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Activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in reproductive tissues of the stallion and effects of angiotensin II on sperm motility.
Abstract: A testis-specific isoform of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) has been identified in a number of mammalian species. The purpose of this study was to characterize the activity of ACE in equine spermatozoa, seminal plasma, and testis. Activity of ACE was determined in seminal plasma, ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa from mature stallions as well as from pre- and postpubertal testis. The effect of addition of angiotensin II on equine sperm motility was also evaluated. The activity of ACE in detergent extracted sperm plasma membrane was approximately 13-fold higher than that detected in seminal plasma (93.7 mU/mg versus 7.0 mU/mg protein, respectively). Activity of ACE in equine testis was significantly higher in postpubertal than in prepubertal males (3.0 mU/mg versus 0.4 mU/mg protein, respectively), and ACE activity was reduced (P<0.001) in a dose-dependent fashion by the addition of captopril. The effect of angiotensin II on sperm motility was evaluated by computer-assisted semen analysis in sperm incubated with angiotensin II (0, 1, 10, 100 nM) at 38.5 degrees C. There was no significant effect of angiotensin II on the percent motile sperm; however, there was a significant main effect of angiotensin II (P<0.01) on the kinematic parameters beat cross frequency (BCF), average path velocity (VAP), and curvilinear velocity (VCL), respectively. In addition, there were significant stallionxconcentration interactions for amplitude lateral movement (ALH), BCF, linearity (LIN), straightness (STR), and VCL. This study demonstrates that ACE activity is present in sperm membrane from ejaculated and epididymal spermatozoa and in postpubertal testis. Further studies are required to determine the role of this testis-specific enzyme.
Publication Date: 2003-01-09 PubMed ID: 12517392DOI: 10.1016/s0093-691x(02)01127-5Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the activity of a specific enzyme, called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), in the reproductive tissues of stallions. The research finds that ACE activity is higher in some tissues than in others, and that it affects various parameters of sperm movement; the specific role of this enzyme in the reproductive system, though, is yet to be determined.
Understanding Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE)
- This research revolves around an enzyme called angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). A testis-specific variant of ACE has been noted in various mammals, including equine (horse) species.
- ACE was investigated in a variety of reproductive scenarios including inside spermatozoa, in the seminal fluid that carries the sperm, and within the testis, where sperm are created.
ACE Activity in Various Tissues
- ACE activity was analysed in seminal plasma (the fluid that carries sperm), in spermatozoa (mature sperm cells) that had been ejaculated as well as those remaining in the epididymis (a tube where sperm are stored), and in the testes of mature stallions. The study also investigated ACE activity in the testes of prepubertal (not yet having reached puberty) and postpubertal (having gone through puberty) males.
- The research found that ACE activity was considerably higher (approximately 13 times) in the plasma membrane of sperm cells than in seminal fluid.
- Additionally, ACE activity was significantly higher in the testes of stallions once they had passed through puberty compared to before they reached puberty.
- The study also noted that ACE activity could be reduced in a dose-dependent manner by introduction of a chemical called captopril.
Effects of Angiotensin II on Sperm Motility
- The research also explored the effect of angiotensin II—the product of ACE—on the movement of sperm (sperm motility).
- While there was not a significant effect on the percentage of sperm that were motile (able to move), there was a notable effect on several parameters that measure how sperm move. These included measurements of beat cross frequency (BCF), average path velocity (VAP), and curvilinear velocity (VCL).
- Interestingly, the interactions between angiotensin concentration and the specific stallion being studied also significantly influenced some measures of sperm movement, including amplitude lateral movement (ALH), straight-line distance covered (LIN), straightness (STR), and VCL.
- The results demonstrate that ACE plays a part in the movement of sperm in specific ways, although more research is needed to fully understand this role.
Cite This Article
APA
Ball BA, Gravance CG, Wessel MT, Sabeur K.
(2003).
Activity of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in reproductive tissues of the stallion and effects of angiotensin II on sperm motility.
Theriogenology, 59(3-4), 901-914.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0093-691x(02)01127-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616-8743, USA. baball@ucdavis.edu
MeSH Terms
- Angiotensin II / pharmacology
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
- Animals
- Captopril / pharmacology
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Epididymis / cytology
- Epididymis / enzymology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / metabolism
- Sexual Maturation
- Sperm Maturation
- Sperm Motility / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / enzymology
- Testis / enzymology
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- van Son M, Tremoen NH, Gaustad AH, Våge DI, Zeremichael TT, Myromslien FD, Grindflek E. Transcriptome profiling of porcine testis tissue reveals genes related to sperm hyperactive motility. BMC Vet Res 2020 May 26;16(1):161.
- van Tilburg MF, Salles MG, Silva MM, Moreira RA, Moreno FB, Monteiro-Moreira AC, Martins JA, Cândido MJ, Araújo AA, Moura AA. Semen variables and sperm membrane protein profile of Saanen bucks (Capra hircus) in dry and rainy seasons of the northeastern Brazil (3°S). Int J Biometeorol 2015 May;59(5):561-73.
- Vedantam S, Rani R, Garg M, Atreja SK. Localization of angiotensin-II type 1(AT1) receptors on buffalo spermatozoa: AT1 receptor activation during capacitation triggers rise in cyclic AMP and calcium. Mol Biol Rep 2014;41(4):1959-65.
- Bernstein KE, Ong FS, Blackwell WL, Shah KH, Giani JF, Gonzalez-Villalobos RA, Shen XZ, Fuchs S, Touyz RM. A modern understanding of the traditional and nontraditional biological functions of angiotensin-converting enzyme. Pharmacol Rev 2013 Jan;65(1):1-46.
- Costa MF, Carmona AK, Alves MF, Ryan TM, Davies HM, Anderson GA, Slocombe RF. Determination of angiotensin I-converting enzyme activity in equine blood: lack of agreement between methods of analysis. J Vet Sci 2011 Mar;12(1):21-5.
- Khan MZ, Chen W, Naz S, Liu X, Liang H, Chen Y, Kou X, Liu Y, Ashraf I, Han Y, Peng Y, Wang C, Zahoor M. Determinant genetic markers of semen quality in livestock. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024;15:1456305.
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