Identification of serotoninergic system components in stallion sperm.
Abstract: Assisted reproductive techniques have been used on several domestic animals to preserve desirable traits in strains of high genetic and commercial value; however in equines its efficiency rate is relatively low. To increase the conception ratio in stallions, some research groups have used pharmacological treatments which promote sperm hyperactivation in order to increase male's fertility rates. In this way, our previous work suggests that serotonin (5-HT) could be a good pharmacological candidate that facilitates conception rate in domestic horses. 5-HT is a neurohormone involved in several reproductive processes, i.e., it enhances hyperactivation, motility, and promotes the acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm, but it has not been described in the stallion sperm yet. Therefore, using both immunofluorescence and western blot techniques, we searched for and found some serotonin markers such as 5-HT, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT₃ receptors, both TPH1 and MAOA enzymes, and serotonin transporter (5-HTT) in stallion sperm. In addition, we found a non-neuroendocrine cell, V-MAT₁ transporter, which has not been previously reported in mammalian sperm. Our results suggest that serotoninergic system is present in stallion sperm, which could be a pharmacological target to increase the conception rates in domestic horses.
Publication Date: 2018-04-16 PubMed ID: 29658099DOI: 10.14670/HH-11-989Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study focused on identifying the serotoninergic system’s components in stallion sperm with the aim of enhancing assisted reproductive techniques’ efficiency for equines.
Background
- The researchers sought to build on past investigations which implied that serotonin, a neurohormone, could prove beneficial in increasing conception rates among domestic horses due to its role in reproductive processes.
- Serotonin enhances hyperactivation, motility, and the acrosome reaction in mammalian sperm. However, this had not been previously studied in stallion sperm, driving the need for the current research.
Methodology
- The research team used immunofluorescence and western blot techniques to identify the serotonin markers in stallion sperm.
- The markers they focused on included 5-HT, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT₃ receptors, both TPH1 and MAOA enzymes, and serotonin transporter (5-HTT).
Findings
- All the serotonin markers searched for were found in stallion sperm. Additionally, a non-neuroendocrine cell, V-MAT₁ transporter, was identified. This transporter had not been previously reported in mammalian sperm.
Conclusion
- The research found evidence that the serotoninergic system is present in stallion sperm. Consequently, this suggests that it could be a pharmacological target to increase conception rates in domestic horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Jiménez-Trejo F, Coronado-Mares I, Boeta M, González-Santoyo I, Vigueras-Villaseñor R, Arriaga-Canon C, Herrera LA, Tapia-Rodríguez M.
(2018).
Identification of serotoninergic system components in stallion sperm.
Histol Histopathol, 33(9), 951-958.
https://doi.org/10.14670/HH-11-989 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- National Institute of Pediatrics, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico. trejofj@hotmail.com.
- National Institute of Pediatrics, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechnics, National Autonomous University of Mexico, University City, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Faculty of Psychology, National Autonomous University of Mexico, University City, Mexico City, Mexico.
- National Institute of Pediatrics, Coyoacán, Mexico City, Mexico.
- CONACYT-National Institute of Cancerology, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico.
- National Cancer Institute, Tlalpan, Mexico City, Mexico.
- Institute of Biomedical Research, National Autonomous University of Mexico, University City, Mexico City, Mexico. mtapia@biomedicas.unam.mx.
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome / physiology
- Animals
- Blotting, Western
- Cryopreservation
- Horses
- Insemination, Artificial
- Male
- Microscopy, Fluorescence
- Receptors, Serotonin / metabolism
- Serotonin / metabolism
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Juárez-Contreras NA, Rivas-Arzaluz CU, Pérez OG, Ayala ME, Aragón-Martínez A. Development of an open-hardware semen homogenizer and application to serotonin effects on sperm motility. PLoS One 2025;20(12):e0338399.
- Suzuki I, Fujinoki M, Kamai T. Tryptophan promotes sperm hyperactivation in hamsters via 5-hydroxytryptamine biosynthesis within sperm. J Reprod Dev 2025 Oct 9;71(5):256-265.
- Koyano Y, Fujinoki M. Influences of 5-hydroxytriptamine on sperm hyperactivation and in vitro fertility in rats. J Reprod Dev 2025 Apr 14;71(2):85-92.
- Jiménez-Trejo F, Arriaga-Canon C, Herrera LA, Coronado-Mares I, Montiel-Manríquez R, González-Santoyo I, Pérez-Báez WB, Tapia-Rodríguez M. Downregulation of Serotonergic System Components in an Experimentally Induced Cryptorchidism in Rabbits. Int J Mol Sci 2024 Mar 9;25(6).
- Omote M, Wakimoto Y, Shibahara H. Possible Role of 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) Receptor on Human Sperm Motility Regulation. Cureus 2023 Nov;15(11):e49530.
- Sakamoto C, Fujinoki M, Kitazawa M, Obayashi S. Serotonergic signals enhanced hamster sperm hyperactivation. J Reprod Dev 2021 Aug 27;67(4):241-250.
- Jiménez-Trejo F, Coronado-Mares I, Arriaga-Canon C, Herrera LA, Roque-Ramírez B, Chávez-Saldaña M, Rojas-Castañeda J, Cerbón M, Vigueras-Villaseñor RM. Indolaminergic System in Adult Rat Testes: Evidence for a Local Serotonin System. Front Neuroanat 2020;14:570058.
- Sugiyama Y, Fujinoki M, Shibahara H. Effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine on spermatozoal hyperactivation and in vitro fertilization in mice. J Reprod Dev 2019 Dec 18;65(6):541-550.
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