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The Journal of reproduction and development2020; 66(3); 215-221; doi: 10.1262/jrd.2019-072

Season does not have a deleterious effect on proportions of stallion seminal plasma proteins.

Abstract: The mechanism by which the content of the major groups of seminal plasma proteins in stallion semen changes between the breeding and non-breeding seasons remains unknown. Here, we investigated the proportions of non-heparin-binding, phosphorylcholine-binding, and heparin-binding proteins in seminal plasma with the aim of relating them to sperm quality and testosterone levels in good and bad freezer stallions. Only minor variations in the major protein groups were found between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. In the non-breeding season, a higher content of a subset of non-heparin binding proteins as well as of heparin-binding proteins was found. Analysis of semen characteristics revealed a somewhat contrasting picture. While only minor variations in sperm kinematics and sperm morphology were found between seasons, the flow-cytometric measurements of mitochondrial membrane potential and also, to some extent, reactive oxygen species production indicated lower sperm quality in the breeding season. Chromatin integrity and testosterone levels were unchanged between seasons. The results suggest that stallion ejaculates could be used year-round for freezing, since only minor differences in protein composition exist between the breeding and non-breeding seasons, as well as between good and bad freezers. In addition, sperm quality is not impaired during the non-breeding season.
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Publication Date: 2020-02-13 PubMed ID: 32051351PubMed Central: PMC7297632DOI: 10.1262/jrd.2019-072Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 investigates seasonal changes in the protein composition of stallion semen and its impact on sperm quality. The findings suggest that there are no significant seasonal differences in seminal plasma proteins and sperm viability, making it possible to collect and freeze stallion semen throughout the year.

Understanding the Research

  • The study aimed to understand how the composition of seminal plasma proteins in stallion semen changes across breeding and non-breeding seasons. Seminal plasma proteins perform crucial functions that facilitate fertilization, and any temporal alterations in these proteins play a role in the overall quality and fertility of the semen.
  • The researchers analyzed the levels of three protein groups in the seminal plasma: non-heparin-binding proteins, phosphorylcholine-binding proteins, and heparin-binding proteins. They also assessed the sperm quality based on several criteria, such as sperm kinematics, sperm morphology, mitochondrial membrane potential, the production of reactive oxygen species, chromatin integrity, and testosterone levels.

Findings of the Research

  • The study found negligible differences in the major protein groups between the breeding and non-breeding seasons. It observed a slightly higher level of non-heparin binding proteins and heparin-binding proteins in the non-breeding season, but these variations were insignificant.
  • Examination of the semen characteristics presented a different scenario. While the morphological attributes of the sperm remained relatively stable across seasons, the measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential and the production of reactive oxygen species showed lower sperm quality during the breeding season. However, the chromatin integrity and testosterone levels remained consistent irrespective of the season.

Implications of the Study

  • This study suggests that seasonality does not significantly affect the protein composition of stallion semen and, consequently, sperm quality. Thus, stallion ejaculates are suitable for freezing and utilization throughout the year.
  • While there were minor seasonal variations in sperm quality, these changes did not impair the sperm’s function during the non-breeding season. This finding supports the year-round collection and freezing of stallion semen, opening up new opportunities in equine breeding and fertility practices.

Cite This Article

APA
Johannisson A, Al-Essawe EM, Al-Saffar AK, Karkehabadi S, Lima-Verde I, Wulf M, Aurich C, Morrell JM. (2020). Season does not have a deleterious effect on proportions of stallion seminal plasma proteins. J Reprod Dev, 66(3), 215-221. https://doi.org/10.1262/jrd.2019-072

Publication

The Journal of reproduction and development
ISSN: 1348-4400
NlmUniqueID: 9438792
Country: Japan
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 3
Pages: 215-221

Researcher Affiliations

Johannisson, Anders
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
Al-Essawe, Essraa M
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
  • Al-Nahrain University-High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Clinical Reproductive Physiology, Baghdad 10007, Iraq.
Al-Saffar, Anas Kh
  • Gastroenterology and Hepatology Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala 75185, Sweden.
  • Department of Surgery and Obstetrics, College of Veterinary Medicine, Baghdad University, Baghdad 10081, Iraq.
Karkehabadi, Saeid
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Molecular Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
Lima-Verde, Isabel
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.
Wulf, Manuela
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Sciences, Vetmeduni, Vienna, Austria, and Neustadt (Dosse) 16845, Germany.
Aurich, Christine
  • Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna 1210, Austria.
Morrell, Jane M
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala 75007, Sweden.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / physiology
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
  • Seasons
  • Semen Analysis / veterinary
  • Semen Preservation
  • Seminal Plasma Proteins / metabolism
  • Sperm Motility / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / metabolism

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors do not have any conflicts of interest to declare.

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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Senra RL, Ramírez-López CJ, Magalhães-Júnior MJ, Neves JGDS, Barros E, Waddington B, Guimarães SEF, Guimarães JD, Baracat-Pereira MC. Kallikrein proteoforms and reproductive parameters in stallion are conditioned by climate. Sci Rep 2022 Nov 4;12(1):18690.
    doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-21350-wpubmed: 36333376google scholar: lookup
  2. Carvalho JC, Carvalho MG, Codognoto VM, Camargo LS, Kasimanickam R, Kastelic J, de Souza FF, Pinheiro Ferreira JC. Seasonal Changes in the Seminal Plasma Proteome of the Crab-Eating Fox (Cerdocyon thous). J Proteome Res 2026 Feb 6;25(2):723-734.
    doi: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.5c00694pubmed: 41474158google scholar: lookup
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