation. These reproduction-relevant epididymal functions occur in the mesonephros-derived duct-system that is composed of absorptive and secretory epithelial cells with the capacity for merocrine and apocrine secretion of proteins, antioxidative- and electrolyte/pH-regulating enzymes and small, non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs), many stored in epididymosomes for sperm adhesion and long-lasting modifications of sperm functions. This paper provides a review summary of current and new knowledge of how the boar epididymis affects the quality of spermatozoa in the ejaculate of breeding boars. There is a particular focus on sperm maturation, survival, function and the role of signaling to the female immune system in fertility modulation. Furthermore, aspects related to the ductus epithelial contributions regarding electrolyte control, protein production, release of epididymosomes that contain sncRNAs are emphasized as are novel associations with fertility of the male, sperm quiescence during storage in the cauda epididymis, and on changes occurring in sperm subsequent to ejaculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heriberto Rodriguez-Martinez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden.
| | - Jordi Roca
- Department of Medicine and Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, International Excellence Campus for Higher Education and Research "Campus Mare Nostrum", University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain
| | - Manuel Alvarez-Rodriguez
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Cristina A Martinez-Serrano
- Department of Biomedical & Clinical Sciences (BKV), BKH/Obstetrics & Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, SE-58185, Linköping, Sweden
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14
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Xie Y, Xu Z, Wu C, Zhou C, Zhang X, Gu T, Yang J, Yang H, Zheng E, Xu Z, Cai G, Li Z, Liu D, Wu Z, Hong L. Extracellular vesicle-encapsulated miR-21-5p in seminal plasma prevents sperm capacitation via Vinculin inhibition. Theriogenology 2022; 193:103-113. [PMID: 36156422 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2022.09.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2021] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/10/2022] [Indexed: 10/31/2022]
Abstract
To penetrate the zona pellucida before sperm-egg binding, sperm must undergo highly time-controlled capacitation and acrosome reaction in the female reproductive tract. Our previous study demonstrated that miR-21-5p is the most abundant miRNA in boar seminal plasma (SP)-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) and can target Vinculin (VCL) gene, which may participate in boar sperm capacitation. Thus, this study aims to explore the potential role of miR-21-5p from SP-derived EVs in preventing sperm capacitation and its underlying mechanism. We observed that sperm could incorporate miR-21-5p from SP-derived EVs. The roles of SP-derived EVs miR-21-5p in sperm capacitation were then determined using gain- and loss-of-function analyses. In addition, the expression levels of miR-21-5p, VCL, and VCL protein in liquid-preserved boar sperm following transfection were determined using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Our results revealed that miR-21-5p overexpression inhibited sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. Similarly, miR-21-5p expression was significantly lower (P < 0.05) in capacitated sperm than un-capacitated sperm. However, the protein level of VCL was also significantly lower (P < 0.05) in capacitated sperm than un-capacitated sperm. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis showed that VCL protein mainly located in sperm head and sperm capacitation was inhibited after treating with VCL protein inhibitor (Chrysin). In conclusion, our study provides reasonable evidence that miR-21-5p expression in SP-derived EVs could prevent sperm capacitation via VCL inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshe Xie
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhiqian Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Changhua Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chen Zhou
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | | | - Ting Gu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jie Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Huaqiang Yang
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Enqin Zheng
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zheng Xu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Gengyuan Cai
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zicong Li
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangzhou, 510642, China
| | - Dewu Liu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China
| | - Zhenfang Wu
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China; State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Subtropical Agro-Bioresources, Guangzhou, 510642, China.
| | - Linjun Hong
- National Engineering Research Center for Breeding Swine Industry, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Agro-Animal Genomics and Molecular Breeding, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou, 510642, China; Lingnan Guangdong Laboratory of Modern Agriculture, Guangzhou, China.
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Tiwari S, Rajamanickam G, Unnikrishnan V, Ojaghi M, Kastelic JP, Thundathil JC. Testis-Specific Isoform of Na +-K + ATPase and Regulation of Bull Fertility. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7936. [PMID: 35887284 PMCID: PMC9317330 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Revised: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
An advanced understanding of sperm function is relevant for evidence-based male fertility prediction and addressing male infertility. A standard breeding soundness evaluation (BSE) merely identifies gross abnormalities in bulls, whereas selection based on single nucleotide polymorphisms and genomic estimated breeding values overlooks sub-microscopic differences in sperm. Molecular tools are important for validating genomic selection and advancing knowledge on the regulation of male fertility at an interdisciplinary level. Therefore, research in this field is now focused on developing a combination of in vitro sperm function tests and identifying biomarkers such as sperm proteins with critical roles in fertility. The Na+-K+ ATPase is a ubiquitous transmembrane protein and its α4 isoform (ATP1A4) is exclusively expressed in germ cells and sperm. Furthermore, ATP1A4 is essential for male fertility, as it interacts with signaling molecules in both raft and non-raft fractions of the sperm plasma membrane to regulate capacitation-associated signaling, hyperactivation, sperm-oocyte interactions, and activation. Interestingly, ATP1A4 activity and expression increase during capacitation, challenging the widely accepted dogma of sperm translational quiescence. This review discusses the literature on the role of ATP1A4 during capacitation and fertilization events and its prospective use in improving male fertility prediction.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Jacob C. Thundathil
- Department of Production Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; (S.T.); (G.R.); (V.U.); (M.O.); (J.P.K.)
