The quantification of lipid and protein oxidation in stallion spermatozoa and seminal plasma: seasonal distinctions and correlations with DNA strand breaks, classical seminal parameters and stallion fertility.
Abstract: The goal of this work was to correlate oxidative stress caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage with classic semen parameters in spermatozoa and seminal plasma of fertile and subfertile stallions. Oxidation was measured in both lipids and proteins, using the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) assay and the DNPH carbonyl groups assay, respectively. Sperm DNA damage was monitored using the TUNEL assay. These parameters were monitored in samples obtained during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. In general, fertile stallions showed better classical semen parameters, and those parameters improved from the non-breeding to the breeding season, although an increase in sperm production was accompanied by a decrease in the semen quality from subfertile stallions in the breeding season. In terms of oxidation levels we found that there were clear differences whether lipids or proteins were considered. In the breeding season there seemed to be a tendency towards normalizing lipid oxidation in spermatozoa and seminal plasma, and protein oxidation in the seminal plasma, of both fertile and subfertile animals. Thus, differences monitored in the non-breeding season were no longer visible. Interestingly, a higher level of protein oxidation was found in the sperm of fertile animals in the breeding season. Considering that there were positive correlations between sperm protein oxidation and sperm motility and vitality, these results suggests that the oxidation of semen proteins may be important for sperm function. On the other hand, lipid oxidation in the seminal plasma seemed to be a general indicator for sperm damage. In the non-breeding season positive correlations between lipid and protein oxidation levels in both sperm and seminal plasma and several defects in sperm function were found, but only for subfertile animals, thus suggesting that lipid and protein oxidation may aid in the identification of subfertile stallions during the non-breeding season. Levels of ROS production never seemed to result in compromised sperm DNA integrity, indicating that measurements were within physiological levels and/or that there is an efficient antioxidant activity in stallion sperm cells.
Publication Date: 2007-03-30 PubMed ID: 17451892DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.03.020Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper investigates the links between oxidative stress and DNA damage in horse semen and how these factors can influence fertility. It also explores the differences in these parameters across breeding and non-breeding seasons.
Research Objective and Methodology
- The main purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between oxidative stress, provoked by reactive oxygen species (ROS), and DNA damage in relation to the traditional semen parameters of fertile and subfertile horses.
- Different tests were employed to measure the lipid and protein oxidation levels, specifically the thiobarbituric acid reactive species (TBARS) and the DNPH carbonyl groups assay. DNA damage in the sperm was monitored using the TUNEL assay.
- These tests were done on samples extracted during the breeding and non-breeding seasons.
Findings
- Fertile stallions demonstrated superior traditional semen parameters that improved from the non-breeding to the breeding season. A noticeable increase in sperm production was seen during the breeding season even though this was accompanied by a decline in semen quality in subfertile stallions.
- Regarding oxidation levels, the study found significant differences between lipid and protein oxidation. During the breeding season, lipid oxidation in both sperm and seminal plasma, as well as protein oxidation in seminal plasma, tended to be normalized in both fertile and subfertile animals. Hence, the differences noted during the non-breeding season were no longer evident.
- However, sperm from fertile stallions during the breeding season showed higher levels of protein oxidation. Since a positive link was found between sperm protein oxidation and sperm motility and vitality, it appears that semen protein oxidation could play a crucial role in the proper functioning of sperm.
Implications
- Lipid oxidation in cases of seminal plasma seemed to be a general sign for sperm damage. During the non-breeding season, positive correlations between lipid and protein oxidation levels in both sperm and seminal plasma, and multiple defects in sperm function were observed, but this was only true for subfertile stallions. This suggests that lipid and protein oxidation measurements could help in the identification of subfertile stallions during the non-breeding season.
- Levels of ROS production never seemed to compromise sperm DNA integrity. This suggests that the ROS levels were within normal physiological ranges and/or that there are efficient antioxidant activities in horse sperm cells.
Cite This Article
APA
Morte MI, Rodrigues AM, Soares D, Rodrigues AS, Gamboa S, Ramalho-Santos J.
(2007).
The quantification of lipid and protein oxidation in stallion spermatozoa and seminal plasma: seasonal distinctions and correlations with DNA strand breaks, classical seminal parameters and stallion fertility.
Anim Reprod Sci, 106(1-2), 36-47.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2007.03.020 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Zoology, Center for Neurocience and Cell Biology of Coimbra, University of Coimbra, 3004-517 Coimbra, Portugal.
MeSH Terms
- Acrosome / physiology
- Animals
- Breeding
- DNA Breaks, Double-Stranded
- Fertility / genetics
- Fertility / physiology
- Horses / genetics
- Horses / physiology
- Lipids / analysis
- Male
- Oxidation-Reduction
- Proteins / analysis
- Proteins / metabolism
- Seasons
- Semen / chemistry
- Semen / metabolism
- Spermatozoa / chemistry
- Spermatozoa / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 8 times.- Luño V, Martínez F, Muñoz A, Gil L. Effect of season on the dynamics of cat sperm DNA fragmentation.. BMC Vet Res 2023 Aug 8;19(1):113.
- 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.
- Cecchini Gualandi S, Giangaspero B, Di Palma T, Macchia G, Carluccio A, Boni R. Oxidative profile and protease regulator potential to predict sperm functionality in donkey (Equus asinus).. Sci Rep 2021 Oct 15;11(1):20551.
- Pintus E, Ros-Santaella JL. Impact of Oxidative Stress on Male Reproduction in Domestic and Wild Animals.. Antioxidants (Basel) 2021 Jul 20;10(7).
- Cheraga N, Ouahab A, Shen Y, Huang NP. Characterization and Pharmacokinetic Evaluation of Oxaliplatin Long-Circulating Liposomes.. Biomed Res Int 2021;2021:5949804.
- Ciani F, Maruccio L, Cocchia N, d'Angelo D, Carotenuto D, Avallone L, Namagerdi AA, Tafuri S. Antioxidants in assisted reproductive technologies: An overview on dog, cat, and horse.. J Adv Vet Anim Res 2021 Mar;8(1):173-184.
- Marzano G, Moscatelli N, Di Giacomo M, Martino NA, Lacalandra GM, Dell'Aquila ME, Maruccio G, Primiceri E, Chiriacò MS, Zara V, Ferramosca A. Centrifugation Force and Time Alter CASA Parameters and Oxidative Status of Cryopreserved Stallion Sperm.. Biology (Basel) 2020 Jan 27;9(2).
- Aprioku JS. Pharmacology of free radicals and the impact of reactive oxygen species on the testis.. J Reprod Infertil 2013 Oct;14(4):158-72.
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