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Scientific reports2022; 12(1); 18690; doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21350-w

Kallikrein proteoforms and reproductive parameters in stallion are conditioned by climate.

Abstract: Horses are seasonal polyoestrous animals, and the photoperiod is the main factor modulating their reproductive activity. There is no consensus on the andrological and biochemical factors that influence breeding seasonality. To assess the involvement of climate in reproduction, Mangalarga Marchador stallions were monitored over 1 year regarding semen quality and seminal plasma proteome. Here, we show that kallikrein (KLKs) proteoforms in seminal plasma are involved in climate conditioning of reproduction. During the breeding season, greater abundance and different types of KLKs occurred simultaneously to lower sperm motility, greater semen volumes and higher concentrations of glucose and cholesterol. Considering that vasodilation due to activation of the kallikrein-kinin system and the consequent inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system may be associated with lower sperm motility, unravelling the involvement of KLK proteoforms in reproductive seasonality is a priority in horse breeding.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-11-04 PubMed ID: 36333376PubMed Central: PMC9636271DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21350-wGoogle 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 article investigates the role of climate in the reproduction of horses, specifically Mangalarga Marchador stallions, by examining the quality of semen and the proteins in the seminal fluid throughout a year. The findings suggest that variations in the types and quantity of a protein known as kallikrein, possibly affected by climate conditions, may influence reproductive parameters such as sperm motility and semen volume.

Investigation and Monitoring

  • The authors monitored Mangalarga Marchador stallions for a period of one year. Stallions are male horses that have not been castrated, which means they are capable of breeding.
  • The parameters they looked at included the quality of the semen and the seminal plasma proteome. Plasma proteome refers to the entire set of proteins expressed in the seminal plasma, which is the fluid portion of semen

Key Findings

  • According to the study, the types and abundance of kallikrein (KLKs) proteoforms found in the seminal plasma were seen to have a significant relationship with the physiological changes in stallion reproduction, and these changes seemed to correspond to different climatic conditions.
  • In the breeding season, greater quantities and diverse types of KLKs were found, coinciding with lower sperm motility (ability of sperm to move efficiently), larger volumes of semen, and increased concentrations of glucose and cholesterol. This suggests that these biochemical and proteomic changes in seminal plasma may influence fertility parameters in stallions

Significance of Kallikrein Proteoforms

  • Kallikrein is a type of serine protease, an enzyme that is part of the kallikrein-kinin system. This system plays critical roles in inflammation, blood pressure regulation, pain perception, and coagulation processes
  • The study proposes that vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) caused by the activation of the kallikrein-kinin system, and the related inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (a hormone system responsible for blood pressure and fluid balance), could be linked to the observed lower sperm motility.
  • Therefore, exploring the role of KLK proteoforms in reproductive seasonality becomes an important focus in horse breeding, to better understand its potential implications on equine fertility

Cite This Article

APA
Senra RL, Ramírez-López CJ, Magalhães-Júnior MJ, Neves JGDS, Barros E, Waddington B, Guimarães SEF, Guimarães JD, Baracat-Pereira MC. (2022). Kallikrein proteoforms and reproductive parameters in stallion are conditioned by climate. Sci Rep, 12(1), 18690. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-21350-w

Publication

Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
NlmUniqueID: 101563288
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 12
Issue: 1
Pages: 18690
PII: 18690

Researcher Affiliations

Senra, Renato Lima
  • Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Ramírez-López, Camilo José
  • Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
  • Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Magalhães-Júnior, Marcos Jorge
  • Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Neves, João Gabriel da Silva
  • Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
  • Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Barros, Edvaldo
  • Nucleus for Analysis of Biomolecules, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Waddington, Bruna
  • Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Guimarães, Simone Eliza Facioni
  • LABTEC-Animal Biotechnology Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Guimarães, José Domingos
  • Animal Reproduction Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil.
Baracat-Pereira, Maria Cristina
  • Proteomics and Protein Biochemistry Laboratory, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil. baracat@ufv.br.
  • Nucleus for Analysis of Biomolecules, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa, Brazil. baracat@ufv.br.

MeSH Terms

  • Horses
  • Male
  • Animals
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Semen Analysis
  • Kallikreins
  • Semen / physiology
  • Reproduction / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / physiology

Grant Funding

  • CBB-APQ 01099/09 / Fundau00e7u00e3o de Amparo u00e0 Pesquisa do Estado de Minas Gerais
  • CTInfra 2006/2007 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
  • PROINFRA 01/2006 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
  • PQ 313001/2017-0 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico
  • PQ 312920/2017-2 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientu00edfico e Tecnolu00f3gico

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Citations

This article has been cited 1 times.
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