FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Theriogenology2010; 74(6); 956-967; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.04.025

Biomarkers of in vivo fertility in sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions.

Abstract: The global proteome of sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions was investigated to determine whether associations with relative in vivo fertility exist. Seven stallions at stud in a commercial breeding station were collected throughout the breeding season and bred to a total of 164 mares to determine conception rates. On three occasions during the breeding season, raw semen was obtained from a regular collection for proteomic analysis using two-dimensional electrophoresis and also assessed for routine semen quality end points. First cycle conception rate was negatively related to ejaculate volume (r = -0.43, P = 0.05) and total IGF1 content (ng) per ejaculate (r = -0.58, P = 0.006), whereas overall pregnancy rate was positively related to sperm concentration (r = 0.56, P = 0.01). The abundance of three proteins known to be involved in carbohydrate metabolism in sperm was positively related to fertility. Furthermore, the abundance of four seminal plasma proteins were identified as being negatively related to fertility; these were identified as kallikrein-1E2 (KLK2), clusterin, and seminal plasma proteins 1 (SP1) and 2 (SP2). Abundance of cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP3) was positively related to first cycle conception rate (r = 0.495, P = 0.027) and may provide a good marker of fertility. Based on stepwise regression analysis, clusterin and SP1 in seminal plasma together with sperm citrate synthase were predictive of fertility (r = 0.77, P < 0.0001). This study identified proteins within sperm and seminal plasma that could serve as biomarkers of semen quality and fertility in stallions.
(c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2010-06-30 PubMed ID: 20580075DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.04.025Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigates the proteins found in the sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions, aiming to determine if there are connections with in vivo fertility. They found certain proteins that could potentially be used as indicators for semen quality and fertility in stallions.

Research Methodology

  • The team closely studied the global proteome (entire set of proteins) of the sperm and seminal plasma from fertile stallions.
  • The study was carried out on seven stallions in a commercial breeding station over the course of a breeding season, resulting in 164 mares for determining conception rates.
  • Raw semen was collected three times during the breeding season from a regular collection and analysed using two-dimensional electrophoresis (a method to separate proteins) and was also evaluated for common semen quality metrics.

Key Findings

  • Three proteins linked to carbohydrate metabolism in sperm were found to be positively related to fertility.
  • They also discovered four seminal plasma proteins negatively linked to fertility. These were identified as kallikrein-1E2 (KLK2), clusterin, and seminal plasma proteins 1 (SP1) and 2 (SP2).
  • The research established that the abundance of one protein, specifically, cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP3), was positively related to the first cycle conception rate.
  • The first cycle conception rate was found to be negatively linked to ejaculate volume and total IGF1 content per ejaculate. On the flip side, overall pregnancy rate was positively linked to sperm concentration.

Conclusion

  • Based on a stepwise regression analysis – an iterative process of adding or removing variables based on statistical tests – the study determined that the proteins clusterin and SP1 in seminal plasma, along with sperm citrate synthase, were predictive of fertility.
  • Through this investigation, the study has identified proteins in sperm and seminal plasma which could serve as biomarkers or indicators of semen quality and fertility in stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Novak S, Smith TA, Paradis F, Burwash L, Dyck MK, Foxcroft GR, Dixon WT. (2010). Biomarkers of in vivo fertility in sperm and seminal plasma of fertile stallions. Theriogenology, 74(6), 956-967. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.04.025

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 1879-3231
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 74
Issue: 6
Pages: 956-967

Researcher Affiliations

Novak, S
  • Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, 4-10 Ag/For Centre, University of Alberta, T6G 2P5, Canada. susan.novak@ualberta.ca
Smith, T A
    Paradis, F
      Burwash, L
        Dyck, M K
          Foxcroft, G R
            Dixon, W T

              MeSH Terms

              • Animals
              • Biomarkers / analysis
              • Biomarkers / metabolism
              • Female
              • Fertility / physiology
              • Horses / metabolism
              • Horses / physiology
              • Male
              • Pregnancy
              • Pregnancy Rate
              • Proteomics
              • Regression Analysis
              • Semen / metabolism
              • Semen Analysis
              • Seminal Plasma Proteins / analysis
              • Seminal Plasma Proteins / metabolism
              • Spermatozoa / metabolism

