The Relationship of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Reactive Oxygen Species, Adenosine Triphosphate Content, Sperm Plasma Membrane Integrity, and Kinematic Properties in Warmblood Stallions.
Abstract: Equine sperm possesses a unique physiology because its energy supply is mostly dependent on oxidative phosphorylation of mitochondria as an aerobic source of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) generation. The present study was, therefore, conducted to investigate the relationship between sperm kinematic and functional variables in stallions. Semen samples were collected from five warmblood stallions (three ejaculates from each stallion), diluted with INRA96 and transferred to the laboratory. Next, sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), production of superoxide anion (as a reactive oxygen species; ROS), ATP content, and plasma membrane integrity were assessed. Motion and functional characteristics differed among investigated stallions (P < .05). In addition, it was revealed MMP was positively correlated with the level of ROS and ATP content and progressive motility (P < .05). The level of ROS was positively correlated with ATP content and negatively correlated with plasma membrane integrity and straightness (P < .05). Adenosine triphosphate content was positively correlated with progressive motility, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, and beat cross frequency and reversely correlated with plasma membrane integrity and straightness (P < .05). Plasma membrane integrity was positively correlated with straight line velocity, linearity, and straightness and negatively correlated with curvilinear velocity (P < .01). In conclusion, the present study substantiated that kinematic and functional characteristics varied among various warmblood stallions. Furthermore, the present study implicated although higher mitochondrial activity increases ATP synthesis, it leads to elevated superoxide anion production, which could culminate in disintegration of the sperm plasma membrane, thereby altering motion characteristics and swimming pattern of sperm.
Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2020-09-17 PubMed ID: 33077084DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103267Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research paper tackles the relationship between functional and kinematic properties of equine sperm in warmblood stallions, and how these properties are affected by factors such as ATP content, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species, and sperm plasma membrane integrity.
Study Methodology
- The researchers collected semen samples from five warmblood stallions, with three ejaculates from each.
- The samples were diluted and transferred to the lab for further investigation.
- The study aimed to assess sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), ATP content, and plasma membrane integrity, as well as the production of superoxide anion as a reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Findings
- The investigation revealed variances among the stallions in terms of functional and motion characteristics.
- The mitochondrial membrane potential was found to have a positive correlation with the ROS level, ATP content, and progressive motility.
- The ROS level was positively correlated with ATP content, although inversely related to the plasma membrane integrity and straightness.
- ATP content was found to positively correlate with motility, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, and beat cross frequency, while it negatively correlated with plasma membrane integrity and straightness.
- Lastly, the plasma membrane integrity was positively linked with straight line velocity, linearity, and straightness but negatively correlated with curvilinear velocity.
Conclusion
- The research concluded that functional and kinematic characteristics varied among different warmblood stallions.
- It also implicated that increased mitochondrial activity, while beneficial for ATP synthesis, could lead to the production of more superoxide anions, potentially resulting in sperm plasma membrane disintegration. This then alters the motion characteristics and swimming pattern of the sperm.
Cite This Article
APA
Akbarinejad V, Fathi R, Shahverdi A, Esmaeili V, Rezagholizadeh A, Ghaleno LR.
(2020).
The Relationship of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential, Reactive Oxygen Species, Adenosine Triphosphate Content, Sperm Plasma Membrane Integrity, and Kinematic Properties in Warmblood Stallions.
J Equine Vet Sci, 94, 103267.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2020.103267 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: rfathi79@royaninstitute.org.
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.
- Department of Embryology, Reproductive Biomedicine Research Center, Royan Institute for Reproductive Biomedicine, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
MeSH Terms
- Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
- Animals
- Biomechanical Phenomena
- Cell Membrane / metabolism
- Horses
- Male
- Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial
- Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism
- Sperm Motility
- Spermatozoa / metabolism
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Dziekońska A, Neuman NM, Burdal KK, Wiszniewska-Łaszczych A, Bogdaszewski M. The Effect of Different Extenders on the Quality Characteristics of European Red Deer Epididymal Sperm Stored at 5 °C. Animals (Basel) 2022 Oct 4;12(19).
- Liu Y, Zhang H, Meng Q, Min L, Zhang M, Adetunji AO, Li W, Zhu Z. Nicotinamide Mononucleotide Enhances Boar Sperm Quality via Maintaining Mitochondrial Function During Liquid Storage. Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 22;15(23).
- Boni R, Ruggiero R, De Luca F, Serritella ML, Di Palma T, Cecchini Gualandi S. Repeatability of Selected Parameters Related to Stallion Sperm Quality and Cryotolerance. Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 26;15(19).
- Zhao X, Tian Y, Zhou D, Tang X, Zhou X, Wang X, He Y, Yu P, Huang J, Tan Y, Duan P. scRNA-seq deciphers molecular mechanisms of endocrine disruptor 4-nonylphenol impairing spermatogenesis in mice. Cell Biol Toxicol 2025 Oct 3;41(1):134.
- Selvaraju S, Gowda NKS, Krishnappa B, Binsila BK, Athira T, Heena HS, Manjunatha AT, Sahoo A. Boron Protects Sperm Functional Attributes During Cryopreservation of Bull Semen. Biol Trace Elem Res 2026 Jan;204(1):268-276.
- Keyser S, Marcu D, Davidse MTD, Bennett M, Petrik L, Maree L. Human sperm as an in vitro toxicity model: a versatile tool for assessing the risk of environmental contaminants. Arch Toxicol 2025 Jul;99(7):2937-2952.
- Boni R, Ruggiero R, Di Palma T, Ferrara MA, Preziosi G, Cecchini Gualandi S. Stallion Sperm Freezing with Different Extenders: Role of Antioxidant Activity and Nitric Oxide Production. Animals (Basel) 2024 Aug 25;14(17).
- Johannisson A, Morrell JM, Ntallaris T. A combination of biomarkers for predicting stallion sperm fertility. Vet Res Commun 2024 Aug;48(4):2157-2169.
- Yang Y, Yang R, Deng F, Yang L, Yang G, Liu Y, Tian Q, Wang Z, Li A, Shang L, Cheng G, Zhang L. Immunoactivation by Cutaneous Blue Light Irradiation Inhibits Remote Tumor Growth and Metastasis. ACS Pharmacol Transl Sci 2024 Apr 12;7(4):1055-1068.
- Zhu Z, Zhao H, Yang Q, Li Y, Wang R, Adetunji AO, Min L. β-Nicotinamide mononucleotide improves chilled ram sperm quality in vitro by reducing oxidative stress damage. Anim Biosci 2024 May;37(5):852-861.
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