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16
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Pang WK, Son JH, Ryu DY, Rahman MS, Park YJ, Pang MG. Heat shock protein family D member 1 in boar spermatozoa is strongly related to the litter size of inseminated sows. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2022; 13:42. [PMID: 35422006 PMCID: PMC9012035 DOI: 10.1186/s40104-022-00689-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Sperm quality evaluation is the logical first step in increasing field fertility. Spermatozoa contain cytoplasmic organelles and biomolecules known as sperm-intrinsic factors, which play key roles in sperm maturation, sperm-oocyte fusion, and embryo development. In particular, sperm membrane proteins [e.g., arginine vasopressin receptor 2, beta-actin, prohibitin, and heat shock protein family D member 1 (HSPD1)] and RNA could be used as functional indicators of male fertility. We sought to clarify the effects of differential mRNA expression of selected genes on several fertilisation parameters, including sperm motility, motion kinematics, capacitation, and litter size, in a porcine model. Results Our results demonstrated that HSPD1 expression was significantly correlated with male fertility, as measured by the litter size of inseminated sows. The expression of HSPD1 mRNA was linked to sperm motility and other motion kinematic characteristics. Furthermore, HSPD1 had a 66.7% overall accuracy in detecting male fertility, and the high-litter size group which was selected with the HSPD1 marker had a 1.34 greater litter size than the low-litter size group. Conclusions Our findings indicate that HSPD1 might be a helpful biomarker for superior boar selection for artificial insemination, which could boost field fertility. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40104-022-00689-0.
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Bicarbonate-Triggered In Vitro Capacitation of Boar Spermatozoa Conveys an Increased Relative Abundance of the Canonical Transient Receptor Potential Cation (TRPC) Channels 3, 4, 6 and 7 and of CatSper-γ Subunit mRNA Transcripts. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12081012. [PMID: 35454259 PMCID: PMC9031844 DOI: 10.3390/ani12081012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The detection of sub-fertile boars has been a difficult task, and despite their prevalence being low, its impact is very significant because it implies economic drawbacks for artificial insemination (AI) centers and farms. Unfortunately, some crucial reproductive processes fall beyond the routine analysis performed in the porcine model, such as sperm capacitation, which is a necessary event for fertilization. A synergistic action of bicarbonate (HCO3−) with calcium (Ca2+) is needed to achieve capacitation. The transport of Ca2+ is mediated by CatSper channels and Canonical Transient Potential Channels (TRPC). We quantified mRNA transcripts of different subunits of CatSper (β, γ and δ) and TRPC (1, 3, 4, 6 and 7) before and after in vitro capacitation by HCO3− ions. Our results showed that in vitro capacitation using HCO3− increases the relative abundance of mRNA transcripts of almost all subunits of Ca2+ channels, except CatSper-δ and TRPC1, which were significantly reduced. More studies are needed to elucidate the specific roles of the TRPC channels at a physiological and functional level. Abstract Sperm capacitation is a stepwise complex biochemical process towards fertilization. It includes a crucial early calcium (Ca2+) transport mediated by CatSper channels and Canonical Transient Potential Channels (TRPC). We studied the relative abundance of mRNA transcripts changes of the CatSper β, γ and δ subunits and TRPC-channels 1, 3, 4, 6 and 7 in pig spermatozoa, after triggering in vitro capacitation by bicarbonate ions at levels present in vivo at the fertilization site. For this purpose, we analyzedfive5 ejaculate pools (from three fertile adult boars) before (control-fresh samples) and after in vitro exposure to capacitation conditions (37 mM NaHCO3, 2.25 mM CaCl2, 2 mM caffeine, 0.5% bovine serum albumin and 310 mM lactose) at 38 °C, 5% CO2 for 30 min. In vitro capacitation using bicarbonate elicits an increase in the relative abundance of mRNA transcripts of almost all studied Ca2+ channels, except CatSper-δ and TRPC1 (significantly reduced). These findings open new avenues of research to identify the specific role of each channel in boar sperm capacitation and elucidate the physiological meaning of the changes on sperm mRNA cargo.
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18
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Hernández-Silva G, Caballero-Campo P, Chirinos M. Sperm mRNAs as potential markers of male fertility. Reprod Biol 2022; 22:100636. [PMID: 35338912 DOI: 10.1016/j.repbio.2022.100636] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Advances in transcriptomic technologies are contributing to an increased understanding of the role of spermatozoal RNA in sperm physiology. Although sperm transcriptomic studies have delivered large amounts of valuable information, no new male fertility biomarkers have emerged from such studies to date. This review summarizes current knowledge about the potential relevance of certain mRNA as biomarkers, focusing on comparative studies of human spermatozoa transcriptomic profiles from fertile and pathological semen samples. Asthenozoospermia is the semen aberrant condition that has been most exhaustively investigated to date. We cross-analyzed findings from three different studies on the transcriptome of asthenozoospermic semen samples and identified 100 transcripts that were consistently differentially expressed and that consequently are candidates for characterizing the molecular source of this sperm anomaly. The potential use of sperm mRNAs as predictors of outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) is also reviewed. Improving the understanding of the human spermatozoa mRNA content is expected to improve the evaluation and diagnosis of infertile men, and ultimately facilitate the selection of the best treatment to overcome infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Hernández-Silva
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Dr. Carlos Gual Castro, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Pedro Caballero-Campo
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Dr. Carlos Gual Castro, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Mayel Chirinos
- Departamento de Biología de la Reproducción Dr. Carlos Gual Castro, Instituto Nacional de Ciencias Médicas y Nutrición Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico.
