Characterization and localization of membrane vesicles in ejaculate fractions from the ram, boar and stallion.
Abstract: Membrane vesicles, separated by differential centrifugation from the seminal plasma, were detected in the sperm-rich ejaculate fractions of four boars and three stallions, and in the whole ejaculates of seven rams. The volume and percentage of vesicles, determined by a stereological technique, were higher in the sperm-rich than in the post-sperm-rich fractions of the boar and stallion ejaculates, and no vesicles were detected in the pre sperm-rich fractions. Vesicles were examined by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). For boar, stallion and ram semen, the mean (+/- s.e.m.) vesicle diameters were 130.9 +/- 3.22 (range 18-577), 164.1 +/- 4.42 (range 15-671) and 159.7 +/- 2.92 nm (range 22-986), respectively, although they were not significantly different (p = 0.709). The vesicles had approximately round (TEM) or spherical shape (SEM), were surrounded by single, double or multi-laminar membranes, and were trapped within ample amorphous material, sometimes containing short, flattened membranous elements. The majority of the vesicles had a clear interior but some contained granule-dense material. Ram membrane vesicles, purified from ultracentrifuged plasma by size exclusion chromatography, kept their round shape and the amorphous material was less evident compared with the sections taken before purification. This is the first report to identify seminal plasma membrane vesicles in the different fractions of ejaculated semen in the boar and stallion, and confirms their presence in ram seminal plasma. The origin and function of these vesicles are yet to be elucidated.
Publication Date: 2004-06-09 PubMed ID: 15182294DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2004.00499.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research investigates the presence and characteristics of membrane vesicles in the seminal fluid of rams, boars, and stallions. The study finds that these vesicles appear in different sizes and structures across the sperm-rich fractions of the ejaculate in the tested animals.
Methodology and Findings
- The researchers detected membrane vesicles in the seminal plasma of the sperm-rich fractions of the ejaculate from four boars, three stallions, and seven rams using differential centrifugation.
- The study found that the volume and percentage of these vesicles were higher in the sperm-rich fractions of the boar and stallion ejaculates when compared with the post-sperm-rich sections. In the pre-sperm-rich fractions, however, no vesicles were detected.
- The researchers used transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to examine the vesicles. They observed that the vesicles mostly had a round shape, were enveloped by single, double, or multi-laminar membranes, and were trapped within an amorphous material that sometimes contained flattened membranous elements.
Vesicle Dimensions
- The mean vesicle diameters for the boar, stallion, and ram semen were reported as 130.9 +/- 3.22 nm, 164.1 +/- 4.42 nm and 159.7 +/- 2.92 nm respectively.
- These results showed no significant difference, with a p-value of 0.709.
Ram Semen Observations
- The researchers purified ram membrane vesicles from ultracentrifuged plasma using size exclusion chromatography.
- Post-purification, the vesicles retained their round shape, but the amorphous material was found to be less observable.
Significance of the Study
- This study is the first to report the identification of seminal plasma membrane vesicles within the different parts of ejaculated semen in boars and stallions.
- The study also confirmed the presence of these vesicles in ram seminal plasma.
- However, further research is needed to uncover the origin and function of these vesicles within the seminal fluid.
Cite This Article
APA
Ghaoui Rel-H, Thomson PC, Evans G, Maxwell WM.
(2004).
Characterization and localization of membrane vesicles in ejaculate fractions from the ram, boar and stallion.
Reprod Domest Anim, 39(3), 173-180.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0531.2004.00499.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Centre for Advanced Technologies in Animal Genetics and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cell Membrane / ultrastructure
- Goats / physiology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Microscopy, Electron / veterinary
- Semen / cytology
- Swine / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Barranco I, Padilla L, Parrilla I, Álvarez-Barrientos A, Pérez-Patiño C, Peña FJ, Martínez EA, Rodriguez-Martínez H, Roca J. Extracellular vesicles isolated from porcine seminal plasma exhibit different tetraspanin expression profiles. Sci Rep 2019 Aug 9;9(1):11584.
- Mourvaki E, Cardinali R, Roberti R, Dal Bosco A, Castellini C. Desmosterol, the main sterol in rabbit semen: distribution among semen subfractions and its role in the in vitro spermatozoa acrosome reaction and motility. Asian J Androl 2010 Nov;12(6):862-70.
- Mourvaki E, Cardinali R, Dal Bosco A, Castellini C. In vitro antioxidant activity of the prostatic secretory granules in rabbit semen after exposure to organic peroxides. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2010 Feb 23;8:16.
- Siciliano L, Marcianò V, Carpino A. Prostasome-like vesicles stimulate acrosome reaction of pig spermatozoa. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2008 Jan 30;6:5.
- Mogielnicka-Brzozowska M, Cichowska AW. Molecular Biomarkers of Canine Reproductive Functions. Curr Issues Mol Biol 2024 Jun 17;46(6):6139-6168.
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