1
|
Contreras MJ, Arias ME, Fuentes F, Muñoz E, Bernecic N, Fair S, Felmer R. Cellular and Molecular Consequences of Stallion Sperm Cryopreservation: Recent Approaches to Improve Sperm Survival. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 126:104499. [PMID: 37105416 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104499] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of stallion semen does not achieve the post-thaw quality or fertility results observed in other species like cattle. There are many reasons for this, but the membrane composition and intracellular changes in stallion sperm predispose them to low resistance to the cooling, freezing, and subsequent thawing process. Damage to the sperm results from different processes activated during cryopreservation, including oxidative stress, apoptosis, and structural modifications in the sperm membrane that increase the deleterious effect on sperm. In addition, significant individual variability is observed among stallions in the ability of sperm to survive the freeze-thaw process. Recent advances in genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and epigenetics are making it possible to advance our understanding of the cellular and molecular processes involved in the cryopreservation process, opening new possibilities for improvement. This review addresses the ongoing research on stallion semen cryopreservation, focusing on the cellular and molecular consequences of this procedure in stallions and discusses the new tools currently available to increase the tolerance of equine spermatozoa to freeze-thaw.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- María José Contreras
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - María Elena Arias
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Department of Agricultural Production, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Fernanda Fuentes
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Doctoral Program in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Erwin Muñoz
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Doctoral Program in Applied Cellular and Molecular Biology, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile
| | - Naomi Bernecic
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Sean Fair
- Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Department of Biological Sciences, Biomaterials Research Cluster, Bernal Institute, Faculty of Science and Engineering, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | - Ricardo Felmer
- Laboratory of Reproduction, Centre of Reproductive Biotechnology (CEBIOR-BIOREN), Faculty of Medicine, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile; Department of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Universidad de la Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Senra RL, Ramírez-López CJ, Magalhães-Júnior MJ, Neves JGDS, Barros E, Waddington B, Guimarães SEF, Guimarães JD, Baracat-Pereira MC. Kallikrein proteoforms and reproductive parameters in stallion are conditioned by climate. Sci Rep 2022; 12:18690. [PMID: 36333376 PMCID: PMC9636271 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21350-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2022] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Horses are seasonal polyoestrous animals, and the photoperiod is the main factor modulating their reproductive activity. There is no consensus on the andrological and biochemical factors that influence breeding seasonality. To assess the involvement of climate in reproduction, Mangalarga Marchador stallions were monitored over 1 year regarding semen quality and seminal plasma proteome. Here, we show that kallikrein (KLKs) proteoforms in seminal plasma are involved in climate conditioning of reproduction. During the breeding season, greater abundance and different types of KLKs occurred simultaneously to lower sperm motility, greater semen volumes and higher concentrations of glucose and cholesterol. Considering that vasodilation due to activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and the consequent inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system may be associated with lower sperm motility, unravelling the involvement of KLK proteoforms in reproductive seasonality is a priority in horse breeding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Renato Lima Senra
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Camilo José Ramírez-López
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil ,grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Marcos Jorge Magalhães-Júnior
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - João Gabriel da Silva Neves
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil ,grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Edvaldo Barros
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Nucleus for Analysis of Biomolecules, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Bruna Waddington
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | | | - José Domingos Guimarães
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina Baracat-Pereira
- grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil ,grid.12799.340000 0000 8338 6359Nucleus for Analysis of Biomolecules, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Deori S, Hurri E, Karkehabadi S, Morrell JM. Fast protein liquid chromatography profiles of seminal plasma proteins in young bulls: A biomarker of sperm maturity? Livest Sci 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2021.104600] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
|
4
|
Gibb Z, Blanco-Prieto O, Bucci D. The role of endogenous antioxidants in male animal fertility. Res Vet Sci 2021; 136:495-502. [PMID: 33857769 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Mammalian semen is a physiological fluid composed of a cellular fraction (spermatozoa), and a liquid fraction (seminal plasma). Once delivered to the female genital tract, spermatozoa should be able to capacitate; a process which involves a plethora of biochemical and physiological changes required to fertilize the oocyte. Sperm production (spermatogenesis) occurs in the testes, whereby pluripotent spermatogonia differentiate to form the most morphologically specialized cells in the body. Further maturation of spermatozoa occurs in the epididymis, where they are stored prior to ejaculation. During this whole process, spermatozoa are exposed to different environments and cellular processes which may expose them to substantial levels of oxidative stress. To avoid damage associated with the unchecked production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), both spermatozoa, and the parts of the male genital tract in which they reside, are furnished with a suite of antioxidant molecules which are able to provide protection to these cells, thereby increasing their chance of being able to fertilize the oocyte and deliver an intact paternal genome to the future offspring. However, there are a host of reasons why these antioxidant systems may fail, including nutritional deficiencies, genetics, and disease states, and in these situations, a reduction or abolition of fertilizing capacity may result. This review paper focuses on the endogenous antioxidant defences available to spermatozoa during spermatogenesis and sperm maturation, the site of their production and their physiological role. Furthermore, we revised the causes and effects of antioxidant deficiencies (congenital or acquired during the animal's adulthood) on reproductive function in different animal species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zamira Gibb
- Priority Research Centre in Reproductive Science, Faculty of Science, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
| | - Olga Blanco-Prieto
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Italy.