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Karuthadurai T, Das DN, Kumaresan A, Sinha MK, Kamaraj E, Nag P, Ebenezer Samuel King JP, Datta TK, Manimaran A, Jeyakumar S, Ramesha K. Sperm Transcripts Associated With Odorant Binding and Olfactory Transduction Pathways Are Altered in Breeding Bulls Producing Poor-Quality Semen. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:799386. [PMID: 35274020 PMCID: PMC8902071 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.799386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa carries a reservoir of mRNAs regulating sperm functions and fertilizing potential. Although it is well recognized that a considerable proportion of high genetic merit breeding bulls produce poor-quality semen, the transcriptomic alterations in spermatozoa from such bulls are not understood. In the present study, comparative high-throughput transcriptomic profiling of spermatozoa from good and poor-quality semen-producing bulls was carried out to identify the transcripts associated with semen quality. Using next-generation sequencing (NGS), we identified 11,632 transcripts in Holstein Friesian bull spermatozoa; after total hit normalization, a total of 544 transcripts were detected, of which 185 transcripts were common to both good and poor-quality semen, while 181 sperm transcripts were unique to good quality semen, and 178 transcripts were unique to poor-quality semen. Among the co-expressed transcripts, 31 were upregulated, while 108 were downregulated, and 46 were neutrally expressed in poor-quality semen. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that the dysregulated transcripts were predominantly involved in molecular function, such as olfactory receptor activity and odor binding, and in biological process, such as detection of chemical stimulus involved in sensory perception, sensory perception of smell, signal transduction, and signal synaptic transmission. Since a majority of the dysregulated transcripts were involved in the olfactory pathway (85% of enriched dysregulated genes were involved in this pathway), the expression of selected five transcripts associated with this pathway (OR2T11, OR10S1, ORIL3, OR5M11, and PRRX1) were validated using real-time qPCR, and it was found that their transcriptional abundance followed the same trend as observed in NGS; the sperm transcriptional abundance of OR2T11 and OR10S1 differed significantly (p < 0.05) between good and poor-quality semen. It is concluded that poor-quality semen showed altered expression of transcripts associated with olfactory receptors and pathways indicating the relationship between olfactory pathway and semen quality in bulls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thirumalaisamy Karuthadurai
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Dayal Nitai Das
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Arumugam Kumaresan
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
- *Correspondence: Arumugam Kumaresan ;
| | - Manish Kumar Sinha
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Elango Kamaraj
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Pradeep Nag
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - John Peter Ebenezer Samuel King
- Theriogenology Laboratory, Veterinary Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Tirtha Kumar Datta
- Animal Genomics Laboratory, ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal, India
| | - Ayyasamy Manimaran
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Sakthivel Jeyakumar
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
| | - Kerekoppa Ramesha
- Dairy Production Section, Southern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Bengaluru, India
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20
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Chi X, Xiang D, Sha Y, Liang S, Wang C. Inhibition of human sperm function by an antibody against apolipoprotein A1: A protein located in human spermatozoa. Andrologia 2022; 54:e14365. [DOI: 10.1111/and.14365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuping Chi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospita Beijing China
| | - Daijun Xiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospita Beijing China
| | - Yingjiao Sha
- Department of Laboratory Medicine the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospita Beijing China
| | - Shuang Liang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Maternal and Child Health Hospital Tangshan China
| | - Chengbin Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine the First Medical Centre, Chinese PLA General Hospita Beijing China
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21
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Sahoo B, Choudhary RK, Sharma P, Choudhary S, Gupta MK. Significance and Relevance of Spermatozoal RNAs to Male Fertility in Livestock. Front Genet 2021; 12:768196. [PMID: 34956322 PMCID: PMC8696160 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.768196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Livestock production contributes to a significant part of the economy in developing countries. Although artificial insemination techniques brought substantial improvements in reproductive efficiency, male infertility remains a leading challenge in livestock. Current strategies for the diagnosis of male infertility largely depend on the evaluation of semen parameters and fail to diagnose idiopathic infertility in most cases. Recent evidences show that spermatozoa contains a suit of RNA population whose profile differs between fertile and infertile males. Studies have also demonstrated the crucial roles of spermatozoal RNA (spRNA) in spermatogenesis, fertilization, and early embryonic development. Thus, the spRNA profile may serve as unique molecular signatures of fertile sperm and may play pivotal roles in the diagnosis and treatment of male fertility. This manuscript provides an update on various spRNA populations, including protein-coding and non-coding RNAs, in livestock species and their potential role in semen quality, particularly sperm motility, freezability, and fertility. The contribution of seminal plasma to the spRNA population is also discussed. Furthermore, we discussed the significance of rare non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) such as long ncRNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) in spermatogenic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, India
| | - Ratan K Choudhary
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Paramajeet Sharma
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Shanti Choudhary
- College of Animal Biotechnology, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Rourkela, India
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22
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Sellem E, Jammes H, Schibler L. Sperm-borne sncRNAs: potential biomarkers for semen fertility? Reprod Fertil Dev 2021; 34:160-173. [PMID: 35231268 DOI: 10.1071/rd21276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Semen infertility or sub-fertility, whether in humans or livestock species, remains a major concern for clinicians and technicians involved in reproduction. Indeed, they can cause tragedies in human relationships or have a dramatic overall negative impact on the sustainability of livestock breeding. Understanding and predicting semen fertility issues is therefore crucial and quality control procedures as well as biomarkers have been proposed to ensure sperm fertility. However, their predictive values appeared to be too limited and additional relevant biomarkers are still required to diagnose sub-fertility efficiently. During the last decade, the study of molecular mechanisms involved in spermatogenesis and sperm maturation highlighted the regulatory role of a variety of small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs) and led to the discovery that sperm sncRNAs comprise both remnants from spermatogenesis and post-testicular sncRNAs acquired through interactions with extracellular vesicles along epididymis. This has led to the hypothesis that sncRNAs may be a source of relevant biomarkers, associated either with sperm functionality or embryo development. This review aims at providing a synthetic overview of the current state of knowledge regarding implication of sncRNA in spermatogenesis defects and their putative roles in sperm maturation and embryo development, as well as exploring their use as fertility biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012 Paris, France
