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Home / Equine Research Bank / Cryobiology / First results about ProAKAP4 concentration in stallion semen...
Cryobiology2021; 102; 133-135; doi: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.07.009

First results about ProAKAP4 concentration in stallion semen after cryopreservation in two different freezing media.

Abstract: The quality of fresh or thawed sperm in stallions has been generally determined by the viability and total and progressive motility of the sperm. Today, the expression of ProAKAP4, a protein present in the flagellum of spermatozoa, appears to be an innovative and relevant functional marker to assess semen quality and male fertility. This study aims to compare the concentration of ProAKAP4 in the semen from 5 stallions frozen with two different extenders immediately after thawing (T0) and 4 h post-thawing (T4). Viability, total and progressive motility were measured in parallel. Significant differences for sperm viability and total motility were observed between the two extenders, as was the concentration of ProAKAP4 both at T0 and T4. At T4, all quality parameters and ProAKAP4 content significantly decreased compared to T0, but with a considerably slower decrease in one extender than the other. These preliminary results suggest that measuring the concentration of ProAKAP4 is a promising tool for the comparison of different extenders and the selection of the optimal freezing medium for each stallion ejaculate.
Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-21 PubMed ID: 34302806DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.07.009Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 focuses on comparing the concentration of a protein called ProAKAP4 in the semen of 5 stallions after it has been frozen using two different extenders. The concentration of this protein is found to be an effective measure of semen quality and a useful comparison tool between different extenders, hinting at its potential in improving male fertility studies in horses.

Professor’s Explanation of the paper

  • The paper begins by acknowledging that the quality of semen in stallions, whether fresh or thawed, has commonly been assessed based on the viability and total and progressive motility of the sperm. However, in recent times, the expression of a protein known as ProAKAP4 has emerged as a potentially promising and innovative marker for assessing semen quality and male fertility.
  • ProAKAP4 is present in the flagellum of spermatozoa (the tail-like part of the sperm that allows for movement), so its concentration can have a direct impact on sperm motility — a key factor in successful fertilization.
  • The researchers set out to compare the concentration levels of ProAKAP4 in semen collected from 5 different stallions, which was then frozen using two distinct extenders. The comparison was made immediately after thawing (referred to as T0) and 4 hours post-thawing (T4).
  • In addition to the ProAKAP4 concentration, the viability, total and progressive motility of the sperm were also measured. Significant differences were noted in the sperm viability and total motility between the two extenders. The concentration of ProAKAP4 was also found to vary between T0 and T4.
  • A significant decrease in all quality parameters, including ProAKAP4 content, was observed at T4, when compared to T0. However, the rate of decrease was markedly slower in one extender than the other, suggesting that the choice of extender can impact the preservation of semen quality during the freezing process.
  • In conclusion, the researchers suggest that the measurement of ProAKAP4 concentration could be a powerful tool for comparing different extenders and selecting the optimal freezing medium for each stallion’s ejaculate. This protein concentration could potentially lead to a significant improvement in the process of preserving and utilizing stallion semen in reproductive and fertility studies.

Cite This Article

APA
Blommaert D, Sergeant N, Delehedde M, Donnay I, Lejeune JP, Franck T, Serteyn D. (2021). First results about ProAKAP4 concentration in stallion semen after cryopreservation in two different freezing media. Cryobiology, 102, 133-135. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cryobiol.2021.07.009

Publication

Cryobiology
ISSN: 1090-2392
NlmUniqueID: 0006252
Country: Netherlands
Language: English
Volume: 102
Pages: 133-135
PII: S0011-2240(21)00122-X

Researcher Affiliations

Blommaert, D
  • Centre Européen du Cheval, Département Reproduction, Mont-le-Soie, 1, Vielsalm, 6698, Belgium.
Sergeant, N
  • SPQI S.A.S, 82 rue Jeanne d'Arc, 59000, Lille, France; Univ. Lille, Inserm UMRS 1172, Place de Verdun, 59045, Lille, France.
Delehedde, M
  • SPQI S.A.S, 82 rue Jeanne d'Arc, 59000, Lille, France.
Donnay, I
  • Louvain Institute of Biomolecular Science and Technology, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
Lejeune, J P
  • Centre Européen du Cheval, Département Reproduction, Mont-le-Soie, 1, Vielsalm, 6698, Belgium.
Franck, T
  • Center for Oxygen Research and Development (CORD), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium. Electronic address: t.franck@uliege.be.
Serteyn, D
  • Centre Européen du Cheval, Département Reproduction, Mont-le-Soie, 1, Vielsalm, 6698, Belgium; Center for Oxygen Research and Development (CORD), University of Liège, Liège, Belgium; Equine Clinic, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cryopreservation / methods
  • Freezing
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Semen
  • Semen Analysis
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Sperm Motility
  • Spermatozoa

Citations

This article has been cited 10 times.
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    doi: 10.3390/ani13142392pubmed: 37508170google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.3390/ani13132054pubmed: 37443852google scholar: lookup
  3. Dordas-Perpinyà M, Yanez-Ortiz I, Sergeant N, Mevel V, Bruyas JF, Catalán J, Delehedde M, Briand-Amirat L, Miró J. ProAKAP4 Concentration Is Related to Sperm Motility and Motile Sperm Subpopulations in Frozen-Thawed Horse Semen. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 4;12(23).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12233417pubmed: 36496938google scholar: lookup
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    doi: 10.1002/rmb2.12480pubmed: 35919386google scholar: lookup
  5. Dordas-Perpinyà M, Sergeant N, Ruelle I, Bruyas JF, Charreaux F, Michaud S, Carracedo S, Catalán J, Miró J, Delehedde M, Briand-Amirat L. ProAKAP4 Semen Concentrations as a Valuable Marker Protein of Post-Thawed Semen Quality and Bull Fertility: A Retrospective Study. Vet Sci 2022 May 6;9(5).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci9050224pubmed: 35622752google scholar: lookup
  6. Schäfer-Somi S, Colombo M, Luvoni GC. Canine Spermatozoa-Predictability of Cryotolerance. Animals (Basel) 2022 Mar 15;12(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani12060733pubmed: 35327130google scholar: lookup
  7. Eser A, Alakuş A, Bağcı K, Cihangiroğlu AÇ, Yağcıoğlu S, Arıcı R, Demir K. Precursor A-Kinase Anchor Protein 4 as a Predictive Biomarker of Post-Thaw Semen Quality in Goats. Vet Sci 2025 Oct 16;12(10).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12101003pubmed: 41150143google scholar: lookup
  8. Boni R, Ruggiero R, De Luca F, Serritella ML, Di Palma T, Cecchini Gualandi S. Repeatability of Selected Parameters Related to Stallion Sperm Quality and Cryotolerance. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 26;15(19).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15192805pubmed: 41096400google scholar: lookup
  9. Dordas-Perpinyà M, Yánez-Ortiz I, Sergeant N, Mevel V, Catalán J, Bruyas JF, Miró J, Briand-Amirat L. ProAKAP4 as Indicator of Long-Lasting Motility Marker in Post-Thaw Conditions in Stallions. Animals (Basel) 2024 Apr 23;14(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani14091264pubmed: 38731267google scholar: lookup
  10. 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
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