Comparative studies on bull and stallion seminal DNase activity and interaction with semen extender and spermatozoa.
Abstract: We performed a series of comparative studies of bull and stallion seminal plasma (SP) and its role on sperm-neutrophil binding as well as the interaction between semen extender and seminal DNase. Because of contrasting roles of SP on sperm-neutrophil binding between horses and cattle, it was suspected there were some species-specific differences on sperm interaction with SP proteins due to the variations in the natural location of semen deposition (uterus compared to vagina). Bull frozen-thawed sperm removed from egg yolk extender showed similar results to fresh sperm, but this also caused extensive sperm agglutination unless SP or egg yolk was included. If similar agglutination occurs after AI with frozen bull semen, it could interfere with sperm transport or sperm functions. Commonly used bull semen extenders were poor media for seminal DNase activity on plasmid DNA degradation, raising the prospect that the same may be true with other SP factors important to fertility. DNase activity per mg SP protein of bulls was less than that of horses (P<0.05), but DNase activity associated with bull sperm was greater (P<0.05) indicating a different affinity of DNase to spermatozoa. This could be related to the fact that bull sperm naturally migrate from the vagina to the uterus leaving the bulk of SP behind. In such migration, sperm cells needed to carry DNase and other SP factors along. Incorporation of egg yolk in bull semen and introducing SP into the uterus of cattle with current AI protocols may contribute to reduced fertility. Modifications of semen extender and/or semen processing should be examined to allow sperm cells a maximum potential for fertilization.
2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-06-30 PubMed ID: 20638801DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.06.003Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research investigates the effect of seminal plasma (SP) on sperm and neutrophil cells in the semen of bulls and stallions. The study highlights contrasts between the species, focusing on their natural location of semen deposition, the interaction of sperm cells with SP proteins, and how extender and processing modifications can potentially improve fertility.
Comparison of Bull and Stallion Seminal Plasma
- The study compared the seminal plasma (SP) – the liquid part of semen – from bulls and stallions. The researchers focused on how these differed in terms of their effects on the binding of sperm and neutrophil cells, a type of white blood cell.
- The difference in natural location of semen deposition between the two species (uterus in bulls and vagina in horses) was suspected to cause variations in how sperm interact with seminal plasma proteins.
Interaction with Semen Extender
- Semen extenders are solutions used to dilute semen for artificial insemination. The study found that commonly used bull semen extenders were not good media for seminal DNase activity, DNase being an enzyme that breaks down DNA.
- The researchers suggested the possibility that these extenders might not be suitable for other SP components crucial to fertility.
Role of DNase
- The activity of DNase in the bulls’ SP was found to be less than that in the horses’ (P<0.05). However, there was greater DNase activity associated with bull sperm, indicating a different affinity of DNase to spermatozoa.
- This difference was assumed to be related to the fact that bull sperm naturally migrate from the vagina to the uterus, leaving most of the seminal plasma behind. In this process, sperm cells need to carry DNase and other SP factors along with them for successful fertilization.
Implications on Fertility
- The study indicates that introducing egg yolk into bull semen and introducing SP into the uterus of cattle might contribute to decreased fertility.
- It’s therefore suggested that semen extenders and processing methods should be modified to give sperm cells the best chance at successful fertilization. This is an important consideration given the use of artificial insemination in livestock breeding programs.
Cite This Article
APA
Alghamdi AS, Funnell BJ, Bird SL, Lamb GC, Rendahl AK, Taube PC, Foster DN.
(2010).
Comparative studies on bull and stallion seminal DNase activity and interaction with semen extender and spermatozoa.
Anim Reprod Sci, 121(3-4), 249-258.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2010.06.003 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Agricultural Sciences, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO 63501, United States. abdo@Truman.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Deoxyribonucleases / metabolism
- Female
- Horses
- Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
- Male
- Neutrophils / metabolism
- Semen / enzymology
- Semen Preservation / veterinary
- Seminal Plasma Proteins / physiology
- Sperm Transport
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 7 times.- Gosálvez J, López-Fernández C, Bartolomé-Nebreda J, García de la Vega C. Hurdles of Sperm Success: Exploring the Role of DNases. Int J Mol Sci 2025 Jul 15;26(14).
- Myers C, Atkins GR, Villarreal J, Sutton RB, Cornwall GA. The mouse epididymal amyloid matrix is a mammalian counterpart of a bacterial biofilm. iScience 2024 Jun 21;27(6):110152.
- Gosálvez J, Fernández CL, Johnston SD, Bartolomé-Nebreda J. Role of DNase Activity in Human Sperm DNA Fragmentation. Biomolecules 2024 Mar 4;14(3).
- 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).
- Papas M, Catalán J, Recuero S, Morrell JM, Yeste M, Miró J. Single Layer Centrifugation Improves the Quality of Fresh Donkey Semen and Modifies the Sperm Ability to Interact with Polymorphonuclear Neutrophils. Animals (Basel) 2020 Nov 16;10(11).
- Miró J, Marín H, Catalán J, Papas M, Gacem S, Yeste M. Seminal Plasma, Sperm Concentration, and Sperm-PMN Interaction in the Donkey: An In Vitro Model to Study Endometrial Inflammation at Post-Insemination. Int J Mol Sci 2020 May 14;21(10).
- Belardin LB, Del Giudice PT, Camargo M, Intasqui P, Antoniassi MP, Bertolla RP, Cedenho AP. Alterations in the proliferative/apoptotic equilibrium in semen of adolescents with varicocele. J Assist Reprod Genet 2016 Dec;33(12):1657-1664.
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