| | - Hélène Jammes
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350 Jouy en Josas, France; and Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700 Maisons-Alfort, France
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23
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Chen H, Alves MBR, Belleannée C. Contribution of epididymal epithelial cell functions to sperm epigenetic changes and the health of progeny. Hum Reprod Update 2021; 28:51-66. [PMID: 34618012 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmab029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spermatozoa acquire their motility and fertilizing abilities during their maturation through the epididymis. This process is controlled by epididymal epithelial cells that possess features adapted to sense and respond to their surrounding environment and to communicate with spermatozoa. During the past decade, new intercellular communication processes have been discovered, including the secretion and transport of molecules from the epithelium to spermatozoa via extracellular vesicles (EVs), as well as sensing of the intraluminal milieu by cellular extensions. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE This review addresses recent findings regarding epididymal epithelial cell features and interactions between spermatozoa and the epididymal epithelium as well as epigenetic modifications undergone by spermatozoa during transit through the epididymal microenvironment. SEARCH METHODS A systematic search was conducted in Pubmed with the keyword 'epididymis'. Results were filtered on original research articles published from 2009 to 2021 and written in the English language. One hundred fifteen original articles presenting recent advancements on the epididymis contribution to sperm maturation were selected. Some additional papers cited in the primary reference were also included. A special focus was given to higher mammalian species, particularly rodents, bovines and humans, that are the most studied in this field. OUTCOMES This review provides novel insights into the contribution of epididymal epithelium and EVs to post-testicular sperm maturation. First, new immune cell populations have been described in the epididymis, where they are proposed to play a role in protecting the environment surrounding sperm against infections or autoimmune responses. Second, novel epididymal cell extensions, including dendrites, axopodia and primary cilia, have been identified as sensors of the environment surrounding sperm. Third, new functions have been outlined for epididymal EVs, which modify the sperm epigenetic profile and participate in transgenerational epigenetic inheritance of paternal traits. WIDER IMPLICATIONS Although the majority of these findings result from studies in rodents, this fundamental research will ultimately improve our knowledge of human reproductive physiopathologies. Recent discoveries linking sperm epigenetic modifications with paternal environmental exposure and progeny outcome further stress the importance of advancing fundamental research on the epididymis. From this, new therapeutic options for infertile couples and better counseling strategies may arise to increase positive health outcomes in children conceived either naturally or with ART.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Chen
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Clémence Belleannée
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Université Laval, Quebec, Canada
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Caballero-Campo P, Lira-Albarrán S, Barrera D, Borja-Cacho E, Godoy-Morales HS, Rangel-Escareño C, Larrea F, Chirinos M. Gene transcription profiling of astheno- and normo-zoospermic sperm subpopulations. Asian J Androl 2021; 22:608-615. [PMID: 32167074 PMCID: PMC7705984 DOI: 10.4103/aja.aja_143_19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Spermatozoa contain a repertoire of RNAs considered to be potential functional fertility biomarkers. In this study, the gene expression of human sperm subpopulations with high (F1) and low (F2) motility from healthy normozoospermic (N) and asthenozoospermic (A) individuals was evaluated using RNA microarray followed by functional genomic analysis of differentially expressed genes. Results from A–F1 versus N–F1, A–F2 versus N–F2, N–F1 versus N–F2, and A–F1 versus A–F2 comparisons showed a considerably larger set of downregulated genes in tests versus controls. Gene ontology (GO) analysis of A–F1 versus N–F1 identified 507 overrepresented biological processes (BPs), several of which are associated with sperm physiology. In addition, gene set enrichment analysis of the same contrast showed 110 BPs, 36 cellular components, and 31 molecular functions, several of which are involved in sperm motility. A leading-edge analysis of selected GO terms resulted in several downregulated genes encoding to dyneins and kinesins, both related to sperm physiology. Furthermore, the predicted activation state of asthenozoospermia was increased, while fertility, cell movement of sperm, and gametogenesis were decreased. Interestingly, several downregulated genes characteristic of the canonical pathway protein ubiquitination were involved in asthenozoospermia activation. Conversely, GO analysis of A–F2 versus N–F2 did not identify overrepresented BPs, although the gene set enrichment analysis detected six enriched BPs, one cellular component, and two molecular functions. Overall, the results show differences in gene transcription between sperm subpopulations from asthenozoospermic and normozoospermic semen samples and allowed the identification of gene sets relevant to sperm physiology and reproduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro Caballero-Campo
- Department of Reproduction Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico.,Tambre Foundation, Madrid 28002, Spain
| | - Saúl Lira-Albarrán
- Department of Reproduction Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - David Barrera
- Department of Reproduction Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Elizabeth Borja-Cacho
- Reproductive Medicine Unit, Angeles del Pedregal Hospital, Mexico City 10700, Mexico
| | | | - Claudia Rangel-Escareño
- Computational Genomic and Integrative Biology Laboratory, National Institute of Genomic Medicine, Mexico City 14610, Mexico
| | - Fernando Larrea
- Department of Reproduction Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
| | - Mayel Chirinos
- Department of Reproduction Biology, National Institute of Medical Sciences and Nutrition Salvador Zubirán, Mexico City 14080, Mexico
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25
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Fu Y, Fan P, Wang L, Shu Z, Zhu S, Feng S, Li X, Qiu X, Zhao S, Liu X. Improvement, identification, and target prediction for miRNAs in the porcine genome by using massive, public high-throughput sequencing data. J Anim Sci 2021; 99:skab018. [PMID: 33493272 PMCID: PMC7885162 DOI: 10.1093/jas/skab018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the broad variety of available microRNA (miRNA) research tools and methods, their application to the identification, annotation, and target prediction of miRNAs in nonmodel organisms is still limited. In this study, we collected nearly all public sRNA-seq data to improve the annotation for known miRNAs and identify novel miRNAs that have not been annotated in pigs (Sus scrofa). We newly annotated 210 mature sequences in known miRNAs and found that 43 of the known miRNA precursors were problematic due to redundant/missing annotations or incorrect sequences. We also predicted 811 novel miRNAs with high confidence, which was twice the current number of known miRNAs for pigs in miRBase. In addition, we proposed a correlation-based strategy to predict target genes for miRNAs by using a large amount of sRNA-seq and RNA-seq data. We found that the correlation-based strategy provided additional evidence of expression compared with traditional target prediction methods. The correlation-based strategy also identified the regulatory pairs that were controlled by nonbinding sites with a particular pattern, which provided abundant complementarity for studying the mechanism of miRNAs that regulate gene expression. In summary, our study improved the annotation of known miRNAs, identified a large number of novel miRNAs, and predicted target genes for all pig miRNAs by using massive public data. This large data-based strategy is also applicable for other nonmodel organisms with incomplete annotation information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuhua Fu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
