The role of stallion seminal proteins in fertilisation.
Abstract: Seminal plasma proteins are secretory proteins originating mainly from the epididymis and the accessory sex glands. They are involved in the remodelling of the sperm surface which occurs during sperm transit through the male genital tract and continues later at ejaculation. During this process, collectively called post-testicular sperm maturation, the spermatozoa acquire the ability to fertilise an egg. Seminal plasma proteins have been shown to contribute to early and central steps of the fertilisation sequence, e.g. the establishment of the oviductal sperm reservoir, modulation of capacitation and gamete interaction. The major equine seminal plasma proteins belong to three protein classes, which contain widely occurring protein modules. Fn-2 type proteins are characterised by two or four tandemly arranged Fn-2 modules and have been implicated in the modulation of sperm capacitation. Multiple members of the cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP) have been identified in the male genital tract of a number of species. CRISP proteins have been shown to be involved in various functions related to sperm-oocyte fusion, innate host defense function and ion channel blockage. Spermadhesins occur only in ungulate species. Their carbohydrate- and zona pellucida-binding properties would suggest a role of these proteins in gamete recognition. The major proteins of equine seminal plasma have been isolated and characterised regarding their expression along the male genital tract, protein structure and their functions.
Publication Date: 2005-08-30 PubMed ID: 16125345DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.06.018Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The study reviews the role of proteins in the seminal fluid of stallions and their involvement in the various stages of fertilization. The proteins, primarily emerging from the epididymis and the accessory sex glands, are crucial for sperm maturation and egg fertility.
Role of Seminal Plasma Proteins in Sperm Maturation
- Seminal plasma proteins primary originate from the epididymis and the accessory sex glands.
- These protein secretions are engaged in reshaping the surface of the sperm; this transformation occurs as the sperm travels through the male genital tract and continues following ejaculation – a process known as post-testicular sperm maturation.
- Through this process, sperm acquire the capability to fertilize an egg.
- Early and central stages of fertilization, like setting up the oviductal sperm reservoir, moderating capacitation and the interaction of gametes, benefit from the contribution of seminal plasma proteins.
Classification of Major Equine Seminal Plasma Proteins
- The significant seminal proteins in stallions belong to three classes, each of which consists of commonly occurring protein modules.
- Fn-2 type proteins are characterized by either two or four Fn-2 modules arranged consecutively; they play a role in regulating sperm capacitation.
- Cysteine-rich secretory proteins (CRISP) can be found in the male genital tract of numerous species.
- CRISP proteins contribute to multiple functions related to the fusion of sperm and oocyte, innate host defense, and ion channel blockage.
- Spermadhesin proteins are found exclusively in ungulate species. These proteins, noted for their carbohydrate and zona pellucida-binding properties, likely participate in gamete recognition.
Expression and Characterization of Seminal Plasma Proteins
- The prominent proteins of equine seminal plasma have been separated, isolated and characterized in terms of their expression throughout the male genital tract, protein structure and their various functions.
Cite This Article
APA
Töpfer-Petersen E, Ekhlasi-Hundrieser M, Kirchhoff C, Leeb T, Sieme H.
(2005).
The role of stallion seminal proteins in fertilisation.
Anim Reprod Sci, 89(1-4), 159-170.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anireprosci.2005.06.018 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bünteweg 15, 30559 Hannover, Germany. Edda.Toepfer-petersen@tiho-hannover.de
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cysteine / analysis
- Epididymis / metabolism
- Fertilization / physiology
- Fibronectins / analysis
- Fibronectins / chemistry
- Genitalia, Male / metabolism
- Glycoproteins / chemistry
- Glycoproteins / physiology
- Horses
- Male
- Semen / chemistry
- Seminal Plasma Proteins / analysis
- Seminal Plasma Proteins / chemistry
- Seminal Plasma Proteins / physiology
- Sperm Capacitation
Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- 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.
- Sahoo B, Choudhary RK, Sharma P, Choudhary S, Gupta MK. Significance and Relevance of Spermatozoal RNAs to Male Fertility in Livestock. Front Genet 2021;12:768196.
- Tirpák F, Halo M Jr, Tokárová K, Binkowski LJ, Vašíček J, Svoradová A, Błaszczyk-Altman M, Kováčik A, Tvrdá E, Chrenek P, Lukáč N, Massányi P. Composition of Stallion Seminal Plasma and Its Impact on Oxidative Stress Markers and Spermatozoa Quality. Life (Basel) 2021 Nov 16;11(11).
- Ding Y, Ding N, Zhang Y, Xie S, Huang M, Ding X, Dong W, Zhang Q, Jiang L. MicroRNA-222 Transferred From Semen Extracellular Vesicles Inhibits Sperm Apoptosis by Targeting BCL2L11. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021;9:736864.
- Bubenickova F, Postlerova P, Simonik O, Sirohi J, Sichtar J. Effect of Seminal Plasma Protein Fractions on Stallion Sperm Cryopreservation. Int J Mol Sci 2020 Sep 3;21(17).
- Šichtař J, Bubeníčková F, Sirohi J, Šimoník O. How to Increase Post-Thaw Semen Quality in Poor Freezing Stallions: Preliminary Results of the Promising Role of Seminal Plasma Added after Thawing. Animals (Basel) 2019 Jul 3;9(7).
- Feugang JM, Liao SF, Willard ST, Ryan PL. In-depth proteomic analysis of boar spermatozoa through shotgun and gel-based methods. BMC Genomics 2018 Jan 18;19(1):62.
- Miró J, Martínez-Rodero I, Yeste M, Catalán J. Cryopreservation of Horse Sperm. Methods Mol Biol 2025;2897:193-206.
- Marques JCC, Cezar ARR, do Nascimento AD, da Silva JP, Batista AM, Guerra MMP, Câmara DR. Relationship between Na/K-ATPase in thawed sperm and fertility of Angus bulls. Anim Reprod 2023;20(4):e20220066.
- Egyptien S, Deleuze S, Ledeck J, Ponthier J. Sperm Quality Assessment in Stallions: How to Choose Relevant Assays to Answer Clinical Questions. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 6;13(19).
- Shen Q, Wu X, Chen J, He C, Wang Z, Zhou B, Zhang H. Immune Regulation of Seminal Plasma on the Endometrial Microenvironment: Physiological and Pathological Conditions. Int J Mol Sci 2023 Sep 27;24(19).
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