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Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)2020; 9(9); 855; doi: 10.3390/antiox9090855

Hercynine, Ergothioneine and Redox State in Stallion’s Seminal Plasma.

Abstract: The dependence of a stallion's spermatozoa on oxidative phosphorylation for energy requirements results in an unconventional relationship between reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and fertility. In such a scenario, antioxidant activity must be finely controlled and not affect the essential functions of ROS. Some in vivo evidence suggests that the naturally occurring antioxidant ergothioneine (ERT) interferes with the critical roles of ROS/reactive nitrogen species (RNS) in pro-oxidant states but not in healthy tissues. The measurement of ERT in seminal plasma collected from 14 stallions (five Anglo-Arab, five Sella Italiano and four Thoroughbreds of which three are Arabian and one English) aged 16 ± 6 years (range 6-25 years) confirms that ERT is present at high concentrations in this biological fluid, between 16.80 and 971.48 µmol/L. Although the presence of high ERT concentrations in the seminal plasma of a stallion has long been known, its exact biological role is uncertain. This might be due to the peculiar antioxidant cycle of ERT, specifically its rapid recovery, which potentially masks concentration fluctuations and, therefore, the extent of its physiological effects. The measurement of the ERT precursor and redox metabolite hercynine (ERY) may overcome such issues, as ERY does not undergo regeneration processes. ERY was detectable and measurable in the seminal plasma of all stallions at a median concentration of 7.50 (IQR 15.26) nmol/L. The analysis of the association between the ERT and ERY, as well as with other established antioxidants such as glutathione and cysteine, suggests that ERT may play a major role in the antioxidant machinery of seminal plasma, and that ERY might serve as a new combined marker of oxidative stress and semen quality.
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Publication Date: 2020-09-13 PubMed ID: 32933136PubMed Central: PMC7554786DOI: 10.3390/antiox9090855Google 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 research explored the presence and roles of natural antioxidants Ergothioneine (ERT) and its precursor Hercynine (ERY) in a stallion’s seminal plasma and their correlation with oxidative stress and sperm quality. The study showed that ERT and ERY are present in seminal fluid and may play significant roles in maintaining redox balance.

Antioxidants and Oxidative Phosphorylation

  • The study primarily focused on the unique link between a stallion’s spermatozoa’s energy needs and the process called oxidative phosphorylation. This process inadvertently produces Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS), which can be harmful to the cells if not properly managed.
  • Antioxidants are naturally occurring substances that prevent damage by these ROS. However, their functions need to be well regulated as they should not interfere with functions where ROS are essential.

Role of Ergothioneine (ERT)

  • Ergothioneine (ERT) is one such antioxidant that might not interfere with ROS in normal tissues but can conflict with them where they possess crucial roles.
  • ERT is found abundantly in the seminal fluid of stallions. Although this has been known, the exact physiological role ERT plays, particularly in seminal fluid, has been unclear.
  • The recovery process of this antioxidant is quite fast, which might be the reason for the ambiguity regarding its actual function since rapid recoveries might mask concentration changes and its full physiological impact.

Hercynine (ERY)- A New Marker of Oxidative Stress

  • To overcome the challenges posed by ERT’s quick recovery, researchers introduced Hercynine (ERY), a precursor to ERT. It does not undergo the same regeneration processes as ERT, making it easier to measure its metabolic effects.
  • In all the stallions studied, ERY was detectable and measurable in the seminal plasma which hints at its potential function in the biochemistry of seminal fluid.
  • The data suggested that ERY might work as a combined marker for oxidative stress and semen quality, highlighting its potential importance in equine reproductive sciences.

ERT, ERY and Other Established Antioxidants

  • The study also analysed the relationship between ERT and ERY, as well as other well-recognised antioxidants such as glutathione and cysteine. The results from this study suggest ERT may have a fundamental role in the antioxidant mechanisms of seminal fluid.

Cite This Article

APA
Sotgia S, Taras A, Zinellu A, Cherchi R, Mangoni AA, Carru C, Bogliolo L. (2020). Hercynine, Ergothioneine and Redox State in Stallion’s Seminal Plasma. Antioxidants (Basel), 9(9), 855. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox9090855

Publication

Antioxidants (Basel, Switzerland)
ISSN: 2076-3921
NlmUniqueID: 101668981
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 9
PII: 855

Researcher Affiliations

Sotgia, Salvatore
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Taras, Andrea
  • Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia (AGRIS)-Research Service for Equine Production and Reproduction, 07014 Ozieri, Italy.
Zinellu, Angelo
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Cherchi, Raffaele
  • Agricultural Research Agency of Sardinia (AGRIS)-Research Service for Equine Production and Reproduction, 07014 Ozieri, Italy.
Mangoni, Arduino A
  • Discipline of Clinical Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University and Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide 5001, Australia.
Carru, Ciriaco
  • Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.
  • Quality Control Unit, University Hospital Sassari (AOUSS), 07100 Sassari, Italy.
Bogliolo, Luisa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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