- School of Computer Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Pengyu Fan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Lu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Ziqiang Shu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Shilin Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Siyuan Feng
- Laboratory of Genetics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Xinyun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaotian Qiu
- National Animal Husbandry Service, Beijing, PR China
| | - Shuhong Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
| | - Xiaolei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction, Ministry of Education; Key Laboratory of Swine Genetics and Breeding, Ministry of Agriculture & College of Animal Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, Hubei, PR China
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26
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Keles E, Malama E, Bozukova S, Siuda M, Wyck S, Witschi U, Bauersachs S, Bollwein H. The micro-RNA content of unsorted cryopreserved bovine sperm and its relation to the fertility of sperm after sex-sorting. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:30. [PMID: 33413071 PMCID: PMC7792310 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-020-07280-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The use of sex-sorted sperm in cattle assisted reproduction is constantly increasing. However, sperm fertility can substantially differ between unsorted (conventional) and sex-sorted semen batches of the same sire. Sperm microRNAs (miRNA) have been suggested as promising biomarkers of bull fertility the last years. In this study, we hypothesized that the miRNA profile of cryopreserved conventional sperm is related to bull fertility after artificial insemination with X-bearing sperm. For this purpose, we analyzed the miRNA profile of 18 conventional sperm samples obtained from nine high- (HF) and nine low-fertility (LF) bulls that were contemporaneously used to produce conventional and sex-sorted semen batches. The annual 56-day non-return rate for each semen type (NRRconv and NRRss, respectively) was recorded for each bull. RESULTS In total, 85 miRNAs were detected. MiR-34b-3p and miR-100-5p were the two most highly expressed miRNAs with their relative abundance reaching 30% in total. MiR-10a-5p and miR-9-5p were differentially expressed in LF and HF samples (false discovery rate < 10%). The expression levels of miR-9-5p, miR-34c, miR-423-5p, miR-449a, miR-5193-5p, miR-1246, miR-2483-5p, miR-92a, miR-21-5p were significantly correlated to NRRss but not to NRRconv. Based on robust regression analysis, miR-34c, miR-7859 and miR-342 showed the highest contribution to the prediction of NRRss. CONCLUSIONS A set of miRNAs detected in conventionally produced semen batches were linked to the fertilizing potential of bovine sperm after sex-sorting. These miRNAs should be further evaluated as potential biomarkers of a sire's suitability for the production of sex-sorted sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esin Keles
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleni Malama
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Veterinary Research Institute, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Siyka Bozukova
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Mathias Siuda
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Wyck
- Swissgenetics, CH-3052, Zollikofen, Switzerland
| | | | - Stefan Bauersachs
- Institute of Veterinary Anatomy, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Heinrich Bollwein
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, CH-8057, Zurich, Switzerland
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27
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Lymbery RA, Berson JD, Evans JP. Indirect parental effects on offspring viability by egg-derived fluids in an external fertilizer. Proc Biol Sci 2020; 287:20202538. [PMID: 33290674 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2020.2538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity for parents to influence offspring phenotypes via nongenetic inheritance is currently a major area of focus in evolutionary biology. Intriguing recent evidence suggests that sexual interactions among males and females, both before and during mating, are important mediators of such effects. Sexual interactions typically extend beyond gamete release, involving both sperm and eggs, and their associated fluids. However, the potential for gamete-level interactions to induce nongenetic parental effects remains under-investigated. Here, we test for such effects using an emerging model system for studying gamete interactions, the external fertilizer Mytilus galloprovincialis. We employed a split-ejaculate design to test whether exposing sperm to egg-derived chemicals (ECs) from a female would affect fertilization rate and offspring viability when those sperm were used to fertilize a different female's eggs. We found separate, significant effects of ECs from non-fertilizing females on both fertilization rate and offspring viability. The offspring viability effect indicates that EC-driven interactions can have nongenetic implications for offspring fitness independent of the genotypes inherited by those offspring. These findings provide a rare test of indirect parental effects driven exclusively by gamete-level interactions, and to our knowledge the first evidence that such effects occur via the gametic fluids of females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowan A Lymbery
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jacob D Berson
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
| | - Jonathan P Evans
- Centre for Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley WA 6009, Australia
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28
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Sahoo B, Guttula PK, Gupta MK. Comparison of spermatozoal RNA extraction methods in goats. Anal Biochem 2020; 614:114059. [PMID: 33285124 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2020.114059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
RNA sequencing (RNAseq) has divulged newer role of spermatozoal RNA in male fertility. This study aimed to evaluate different sperm purification and RNA extraction methods for long-read RNA sequencing of poly(A) transcriptome in goat spermatozoa. Sperm samples were purified by swim-up separation using different purification medium. Spermatozoal RNA was extracted by seven different methods with additional supplementation of reducing agents in lysis buffer. poly(A) selected RNA was used for cDNA library preparation and long-read RNAseq in Nanopore sequencer. Sperm purification by 1 h swim-up resulted in higher recovery (89.20 ± 1.15%), motility (82.33 ± 1.53%), viability (88.10 ± 5.03%) and plasma membrane integrity (71.33 ± 4.51%) in sperm TALP (sp-TL) medium. A monophasic solution of GITC with phenol and DTT resulted in the highest yield of large sized RNAs (3.89 ± 0.46 ng/million cells) suitable for long-read RNAseq of poly(A) transcripts. RNAseq resulted in reads of length, ranging from 500bp to 2 Kb. A total of 123 transcripts were identified in goat spermatozoa by de novo assembly and included sperm-specific transcripts such as CATSPERG, PRM2, CYLC2, SPATA6, PLCZ1 etc. This study is the first report of long-read RNAseq of poly(A) transcriptome in goat spermatozoa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bijayalaxmi Sahoo
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Praveen Kumar Guttula
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Gupta
- Gene Manipulation Laboratory, Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, National Institute of Technology Rourkela, Odisha, 769 008, India.
