Lectin-binding sites on ejaculated stallion sperm during breeding and non-breeding periods.
Abstract: Stallion sperm from semen collected in Southern Italy during the breeding (June-July) and non-breeding (December-January) periods were analyzed by means of twelve lectins to evaluate the glycoconjugate pattern and to verify whether there are any seasonal differences in the glycosylation pattern of the sperm glycocalyx. The acrosomal cap showed reactivity for Maackia amurensis (MAL II), Sambucus nigra (SNA), Arachis hypogaea (PNA), Glycine max (SBA), Helix pomatia (HPA), Canavalia ensiformis (Con A) Triticum vulgaris (WGA), and Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin II (GSA II) in breeding and non-breeding ejaculated sperm, suggesting the presence of oligosaccharides terminating with Neu5Ac alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc, Neu5Ac alpha 2,6Gal/GalNAc, with Gal beta 1,3GalNAc, alpha/beta GalNAc and glycans with terminal/internal alpha Man and GlcNAc. During the non-breeding period, the acrosomal cap expressed oligosaccharides terminating with Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc (Ricinus communis(120) affinity) (RCA(120)) and L-Fuc alpha 1,2Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta (Ulex europaeus affinity) (UEA I). The equatorial segment placed between the acrosomal cap and post-acrosomal region did not display glycans terminating with GalNAc, GlcNAc, and alpha L-Fuc. The post-acrosomal region of sperm collected in the breeding and non-breeding periods bound Con A, MAL II, SNA, and SBA, thus showing the presence of N-linked oligosaccharides from high-Man content, terminating with Neu5Ac alpha 2,3Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc, Neu5Ac alpha 2,6Gal/GalNAc and GalNAc. In winter, the post-acrosomal region also expressed oligosaccharides terminating with alpha GalNAc, GlcNAc, and L-Fuc alpha 1,2Gal beta 1,4GlcNAc beta (HPA, GSA II, and UEA I staining). The tail of sperm from semen collected during the breeding and non-breeding periods showed a lectin binding pattern similar to the post-acrosomal region, except for the absence of HPA staining in sperm collected during the winter season. These results indicate that the surface of stallion sperm contains different glycocalyx domains and that the glycosylation pattern undergoes changes during the breeding and non-breeding periods.
(c) 2010 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2010-02-20 PubMed ID: 20172596DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.12.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article examines the changes in glycosylation patterns on the surface of stallion sperm during breeding and non-breeding periods.
Objective and Methodology
- The main aim of the research was to assess any differences in glycoconjugate patterns of stallion sperm during breeding and non-breeding seasons.
- Semen collected from stallions in Southern Italy over the two periods were analyzed by seeing how they reacted with twelve different lectins – a form of protein that binds specifically to certain sugars.
- This interaction provided insight into the types of oligosaccharides, or chains of sugar molecules, present on the surface of the sperm during different periods.
Findings
- Throughout both periods, the acrosomal cap (part of the sperm cell that contains enzymes necessary for fertilization) showed reactivity with eight of the lectins, indicating the presence of certain specific sugar chains.
- However, during the non-breeding period, additional specific oligosaccharides were present, signified by the cap’s affinity for Ricinus communis (RCA(120)) and Ulex europaeus (UEA I) lectins.
- The equatorial segment of the sperm did not display any sugar chains ending with GalNAc, GlcNAc, or alpha L-Fuc, regardless of the period.
- The “post-acrosomal region” (part of the sperm cell situated just behind the acrosome) displayed four specific sugar chains across both periods, as well as additional types during the non-breeding period.
- The sperm tail exhibited a similar pattern to the post-acrosomal region, although one of the lectins (HPA) showed no reactivity during the winter season.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that the surface of stallion sperm contains a variety of glycosylation (sugar coating) domains, which vary according to whether it is the breeding or non-breeding season.
- These changes could potentially have implications for our understanding of the fertility or viability of sperm during different periods, although the study does not delve into potential cause or behavioral implications of these changes.
Cite This Article
APA
Desantis S, Ventriglia G, Zizza S, Nicassio M, Valentini L, Di Summa A, Lacalandra GM.
(2010).
Lectin-binding sites on ejaculated stallion sperm during breeding and non-breeding periods.
Theriogenology, 73(8), 1146-1153.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2009.12.001 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Animal Health and Well-being, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari, Italy. s.desantis@veterinaria.uniba.it
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Binding Sites
- Ejaculation
- Glycosylation
- Horses / metabolism
- Horses / physiology
- Lectins / chemistry
- Lectins / metabolism
- Male
- Protein Binding
- Reproduction / physiology
- Semen Analysis
- Sexual Behavior, Animal / physiology
- Sperm Retrieval / veterinary
- Spermatozoa / chemistry
- Spermatozoa / metabolism
- Time Factors
- Tissue Distribution
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Batra V, Dagar K, Nayak S, Kumaresan A, Kumar R, Datta TK. A Higher Abundance of O-Linked Glycans Confers a Selective Advantage to High Fertile Buffalo Spermatozoa for Immune-Evasion From Neutrophils. Front Immunol 2020;11:1928.
- Xin AJ, Cheng L, Diao H, Wang P, Gu YH, Wu B, Wu YC, Chen GW, Zhou SM, Guo SJ, Shi HJ, Tao SC. Comprehensive profiling of accessible surface glycans of mammalian sperm using a lectin microarray. Clin Proteomics 2014 Mar 16;11(1):10.
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