In vitro interactions of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa and oviduct (uterine tube) epithelial cells or their secretory products.
Abstract: Formation of a spermatozoa ('sperm') reservoir in the mare is thought to occur through lectin-mediated sperm attachment to the oviductal epithelium. Once attached, prefertilization sperm survival is supported by oviductal factors. Cryopreservation of stallion sperm decreases the number of sperm attaching to oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) and the length of time these sperm survive. Quantification of in vitro interactions between sperm and OEC in a co-culture system may provide an assay for functional integrity of cryopreserved or fresh sperm samples. Additionally, superior additives for in vitro handling of stallion sperm may be isolated from OEC secretory products. Experiment 1 compared first service conception (FSC) rates resulting from the use of cryopreserved sperm of seven stallions, with sperm function in co-culture such as attachment to OEC and subsequent survival time. Stallions were grouped by cumulative FSC rates observed over three seasons as having average (44 +/- 3%) or high (65 +/- 2%) fertility over a total of 217 first services (31 +/- 9 per stallion). Samples from stallions in the high fertility group had more (P = 0.04) sperm attached to OEC and longer subsequent sperm survival in co-culture (P = 0.05) as compared with those from the average fertility group. FSC rates correlated with numbers of sperm attaching to OEC and their survival time in co-culture (r > or = 0.71). In Experiment 2, the function of cryopreserved stallion sperm was evaluated in culture with OEC secretory products from three different sources. After 5 h of culture, sperm incubated with medium conditioned by bovine OEC which had been 'bioactivated' (e.g. previously exposed to sperm in culture) were found to be more (P < or = 0.05) motile and capacitated as compared to sperm in basal TALP medium alone. Sperm in this conditioned medium also survived longer (P = 0.05; 27 +/- 5 h vs. 17 +/- 4 h) than did those in control medium.
Publication Date: 1999-07-13 PubMed ID: 10401702DOI: 10.1016/s0378-4320(99)00030-5Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Research Support
- U.S. Gov't
- P.H.S.
Summary
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The research investigates how cryopreserved stallion sperm interacts with oviduct epithelial cells and their secretions. The study found that the process significantly affects the sperm’s ability to attach and survive, which may be applied to improving in vitro handling of stallion sperm.
Sperm Reservoir Formation and Association with Oviduct Epithelial Cells (OEC)
- The research delves into the process of sperm reservoir formation in horses, that is believed to occur through lectin-mediated sperm attachment to the oviduct epithelium.
- Once the sperm attaches to the oviduct epithelium, prefertilization survival is facilitated by oviductal factors.
- However, when stallion sperm is cryopreserved, it reduces the number of sperm attaching to the oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) and the overall survivability of the sperm.
In Vitro Interactions and Co-Culture System
- By quantifying the in vitro interactions between the sperm and OEC in a co-culture system, the functional integrity of both cryopreserved and fresh sperm samples can be assessed.
- The researchers suggest potential improvements for in vitro handling of stallion sperm might be derived from isolating superior additives from the secretory products of OEC.
Comparison of First Service Conception Rates
- The first experiment compared first service conception (FSC) rates from the use of cryopreserved sperm from seven stallions.
- The reproductive potential of the cryopreserved sperm was gauged by monitoring its attachment to OEC and subsequent survivability.
- The stallions were categorised into groups with average fertility (44 ± 3%) and high fertility (65 ± 2%) based on their cumulative FSC rates seen over three seasons.
- Samples from stallions in the highly fertile group registered more sperm attached to OEC and longer sperm survival.
- Furthermore, a positive correlation was observed between FSC rates and the number of sperm attaching to OEC along with their survival time.
Evaluation of Function of Cryopreserved Sperm
- In the second experiment, the researchers evaluated the function of cryopreserved stallion sperm with OEC secretory products from different sources.
- After 5 hours of the culture process, the sperm incubated with medium conditioned by bovine OEC (that had been ‘bioactivated’) displayed higher motility and capacitation compared to sperm in basic TALP medium alone.
- Additionally, sperm in this conditioned medium survived longer than those in control medium, suggesting that OEC secretory products might have a positive effect on the survival and function of the sperm.
Cite This Article
APA
Ellington JE, Samper JC, Jones AE, Oliver SA, Burnett KM, Wright RW.
(1999).
In vitro interactions of cryopreserved stallion spermatozoa and oviduct (uterine tube) epithelial cells or their secretory products.
Anim Reprod Sci, 56(1), 51-65.
https://doi.org/10.1016/s0378-4320(99)00030-5 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Comparative Anatomy, Pharmacology and Physiology, Washington State University, Pullman 99164, USA. ellington@wsu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cattle
- Coculture Techniques / veterinary
- Cryopreservation / veterinary
- Culture Media, Conditioned
- Epithelial Cells
- Fallopian Tubes / physiology
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Semen / physiology
- Sperm Capacitation / physiology
- Sperm Motility / physiology
- Sperm-Ovum Interactions
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Grant Funding
- HD32851 / NICHD NIH HHS
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Cimini C, Moussa F, Taraschi A, Ramal-Sanchez M, Colosimo A, Capacchietti G, Mokh S, Valbonetti L, Tagaram I, Bernabò N, Barboni B. Pre-Treatment of Swine Oviductal Epithelial Cells with Progesterone Increases the Sperm Fertilizing Ability in an IVF Model.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 6;12(9).
- Gimeno BF, Bariani MV, Laiz-Quiroga L, Martínez-León E, Von-Meyeren M, Rey O, Mutto AÁ, Osycka-Salut CE. Effects of In Vitro Interactions of Oviduct Epithelial Cells with Frozen-Thawed Stallion Spermatozoa on Their Motility, Viability and Capacitation Status.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jan 3;11(1).
- Camara Pirez M, Steele H, Reese S, Kölle S. Bovine sperm-oviduct interactions are characterized by specific sperm behaviour, ultrastructure and tubal reactions which are impacted by sex sorting.. Sci Rep 2020 Oct 5;10(1):16522.
- Castro LS, Hamilton TR, Mendes CM, Nichi M, Barnabe VH, Visintin JA, Assumpção ME. Sperm cryodamage occurs after rapid freezing phase: flow cytometry approach and antioxidant enzymes activity at different stages of cryopreservation.. J Anim Sci Biotechnol 2016;7:17.
- Tienthai P. The porcine sperm reservoir in relation to the function of hyaluronan.. J Reprod Dev 2015;61(4):245-50.
- Shirazi A, Motaghi E. The In vitro Fertilization of Ovine Oocytes in the Presence of Oviductal Cells and its Effect on the Expression of Zygote Arrest 1 (Zar1) and Subsequent Embryonic Development.. J Reprod Infertil 2013 Jan;14(1):8-16.
- Lachance C, Leclerc P. Mediators of the Jak/STAT signaling pathway in human spermatozoa.. Biol Reprod 2011 Dec;85(6):1222-31.
- Mugnier S, Kervella M, Douet C, Canepa S, Pascal G, Deleuze S, Duchamp G, Monget P, Goudet G. The secretions of oviduct epithelial cells increase the equine in vitro fertilization rate: are osteopontin, atrial natriuretic peptide A and oviductin involved?. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2009 Nov 19;7:129.
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