| | - Diego Bucci
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences, Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Ebel F, Vallejos A, Gajardo G, Ulloa O, Clavel E, Rodríguez-Gil JE, Ramírez-Reveco A. Semen quality and freezability analysis during breeding and non-breeding seasons in heavy draft stallions in southern Chile. Andrologia 2020; 52:e13797. [PMID: 32870570 DOI: 10.1111/and.13797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2020] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate seasonal changes in basic parameters of sperm quality and freezability behaviour of ejaculates from 10 fertile heavy draft stallions. A total of 140 ejaculates were collected, processed and evaluated during both the breeding (September-November) and non-breeding seasons (April-June). Fresh semen was evaluated for volume, concentration, total spermatozoa per ejaculate, plasma membrane integrity and total sperm motility. Cryopreserved samples were evaluated for plasma membrane integrity and sperm motility by the CASA system, and for the freezability index (FI), which was defined as the decreased ratio of viability after freezing-thawing. In fresh ejaculates, only viability showed significantly higher values in the breeding than in the non-breeding season (64.0% ± 15.0% vs. 58.6% ± 12.0%, respectively; p < .05). The sperm post-thawing analysis of viability and total motility parameters showed no significant changes linked to the season. However, the FI analysis showed that the ejaculates collected in the non-breeding season had higher cryoresistance characteristics than those collected in the breeding season. Results suggest that the presence of some cryoprotective factor/s in heavy draft horse ejaculates could be modulated by seasonality, with higher protective effects in the non-breeding season.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Francisca Ebel
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile.,Instituto de Biotecnología Ambiental y Salud, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto (UNRC), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrés Vallejos
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Gonzalo Gajardo
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Omar Ulloa
- Haras Militar Pupunahue, DGFER-Ejército de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Eduardo Clavel
- Haras Militar Pupunahue, DGFER-Ejército de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | | | - Alfredo Ramírez-Reveco
- Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias-Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Gaitskell-Phillips G, Martín-Cano FE, Ortiz-Rodríguez JM, Silva-Rodríguez A, Rodríguez-Martínez H, Gil MC, Ortega-Ferrusola C, Peña FJ. Seminal plasma AnnexinA2 protein is a relevant biomarker for stallions which require removal of seminal plasma for sperm survival upon refrigeration†. Biol Reprod 2020; 103:1275-1288. [PMID: 32857155 DOI: 10.1093/biolre/ioaa153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Some stallions yield ejaculates that do not tolerate conservation by refrigeration prior to artificial insemination (AI), showing improvement after removal of most of the seminal plasma (SP) by centrifugation. In this study, the SP-proteome of 10 different stallions was defined through high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry and bioinformatic analysis in relation to the ability of the ejaculates to maintain semen quality when cooled and stored at 5°C. Stallions were classified into three groups, depending on this ability: those maintaining good quality after direct extension in a commercial extender (good), stallions requiring removal of seminal plasma (RSP) to maintain seminal quality (good-RSP), and stallions, unable to maintain good semen quality even after RSP (poor). Pathway enrichment analysis of the proteins identified in whole equine SP using human orthologs was performed using g: profiler showing enriched Reactome and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathways related to hexose metabolism, vesicle mediated transport, post translational modification of proteins and immune response. Specific proteins overrepresented in stallions tolerating conservation by refrigeration included a peroxiredoxin-6 like protein, and transcobalamin-2, a primary vitamin B12-binding, and transport protein. Also, the protein involved in protein glycosylation, ST3 beta-galactoside alpha-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 was present in good stallions. These proteins were nearly absent in poor stallions. Particularly, annexinA2 appeared as to be the most powerful discriminant variable for identification of stallions needing RSP prior to refrigeration, with a P = 0.002 and a q value = 0.005. Overall this is the first detailed study of the equine SP-proteome, showing the potential value of specific proteins as discriminant bio-markers for clinical classification of stallions for AI.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Gaitskell-Phillips
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Francisco E Martín-Cano
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - José M Ortiz-Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Antonio Silva-Rodríguez
- Facility of Innovation and Analysis in Animal Source Foodstuffs, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Heriberto Rodríguez-Martínez
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences (BKV), Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria C Gil
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Cristina Ortega-Ferrusola
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| | - Fernando J Peña
- Laboratory of Equine Reproduction and Equine Spermatology, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Abstract
Since bull fertility may be adversely affected by hot humid conditions, the current increase in global temperature is of concern for future livestock production. Heat stress occurs when the body's normal physiological mechanisms to regulate body temperature cannot cope with external conditions. The testes and scrotum have their own complex regulatory mechanisms to protect developing sperm during their most vulnerable stages, but even these may be overwhelmed by unfavourable external conditions. The effects of mild, moderate and severe heat stress are somewhat different, with cattle exposed to mild and moderate heat stress apparently showing an adverse effect on fertility, whereas cattle in very hot, humid climates almost continuously may not exhibit any difference in sperm quality throughout the year. This apparent paradox may be due to differences in the cattle populations being studied, since they could differ in breed, age, purpose (beef versus dairy), or even in the methods used to assess sperm quality. The adverse effects on fertility may occur through the effects of reactive oxygen species on sperm DNA, or through perturbation of the production of antioxidants that usually protect sperm from oxidative attack. These effects can be mitigated to some extent by choosing breed and age of bulls with care, and adopting breeding strategies that avoid semen collection or ejaculation at the most adverse times of year. Husbandry measures such as controlled ventilation, misting, provision of shade or cool surfaces for lying down, could aid temperature regulation. Avoiding heat stress during late pregnancy aids calf growth in early life; careful feeding regimens for young bull calves create good conditions for sperm quality after puberty. Bull fertility is too important to be left to chance. Breeds should be chosen according to climate conditions and the purpose of livestock production.
Collapse
|