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29
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Alves MBR, Celeghini ECC, Belleannée C. From Sperm Motility to Sperm-Borne microRNA Signatures: New Approaches to Predict Male Fertility Potential. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:791. [PMID: 32974342 PMCID: PMC7471662 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Accepted: 07/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In addition to the paternal genome, spermatozoa carry several intrinsic factors, including organelles (e.g., centrioles and mitochondria) and molecules (e.g., proteins and RNAs), which are involved in important steps of reproductive biology such as spermatogenesis, sperm maturation, oocyte fertilization and embryo development. These factors constitute potential biomarkers of "viable sperm" and male fertility status and may become major assets for diagnosing instances of idiopathic male infertility in both humans and livestock animals. A better understanding of the mechanism of action of these sperm intrinsic factors in the regulation of reproductive and developmental processes still presents a major challenge that must be addressed. This review assembles the main data regarding morpho-functional and intrinsic sperm features that are associated with male infertility, with a particular focus on microRNA (miRNA) molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maíra Bianchi Rodrigues Alves
- CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.,Department of Animal Reproduction, Universidade de São Paulo, Pirassununga, Brazil
| | | | - Clémence Belleannée
- CHU de Québec Research Center (CHUL), Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproduction, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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He Y, Ye G, Chi S, Tan B, Dong X, Yang Q, Liu H, Zhang S. Integrative Transcriptomic and Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Immune-Related miRNA-mRNA Regulation Network for Soybean Meal-Induced Enteritis in Hybrid Grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus♂. Front Immunol 2020; 11:1502. [PMID: 32903657 PMCID: PMC7438716 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.01502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
A 10-week feeding experiment was conducted to reveal the immune mechanism for soybean meal-induced enteritis (SBMIE) in hybrid grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂. Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 10, 30, and 50% fish meal protein with soybean meal (namely FM, SBM10, SBM30, and SBM50, respectively). The weight gain rate of the SBM50 group was significantly lower than those of the other groups. Plica height, muscular layer thickness, and goblet cells of the distal intestine in the SBM50 group were much lower than those in the FM group. The intestinal transcriptomic data, including the transcriptome and miRNAome, showed that a total of 6,390 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 92 DEmiRNAs were identified in the SBM50 and FM groups. DEmiRNAs (10 known and 1 novel miRNAs) and their DE target genes were involved in immune-related phagosome, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, and the intestinal immune network for IgA production pathways. Our study is the first to offer transcriptomic and small RNA profiling for SBMIE in hybrid grouper. Our findings offer important insights for the understanding of the RNA profile and further elucidation of the underlying molecular immune mechanism for SBMIE in carnivorous fish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanfa He
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Guanlin Ye
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shuyan Chi
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
- Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Beiping Tan
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Xiaohui Dong
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Qihui Yang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Laboratory of Aquatic Animal Nutrition and Feed, Fisheries College, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang, China
- Aquatic Animals Precision Nutrition and High-Efficiency Feed Engineering Research Center of Guangdong Province, Zhanjiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Aquatic, Livestock and Poultry Feed Science and Technology in South China, Ministry of Agriculture, Zhanjiang, China
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Pang WK, Kang S, Ryu DY, Rahman MS, Park YJ, Pang MG. Optimization of sperm RNA processing for developmental research. Sci Rep 2020; 10:11606. [PMID: 32665575 PMCID: PMC7360572 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68486-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have demonstrated the significance of sperm RNA function as a transporter of important information directing the course of life. To determine the message contained in sperm RNA, it is necessary to optimize transcriptomic research tools. The current study was performed to optimize the processing of sperm RNA from sample storage to quantitative real-time PCR and assess the corresponding method with to evaluate male fertility and its representative markers, equatorin (EQTN) and peroxiredoxin (PRDX). Following successive steps of the Minimum Information for Publication of Quantitative Real-Time PCR Experiments guidelines, several options were compared using boar spermatozoa. To evaluate the optimized procedures, the relationship between mRNA expression of EQTN and PRDX in spermatozoa and the fertility (litter size) of 20 individual boars was assessed. Unexpectedly, DNase treatment during RNA isolation had the deleterious effect by decreasing the RNA concentration by 56% and eliminating the correlation between EQTN and PRDX4 mRNA expression and male fertility. Moreover, when sperm RNA was processed using the corresponding method, the results showed the highest exon sequence expression, male fertility prediction power, and consistency. This optimized protocol for predicting male fertility can be used to study the transport of messages directing the life course from spermatozoon to offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won-Ki Pang
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Saehan Kang
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Do-Yeal Ryu
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Md Saidur Rahman
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoo-Jin Park
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea
| | - Myung-Geol Pang
- Department of Animal Science and Technology and BET Research Institute, Chung-Ang University, Anseong, Gyeonggi-do, 17546, Republic of Korea.