              Citations

              This article has been cited 24 times.
              1. Ďuračka M, Benko F, Tvrdá E. Molecular Markers: A New Paradigm in the Prediction of Sperm Freezability. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Feb 8;24(4).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms24043379pubmed: 36834790google scholar: lookup
              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 Nov 4;12(1):18690.
                doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21350-wpubmed: 36333376google scholar: lookup
              3. Bazzano M, Zhu C, Laus F, Giambattista AD, Laghi L. Exploring the metabolome of seminal plasma in two different horse types: Light versus draft stallions. Reprod Domest Anim 2023 Jan;58(1):109-116.
                doi: 10.1111/rda.14270pubmed: 36151924google scholar: lookup
              4. Mateo-Otero Y, Viñolas-Vergés E, Llavanera M, Ribas-Maynou J, Roca J, Yeste M, Barranco I. Aldose Reductase B1 in Pig Seminal Plasma: Identification, Localization in Reproductive Tissues, and Relationship With Quality and Sperm Preservation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021;9:683199.
                doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.683199pubmed: 34169077google scholar: lookup
              5. Weber KS, Wagener K, Blanco M, Bauersachs S, Bollwein H. A comparative analysis of the intrauterine transcriptome in fertile and subfertile mares using cytobrush sampling. BMC Genomics 2021 May 22;22(1):377.
                doi: 10.1186/s12864-021-07701-3pubmed: 34022808google scholar: lookup
              6. Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez EA, Calvete JJ, Peña Vega FJ, Roca J. Seminal Plasma: Relevant for Fertility?. Int J Mol Sci 2021 Apr 22;22(9).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms22094368pubmed: 33922047google scholar: lookup
              7. Moreira RF, Matos MNC, Alves JG, do Valle RV, Eloy AMX, Pinto TMF, Machado SP, Costa CRR, de Lima JL, Lima JPMS, da Cunha RMS. Diversity of ejaculated sperm proteins in Moxotó bucks (Capra hircus ) evaluated by multiple extraction methods. Anim Reprod 2018 Aug 16;15(1):84-92.
                doi: 10.21451/1984-3143-2017-AR966pubmed: 33365100google scholar: lookup
              8. Bubenickova F, Postlerova P, Simonik O, Sirohi J, Sichtar J. Effect of Seminal Plasma Protein Fractions on Stallion Sperm Cryopreservation. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Sep 3;21(17).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms21176415pubmed: 32899253google scholar: lookup
              9. Premrov Bajuk B, Zrimšek P, Pipan MZ, Tilocca B, Soggiu A, Bonizzi L, Roncada P. Proteomic Analysis of Fresh and Liquid-Stored Boar Spermatozoa. Animals (Basel) 2020 Mar 26;10(4).
                doi: 10.3390/ani10040553pubmed: 32224901google scholar: lookup
              10. Johannisson A, Al-Essawe EM, Al-Saffar AK, Karkehabadi S, Lima-Verde I, Wulf M, Aurich C, Morrell JM. Season does not have a deleterious effect on proportions of stallion seminal plasma proteins. J Reprod Dev 2020 Jun 12;66(3):215-221.
                doi: 10.1262/jrd.2019-072pubmed: 32051351google scholar: lookup
              11. Viana AGA, Martins AMA, Pontes AH, Fontes W, Castro MS, Ricart CAO, Sousa MV, Kaya A, Topper E, Memili E, Moura AA. Proteomic landscape of seminal plasma associated with dairy bull fertility. Sci Rep 2018 Nov 5;8(1):16323.
                doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-34152-wpubmed: 30397208google scholar: lookup
              12. Morrell JM, Johannisson A. Comparison of the Effect of Heterologous and Homologous Seminal Plasma on Motility and Chromatin Integrity of Stallion Spermatozoa Selected by Single Layer Centrifugation. J Vet Med 2014;2014:325451.
