Determination of the activity and relative abundance of mRNA for antioxidant enzymes in stallion testicular and epididymal tissues: A comparison between two breeding seasons.
Abstract: The key prerequisite for successful insemination is sperm characterized to have positive values for morphological and biological variables which are determined by, among others, effective antioxidant protection during the lifespan of sperm cells. This study evaluated the activity and relative abundance of mRNA for antioxidant enzymes in stallion testicular and epididymal tissues during breeding (n = 5) and non-breeding (n = 5) seasons. The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) was greater (P < 0.05) during the breeding season, in particular in the testes and the caput epididymis, and SOD1 was the predominant isoform of the enzyme. The expression of the SOD3 gene was markedly less in the analyzed tissues, which indicates that this enzyme contributes to the antioxidant protection of the stallion reproductive tract. The activity of catalase (CAT) was less (P < 0.05) in the testes during both seasons while its relative abundances only during the breeding season. The greatest CAT activity was noted in the cauda epididymis during the breeding season. The activity of glutathione peroxidases (GPx) was greater (P < 0.05) in the testes than in other tissues and 10-fold greater during the breeding season. Similarly, relative abundance of GPx5 mRNA was greater (P < 0.05) in the caput epididymis than in the remaining tissues during both seasons. This study demonstrated that season has an ambiguous influence on the antioxidant defense system in stallion reproductive tissues. Seasonal differences in the present study, however, indicate that the reproductive system of stallions adapts well to environmental seasonal changes.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2018-08-11 PubMed ID: 30115520DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.08.015Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article focuses on the activity and abundance of antioxidant enzymes in stallion reproductive tissues and how it varies between breeding and non-breeding seasons. It highlights how these enzymes, which affect the quality of sperm, adapt to seasonal environmental changes.
Study Design and Participants
- The study was conducted using testicular and epididymal tissues from ten stallions – five of which were sampled during the breeding season, and the other five during the non-breeding season.
Antioxidant Enzymes Studied
- Three different antioxidant enzymes were evaluated: Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Glutathione Peroxidase (GPx).
- The researchers monitored the activity of these enzymes and measured the relative abundance of mRNA (messenger RNA) for these enzymes. mRNA is the molecule that carries the genetic code for the production of these enzymes.
Findings
- The research found that SOD activity was greater during the breeding season, especially in the testes and the head of the epididymis. SOD1 was the dominant form of this enzyme present.
- The expression of SOD3 gene was significantly less in the analyzed tissues. This suggest that SOD3 enzyme plays a role in the antioxidant protection of the stallion’s reproductive tract.
- The CAT activity was found to be less in the testes during both seasons, but its relative abundance was only significant during the breeding season. Notedly, the CAT activity was highest in the tail of the epididymis during the breeding season.
- The GPx activity was considerably higher in the testes compared to other tissues and was ten times higher during the breeding season. Similarly, the relative abundance of GPx5 mRNA was greater in the head of epididymis than in other tissues during both seasons.
Study Conclusions
- The study concludes that the season has a complex effect on the antioxidant defense system in the stallion’s reproductive tissues.
- The noticeable differences in enzyme activity and mRNA abundance between the two seasons suggest that the stallion’s reproductive system has a substantial ability to adapt to environmental seasonal changes.
Cite This Article
APA
Koziorowska-Gilun M, Gilun P, Mietelska K, Kordan W.
(2018).
Determination of the activity and relative abundance of mRNA for antioxidant enzymes in stallion testicular and epididymal tissues: A comparison between two breeding seasons.
Anim Reprod Sci, 196, 230-238.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.08.015 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland. Electronic address: magda.koziorowska@uwm.edu.pl.
- Department of Local Physiological Regulations, Institute of Animal Reproduction and Food Research, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bydgoska 7, 10-243 Olsztyn, Poland.
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
- Department of Animal Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Faculty of Animal Bioengineering, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 5, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Breeding
- Epididymis / enzymology
- Horses
- Male
- RNA, Messenger / metabolism
- Seasons
- Spermatozoa
- Testis / enzymology
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Shen H, Li C, He M, Huang Y, Wang J, Wang M, Yue B, Zhang X. Immune profiles of male giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during the breeding season. BMC Genomics 2021 Feb 28;22(1):143.
- Neuman NM, Gilun P, Koziorowska-Gilun M, Janiszewski P, Dziekońska A. Antioxidant Enzyme Activity and mRNA Expression in the Reproductive Tissues of Male European Red Deer (Cervus elaphus elaphus). Int J Mol Sci 2025 Jul 25;26(15).
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