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32
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Sellem E, Marthey S, Rau A, Jouneau L, Bonnet A, Perrier JP, Fritz S, Le Danvic C, Boussaha M, Kiefer H, Jammes H, Schibler L. A comprehensive overview of bull sperm-borne small non-coding RNAs and their diversity across breeds. Epigenetics Chromatin 2020; 13:19. [PMID: 32228651 PMCID: PMC7106649 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-020-00340-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mature sperm carry thousands of RNAs, including mRNAs, lncRNAs, tRNAs, rRNAs and sncRNAs, though their functional significance is still a matter of debate. Growing evidence suggests that sperm RNAs, especially sncRNAs, are selectively retained during spermiogenesis or specifically transferred during epididymis maturation, and are thus delivered to the oocyte at fertilization, providing resources for embryo development. However , a deep characterization of the sncRNA content of bull sperm and its expression profile across breeds is currently lacking. To fill this gap, we optimized a guanidinium–Trizol total RNA extraction protocol to prepare high-quality RNA from frozen bull sperm collected from 40 representative bulls from six breeds. Deep sequencing was performed (40 M single 50-bp reads per sample) to establish a comprehensive repertoire of cattle sperm sncRNA. Results Our study showed that it comprises mostly piRNAs (26%), rRNA fragments (25%), miRNAs (20%) and tRNA fragments (tsRNA, 14%). We identified 5p-halves as the predominant tsRNA subgroup in bull sperm, originating mostly from Gly and Glu isoacceptors. Our study also increased by ~ 50% the sperm repertoire of known miRNAs and identified 2022 predicted miRNAs. About 20% of sperm miRNAs were located within genomic clusters, expanding the list of known polycistronic pri-miRNA clusters and defining several networks of co-expressed miRNAs. Strikingly, our study highlighted the great diversity of isomiRs, resulting mainly from deletions and non-templated additions (A and U) at the 3p end. Substitutions within miRNA sequence accounted for 40% of isomiRs, with G>A, U>C and C>U substitutions being the most frequent variations. In addition, many sncRNAs were found to be differentially expressed across breeds. Conclusions Our study provides a comprehensive overview of cattle sperm sncRNA, and these findings will pave the way for future work on the role of sncRNAs in embryo development and their relevance as biomarkers of semen fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eli Sellem
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France.
| | - Sylvain Marthey
- Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Andrea Rau
- Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Luc Jouneau
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Aurelie Bonnet
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Philippe Perrier
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Sébastien Fritz
- R&D Department, ALLICE, 149 rue de Bercy, 75012, Paris, France.,Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Mekki Boussaha
- Université Paris-Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, GABI, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Hélène Kiefer
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Hélène Jammes
- Université Paris Saclay, UVSQ, INRAE, BREED, 78350, Jouy en Josas, France.,Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire d'Alfort, BREED, 94700, Maisons-Alfort, France
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33
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Yang C, Xiong X, Jiang X, Du H, Li Q, Liu H, Gan W, Yu C, Peng H, Xia B, Chen J, Song X, Yang L, Hu C, Qiu M, Zhang Z. Novel miRNA identification and comparative profiling of miRNA regulations revealed important pathways in Jinding duck ovaries by small RNA sequencing. 3 Biotech 2020; 10:38. [PMID: 31988832 DOI: 10.1007/s13205-019-2015-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional studies have revealed miRNAs play pivotal roles in ovulation and ovary development in mammalians, whereas little is known about the miRNA function in ducks. In this study, miRNA deep sequencing in the ovary tissues was carried out to obtain the miRNA profile from ovaries before oviposition (BO) and after oviposition (AO) in Jinding duck. Overall, an average of 23,128,075 and 26,020,523 reads were identified in the BO and AO samples, respectively, and 6739 miRNAs were identified from them through further mapping and analysis. Besides, 1570 miRNAs were identified as differentially expressed miRNAs compared with BO, including 493 miRNAs up-regulated and 1077 down-regulated in AO. Moreover, 2291 target genes were predicted from 443 significantly differentially expressed miRNAs. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway analysis indicated that target genes were enriched in some basic cell metabolism pathways as well as the productive pathways such as MAPK signaling pathway, gonadotropin-releasing hormone signaling pathway, TGF-beta signaling pathway which had been significantly changed. Our results helped to replenish the duck miRNA database and illustrate the potential mechanism of miRNA function in duck ovary development and reproduction process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaowu Yang
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Xia Xiong
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Xiaosong Jiang
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Huarui Du
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Qingyun Li
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Hehe Liu
- 3Sichuan Agricultural University, Sichuan, 611130 China
| | - Wu Gan
- Shanghai Ying Biotechnology Company, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunlin Yu
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Han Peng
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Bo Xia
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Jialei Chen
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Xiaoyan Song
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Li Yang
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Chenming Hu
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Mohan Qiu
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
| | - Zengrong Zhang
- 1Sichuan Animal Science Academy, 7# Niusha Road, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
- Animal Breeding and Genetics Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, 610066 Sichuan China