                doi: 10.1155/2014/325451pubmed: 26464926google scholar: lookup
              13. Kovak MR, Saraswati S, Schoen DJ, Diekman AB. Investigation of galectin-3 function in the reproductive tract by identification of binding ligands in human seminal plasma. Am J Reprod Immunol 2014 Oct;72(4):403-12.
                doi: 10.1111/aji.12273pubmed: 24863808google scholar: lookup
              14. Intasqui P, Camargo M, Del Giudice PT, Spaine DM, Carvalho VM, Cardozo KH, Cedenho AP, Bertolla RP. Unraveling the sperm proteome and post-genomic pathways associated with sperm nuclear DNA fragmentation. J Assist Reprod Genet 2013 Sep;30(9):1187-202.
                doi: 10.1007/s10815-013-0054-6pubmed: 23893156google scholar: lookup
              15. Laflamme BA, Wolfner MF. Identification and function of proteolysis regulators in seminal fluid. Mol Reprod Dev 2013 Feb;80(2):80-101.
                doi: 10.1002/mrd.22130pubmed: 23109270google scholar: lookup
              16. Koppers AJ, Reddy T, O'Bryan MK. The role of cysteine-rich secretory proteins in male fertility. Asian J Androl 2011 Jan;13(1):111-7.
                doi: 10.1038/aja.2010.77pubmed: 20972450google scholar: lookup
              17. Ullah A, Chen W, Shi L, Wang M, Geng M, Na J, Akhtar MF, Khan MZ, Wang C. Challenges and Enhancing Strategies of Equine Semen Preservation: Nutritional and Genetic Perspectives. Vet Sci 2025 Aug 25;12(9).
                doi: 10.3390/vetsci12090807pubmed: 41012733google scholar: lookup
              18. Wen X, Ren H, He Q, Yi M, Ulaangerel T, Bou G. Comparative Analysis of Proteomic Characteristics in Seminal Plasma Between Horses and Donkeys. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 23;15(11).
                doi: 10.3390/ani15111532pubmed: 40508997google scholar: lookup
              19. Hernández-Avilés C, Ramírez-Agámez L, Weintraub ST, Scoggin CF, Davis BW, Raudsepp T, Varner DD, Love CC. Proteomic analysis of sperm from fertile stallions and subfertile stallions due to impaired acrosomal exocytosis. Sci Rep 2024 May 30;14(1):12446.
                doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-63410-3pubmed: 38816557google scholar: lookup
              20. Sutovsky P, Hamilton LE, Zigo M, Ortiz D'Avila Assumpção ME, Jones A, Tirpak F, Agca Y, Kerns K, Sutovsky M. Biomarker-based human and animal sperm phenotyping: the good, the bad and the ugly†. Biol Reprod 2024 Jun 12;110(6):1135-1156.
                doi: 10.1093/biolre/ioae061pubmed: 38640912google scholar: lookup
              21. Al-Kass Z, Morrell JM. Freezing Stallion Semen-What Do We Need to Focus on for the Future?. Vet Sci 2024 Feb 2;11(2).
                doi: 10.3390/vetsci11020065pubmed: 38393083google scholar: lookup
              22. Pacheco RI, Cristo MI, Anjo SI, Silva AF, Sousa MI, Tavares RS, Sousa AP, Almeida Santos T, Moura-Ramos M, Caramelo F, Manadas B, Ramalho-Santos J, Amaral SG. New Insights on Sperm Function in Male Infertility of Unknown Origin: A Multimodal Approach. Biomolecules 2023 Sep 27;13(10).
                doi: 10.3390/biom13101462pubmed: 37892144google scholar: lookup
              23. Shen Q, Wu X, Chen J, He C, Wang Z, Zhou B, Zhang H. Immune Regulation of Seminal Plasma on the Endometrial Microenvironment: Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Sep 27;24(19).
                doi: 10.3390/ijms241914639pubmed: 37834087google scholar: lookup
              24. Chen C, Zhu B, Tang X, Chen B, Liu M, Gao N, Li S, Gu J. Genome-Wide Assessment of Runs of Homozygosity by Whole-Genome Sequencing in Diverse Horse Breeds Worldwide. Genes (Basel) 2023 Jun 1;14(6).
                doi: 10.3390/genes14061211pubmed: 37372391google scholar: lookup
              Subscribe to our newsletter
              Join 99,850 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.