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Reproduction, fertility, and development2018; 30(8); 1087-1098; doi: 10.1071/RD17188

Implication of transcriptome profiling of spermatozoa for stallion fertility.

Abstract: Poor fertility of breeding stallions is a recognised problem in the equine industry. The aim of the present study was to detect molecular pathways using two groups of stallions that differed in pregnancy rates as well as in the proportion of normal and motile spermatozoa. RNA was isolated from spermatozoa of each stallion and microarray data were analysed to obtain a list of genes for which transcript abundance differed between the groups (P ≤0.05, fold change ≥1.2). In all, there were 437 differentially expressed (DE) genes between the two groups (P ≤ 0.05, fold change ≥1.2). Next, the DE genes were analysed using Database for Annotation, Visualisation, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Finally, ingenuity pathways analysis (IPA) was used to identify top biological functions and significant canonical pathways associated with the DE genes. Analysis using the DAVID database showed significant enrichment in the gene ontology (GO) term 'RNA binding' (P=0.05) and in the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction (P=0.02). Furthermore, IPA analysis showed interconnected biological functions and canonical pathways involved in the regulation of spermatogenesis and male fertility. In addition, significantly enriched metabolic pathways were identified. In conclusion, the present study has identified, for the first time, molecular processes in stallion spermatozoa that could be associated with stallion fertility.
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Publication Date: 2018-03-15 PubMed ID: 29534788DOI: 10.1071/RD17188Google 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.

The research aims to identify molecular pathways in sperm cells of stallions that are associated with their fertility rate. The researchers used genetic analysis tools and databases to find significant differences in gene expression between high and low fertility stallions, which helped to uncover potential biological mechanisms and processes related to stallion fertility.

Experimental Design

  • The researchers began their study with two groups of stallions, categorized based on their varying fertility rates, specifically the pregnancy success and the quality of their sperm cells.
  • RNA, the molecule responsible for carrying genetic instructions, was isolated from the sperm cells of the stallions for analysis.

Data Analysis and Results

  • A technique called microarray was used to compare the level of gene expression, or transcript abundance, in the spermatozoa of the two groups of stallions.
  • The results showed that there were 437 genes that were differentially expressed, meaning they had significant differences in their transcript abundance rates between the two groups of stallions.
  • These differentially expressed genes were then further analyzed using DAVID, a bioinformatics database, to annotate and visualize these genes, and the IPA tool was used to identify the significant biological processes and pathways these genes were involved in.

Key Findings

  • The analysis uncovered that the ‘RNA binding’ gene ontology term had significant enrichment. This suggests that the differences in the stallions’ fertility could be associated with how effectively their sperm cells can utilize the genetic instructions they carry.
  • Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, a communication pathway used by immune cells, was also identified as a significantly enriched pathway. This may suggest a role of the immune system in the fertility differences observed.
  • The IPA analysis revealed interconnected biological functions and canonical pathways that seem to play a role in the regulation of spermatogenesis, the production of sperm, and male fertility.
  • In addition to this, the study also found several significantly enriched metabolic pathways, suggesting a role of metabolism in stallion fertility.

Conclusion

The results of the study revealed, for the first time, molecular processes within stallion sperm cells that could possibly explain differences in fertility rates. These findings provide a basis for future research in understanding the complex biological mechanisms that underline fertility in breeding stallions.

Cite This Article

APA
Suliman Y, Becker F, Wimmers K. (2018). Implication of transcriptome profiling of spermatozoa for stallion fertility. Reprod Fertil Dev, 30(8), 1087-1098. https://doi.org/10.1071/RD17188

Publication

Reproduction, fertility, and development
ISSN: 1031-3613
NlmUniqueID: 8907465
Country: Australia
Language: English
Volume: 30
Issue: 8
Pages: 1087-1098

Researcher Affiliations

Suliman, Yara
  • Institute for Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology Dummerstorf, D-18196 Dummerstorf, Wilhem-Stahl-Allee 2, Germany.
Becker, Frank
  • Institute for Reproductive Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology Dummerstorf, D-18196 Dummerstorf, Wilhem-Stahl-Allee 2, Germany.
Wimmers, Klaus
  • Institute for Genome Biology, Leibniz Institute for Farm Animal Biology Dummerstorf, D-18196 Dummerstorf, Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Fertility / genetics
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism
  • Transcriptome / genetics

Citations

This article has been cited 12 times.
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