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Pan Y, Wang M, Baloch AR, Zhang Q, Wang J, Ma R, Xu G, Kashif J, Wang L, Fan J, Cui Y, Yu S. FGF10 enhances yak oocyte fertilization competence and subsequent blastocyst quality and regulates the levels of CD9, CD81, DNMT1, and DNMT3B. J Cell Physiol 2019; 234:17677-17689. [PMID: 30807658 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.28394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 01/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The fusion of sperm and oocytes determines the fertilization competence and subsequent development of embryos, which, in turn, can be affected by various proteins and DNA methylation. However, several factors in this whole regulation process remain unknown, especially in yaks. Here, we report that fibroblast growth factor 10 (FGF10) is an important growth factor that can enhance the maturation rate of yak oocytes and the motility of frozen spermatozoa. Subsequent blastocyst quality was also improved by increasing the total cell number and level of pregnancy-associated protein in blastocysts. These effects were significantly high in the group that received the 5 ng/ml FGF10 treatment, during both in vitro maturation (IVM) and capacitation. Our data show that the effects of FGF10 were dose-dependent at vital steps of embryogenesis in vitro. Furthermore, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blot analysis, and immunofluorescence demonstrated that the levels of CD9, CD81, DNMT1, and DNMT3B in both mature cumulus-oocyte complexes and capacitated sperms were regulated by FGF10, which was also highly expressed in the group treated with 5 ng/ml FGF10 during both IVM and capacitation. From our present study, we concluded that FGF10 promotes yak oocyte fertilization competence and subsequent blastocyst quality, and could also regulate CD9, CD81, DNMT1, and DNMT3B to optimize sperm-oocyte interactions and DNA methylation during fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Meng Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Abdul Rasheed Baloch
- South Bohemian Research Center of Aquaculture and Biodiversity of Hydrocenoses, Research Institute of Fish Culture and Hydrobiology, Faculty of Fisheries and Protection of Waters, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, Vodňany, Czech Republic
| | - Qiang Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jinglei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Rui Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Gengquan Xu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jam Kashif
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Sindh Agriculture University, Tandojam, Pakistan
| | - Libin Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jiangfeng Fan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Yan Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
| | - Sijiu Yu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou, Gansu, China
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35
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Yang Y, Liu D, Wu L, Huang W, Yang S, Xia J, Liu X, Meng Z. Comparative transcriptome analyses reveal changes of gene expression in fresh and cryopreserved yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) sperm and the effects of Cryoprotectant Me 2SO. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 133:457-465. [PMID: 31002905 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 04/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
This study, for the first time in fish, compared the transcriptome of fresh and frozen-thawed sperm, and would help to better understand the effect of cryopreservation on fish sperm and then better preserve the aquatic germplasm resources. Here, we employed high-throughput sequencing technology to obtain the transcriptome of yellow catfish from fresh sperm, cryopreserved sperm with and without cryoprotectant. When cryoprotectant (Me2SO) was excluded, down-regulated genes were significantly enriched into calcium ion binding, cytoskeletal protein binding, microfilament motor activity, calmodulin binding and carnitine O-acyltransferase activity, which affected Ca2+ regulation, cellular morphology, motility and metabolism. Moreover, heat shock proteins and genes associated with regulation of cholesterol, HCO3- and protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP) were down-regulated, and thus would impair ability against stress, membrane rigidity, pH regulation and signal transduction of cryopreserved sperm. After Me2SO was added, the amounts of DEGs decreased significantly and down-regulation of genes were found mainly in cytoskeleton and heat shock proteins, thereby suggesting that Me2SO effectively reduced the impact caused by low temperature on gene expression. Whether adding Me2SO or not, the up-regulated genes were mainly found in ribosomal proteins genes. However, when Me2SO was added, over-expression of some genes might contribute to maintain normal function of cryopreserved sperm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Dongqing Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Lina Wu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenhua Huang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Sen Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Junhong Xia
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiaochun Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zining Meng
- School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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36
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Dai DH, Qazi IH, Ran MX, Liang K, Zhang Y, Zhang M, Zhou GB, Angel C, Zeng CJ. Exploration of miRNA and mRNA Profiles in Fresh and Frozen-Thawed Boar Sperm by Transcriptome and Small RNA Sequencing. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20040802. [PMID: 30781801 PMCID: PMC6413023 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20040802] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Revised: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 02/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to lower farrowing rate and reduced litter size with frozen-thawed semen, over 90% of artificial insemination (AI) is conducted using liquid stored boar semen. Although substantial progress has been made towards optimizing the cryopreservation protocols for boar sperm, the influencing factors and underlying mechanisms related to cryoinjury and freeze tolerance of boar sperm remain largely unknown. In this study, we report the differential expression of mRNAs and miRNAs between fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm using high-throughput RNA sequencing. Our results showed that 567 mRNAs and 135 miRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in fresh and frozen-thawed boar sperm. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed that the majority of DE mRNAs were enriched in environmental information processing such as cytokine-cytokine receptor interactions, PI3K-Akt signaling, cell adhesion, MAPK, and calcium signaling pathways. Moreover, the targets of DE miRNAs were enriched in significant GO terms such as cell process, protein binding, and response to stimuli. In conclusion, we speculate that DE mRNAs and miRNAs are heavily involved in boar sperm response to environment stimuli, apoptosis, and metabolic activities. The differences in expression also reflect the various structural and functional changes in sperm during cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ding-Hui Dai
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Izhar Hyder Qazi
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
- Department of Veterinary Anatomy & Histology, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand 67210, Pakistan.
| | - Ming-Xia Ran
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Kai Liang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Yan Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Ming Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Guang-Bin Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
| | - Christiana Angel
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Sakrand 67210, Pakistan.
| | - Chang-Jun Zeng
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, and Farm Animal Genetic Resources Exploration and Innovation Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu 611130, China.
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