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Home / Equine Research Bank / Theriogenology / Seminal plasma influences the fertilizing potential of cryop...
Theriogenology2018; 115; 99-107; doi: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.04.021

Seminal plasma influences the fertilizing potential of cryopreserved stallion sperm.

Abstract: Seminal plasma (SP) contains proteins that may influence cryosurvival and prevent capacitation-like changes due to freezing and thawing. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of adding pooled SP from "good" (GF) or "bad" (BF) freezer stallions on sperm cells' fertilizing ability. "Good freezers" refers to stallions that usually produce ejaculates which can withstand cryopreservation, whilst "bad freezer" stallions produce ejaculates which cannot tolerate the freezing process. A heterologous zona binding assay with in vitro matured bovine oocytes was used to assess the binding ability of equine sperm cells as a possible alternative to artificial insemination trials. The effect of adding SP i) prior to cryopreservation; ii) after thawing of sperm cells selected by single layer centrifugation (SLC); iii) to capacitation medium, was evaluated. Adding SP from GF stallions prior to cryopreservation reduced the mean number of sperm cells bound to the zona pellucida (ZP) compared to control (P = 0.0003), SP-free sperm cells and group received SP from BF stallions (P ≤ 0.0001 for both). After thawing SLC-selected sperm cells treated with 5% SP showed a decrease in binding ability compared with SP-free sperm cells (P ≤ 0.0001). The binding affinity of sperm cells was higher in the group treated with SP from GF than with SP from BF stallions (P ≤ 0.05). Prolonged exposure to SP impaired the ability of stallion sperm cells to undergo capacitation and bind to ZP, regardless of the source of SP (P ≤ 0.0001). The response of equine sperm cells to SP is influenced by the ability of the sperm cells to withstand cryopreservation and is affected by the timing of exposure and the origin of SP. Customization of the protocol for individual stallions is recommended to optimize the effect.
Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2018-04-26 PubMed ID: 29747159DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.04.021Google 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.

This research investigates how seminal plasma (SP), obtained from stallions with varying tolerance to cryopreservation, influences the fertilizing ability of stallion sperm cells post cryopreservation.

Objective of the Research

  • The main aim of this study was to understand how adding seminal plasma from stallions with good freezing tolerance (“good freezers”) and those with bad freezing tolerance (“bad freezers”) affect the fertilizing ability of sperm cells post cryopreservation.

Research Method

  • This research utilized a heterologous zona binding assay with matured bovine oocytes to assess the binding ability of equine sperm cells, proposing it as an alternative to artificial insemination trials.
  • The researchers evaluated whether adding seminal plasma i) before cryopreservation, ii) after thawing from a single layer of sperm cells, iii) to the capacitation medium had any significant impact on the sperm cells’ ability to bind and hence possibly influence fertilization.

Major Findings of the Research

  • The study found that adding SP from “good freezers” before cryopreservation decreased the average number of sperm cells binding to the zona pellucida — a membrane surrounding the egg cell — compared to control, SP-free sperm, as well as the group that received SP from “bad freezers”.
  • Thawing sperm cells treated with 5% SP after centrifugation showed a decreased binding ability compared to SP-free sperm cells.
  • The sperm cells showed a higher binding affinity in the group treated with SP from “good freezers” as opposed to those treated with SP from “bad freezers”.
  • Long exposure to seminal plasma impaired the ability of stallion sperm cells to undergo capacitation (a change sperm undergo to allow them to fertilize an egg) and bind to the zona pellucida, irrespective of the source of the seminal plasma.
  • Overall, how sperm cells respond to seminal plasma is largely influenced by the sperm cells’ capacity to withstand the freezing process. The timing of exposure and the source of seminal plasma also play a significant role.

Conclusion

  • The researchers concluded that individual protocols should be customized, depending on the freezing tolerance of each stallion and potential interaction with seminal fluid, to optimize results regarding the post-thaw binding ability of their sperm cells.

Cite This Article

APA
Al-Essawe EM, Wallgren M, Wulf M, Aurich C, Macías-García B, Sjunnesson Y, Morrell JM. (2018). Seminal plasma influences the fertilizing potential of cryopreserved stallion sperm. Theriogenology, 115, 99-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.04.021

Publication

Theriogenology
ISSN: 1879-3231
NlmUniqueID: 0421510
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 115
Pages: 99-107

Researcher Affiliations

Al-Essawe, Essraa M
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden; Al-Nahrain University - High Institute of Infertility Diagnosis and Assisted Reproductive Technologies, Clinical Reproductive Physiology, Baghdad, Iraq. Electronic address: essraa.m.al.essawe@slu.se.
Wallgren, Margareta
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Margareta.Wallgren@slu.se.
Wulf, Manuela
  • Graf Lehndorff Institute for Equine Sciences, Vetmeduni Vienna, Austria, and Neustadt (Dosse), Germany. Electronic address: Manuela.Wulf@Neustaedter-Gestuete.de.
Aurich, Christine
  • Artificial Insemination and Embryo Transfer, Department for Small Animals and Horses, Vetmeduni Vienna, Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: christine.aurich@vetmeduni.ac.at.
Macías-García, Beatriz
  • Jesús Usón Minimally Invasive Surgery Centre (CCMIJU), Assisted Reproduction Unit, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: bea_macias@hotmail.com.
Sjunnesson, Ylva
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Ylva.Sjunnesson@slu.se.
Morrell, Jane M
  • Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Clinical Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden. Electronic address: Jane.morrell@slu.se.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle
  • Cryopreservation / methods
  • Cryopreservation / veterinary
  • Female
  • Fertilization / physiology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Insemination, Artificial / veterinary
  • Male
  • Semen / physiology
  • Semen Preservation / methods
  • Semen Preservation / veterinary
  • Sperm-Ovum Interactions / physiology
  • Spermatozoa / physiology
  • Zona Pellucida / physiology

Citations

This article has been cited 17 times.
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