Abstract: Seminal plasma (SP) is the natural environment for spermatozoa and contains a number of components, especially proteins important for successful sperm maturation and fertilization. Nevertheless, in standard frozen stallion insemination doses production, SP is completely removed and is replaced by a semen extender. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of the selected seminal plasma protein groups that might play an important role in reducing the detrimental effects on spermatozoa during the cryopreservation process. SP proteins were separated according to their ability to bind to heparin into heparin-binding (Hep+) and heparin-non-binding (Hep-) fractions. The addition of three concentrations-125, 250, and 500 µg/mL-of each protein fraction was tested. After thawing, the following parameters were assessed: sperm motility (by CASA), plasma membrane integrity (PI staining), and acrosomal membrane integrity (PNA staining) using flow cytometry, and capacitation status (anti-phosphotyrosine antibody) using imaging-based flow cytometry. Our results showed that SP protein fractions had a significant effect on the kinematic parameters of spermatozoa and on a proportion of their subpopulations. The 125 µg/mL of Hep+ protein fraction resulted in increased linearity (LIN) and straightness (STR), moreover, with the highest values of sperm velocities (VAP, VSL), also this group contained the highest proportion of the fast sperm subpopulation. In contrast, the highest percentage of slow subpopulation was in the groups with 500 µg/mL of Hep+ fraction and 250 µg/mL of Hep- fraction. Interestingly, acrosomal membrane integrity was also highest in the groups with Hep+ fraction in concentrations of 125 µg/mL. Our results showed that the addition of protein fractions did not significantly affect the plasma membrane integrity and capacitation status of stallion spermatozoa. Moreover, our results confirmed that the effect of SP proteins on the sperm functionality is concentration-dependent, as has been reported for other species. Our study significantly contributes to the lack of studies dealing with possible use of specific stallion SP fractions in the complex puzzle of the improvement of cryopreservation protocols. It is clear that improvement in this field still needs more outputs from future studies, which should be focused on the effect of individual SP proteins on other sperm functional parameters with further implication on the success of artificial insemination in in vivo conditions.
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The research explores the effect of seminal plasma protein fractions on the cryopreservation of stallion sperm. The proteins were separated into two fractions based on their ability to bind to heparin and the effects of varying concentrations were studied. The results indicated significant effects on sperm kinetics and sub-populations, though no significant impact on plasma membrane integrity and capacitation status was observed.
Introduction
This research investigates the role of seminal plasma (SP) proteins on stallion sperm during the cryopreservation process. SP is the natural environment for spermatozoa and houses crucial components for successful sperm maturation and fertilization.
However, in standard frozen stallion insemination doses production, SP is entirely removed and replaced by a semen extender. The study aims to analyze the effects of SP protein groups that may contribute towards reducing the detrimental effects that occur to the spermatozoa during cryopreservation.
Methodology
The researchers separated SP proteins according to their ability to bind to heparin into heparin-binding (Hep+) and heparin-non-binding (Hep-) fractions. Three concentrations – 125, 250, and 500 µg/mL – of each protein fraction were tested.
To determine the effects of SP protein fractions on cryopreserved sperm, several parameters like sperm motility, plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal membrane integrity, and capacitation status were assessed post-thawing.
Results and Discussion
Results indicated a significant effect of the SP protein fractions on the kinematic parameters of spermatozoa and the proportions of their subpopulations. The study showed increased linearity and straightness, with the highest values of sperm velocities in the group subjected to 125 µg/mL of Hep+ protein fraction.
Interestingly, the acrosomal membrane integrity was also highest in the groups with Hep+ fraction in concentrations of 125 µg/mL. This suggests a potential protective effect of these fractions during the cryopreservation process.
Despite the effects observed on kinematics and acrosomal integrity, the addition of protein fractions did not significantly affect the plasma membrane integrity and capacitation status of stallion spermatozoa.
Conclusion
The study confirms that the effect of SP proteins on sperm functionality is concentration-dependent. It contributes significantly to the limited research on the possible use of specific stallion SP fractions in Cryopreservation protocols.
However, for more concrete improvement in this field, the researchers recommend further studies on the effect of individual SP proteins on other sperm functional parameters with an implication on the success of artificial insemination in in vivo conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
Bubenickova F, Postlerova P, Simonik O, Sirohi J, Sichtar J.
(2020).
Effect of Seminal Plasma Protein Fractions on Stallion Sperm Cryopreservation.
Int J Mol Sci, 21(17).
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21176415
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Postlerova, Pavla
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic.
Simonik, Ondrej
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Laboratory of Reproductive Biology, Institute of Biotechnology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, BIOCEV, 252 50 Vestec, Czech Republic.
Sirohi, Jitka
Department of Statistics, Faculty of Economics and Management, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Sichtar, Jiri
Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Agrobiology, Food and Natural Resources, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, 165 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Cryopreservation / veterinary
Horses
Male
Semen Preservation / methods
Semen Preservation / veterinary
Seminal Plasma Proteins / metabolism
Serum Albumin, Human / metabolism
Serum Globulins / metabolism
Spermatozoa / physiology
Grant Funding
SV19-05-21230 / Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague
GA-18-11275S / Grantová Agentura České Republiky
RVO:86652036 / BIOCEV (CZ.1.05/1.1.00/02.0109) from ERDF and Institute of Biotechnology
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
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