Variations in structural and functional changes of stallion spermatozoa in response to calcium ionophore A23187.
Abstract: Three experiments were conducted to assess the structural and functional changes of stallion spermatozoa in response to the calcium ionophore A23187, and to determine individual variation between stallions. In Experiment 1, changes in the acrosome of spermatozoa exposed to 7.14 microM A23187 for fixed times between 0 and 120 min were examined. There was a steady increase with time in the number of spermatozoa undergoing the acrosome reaction although the rate of increase differed between stallions. Sperm motility decreased sharply when incubation was extended beyond 30 min. In Experiment 2, the ability of ionophore-treated spermatozoa to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs was tested. Percent penetration rates were 75, 50, 28, 27 and 15 for the 5 stallions although the number of swollen sperm heads per penetrated egg (1.7-2.5) did not differ significantly between the stallions. In Experiment 3, the ability of stallion spermatozoa to fertilize zona-intact follicular horse eggs matured in vitro was tested. Semen samples from the 2 stallions that provided the highest and lowest percent acrosome-reacted spermatozoa in Experiment 1, and the highest and lowest penetration rates in Experiment 2, were separated from seminal plasma and treated with 5 microM A23187 for 10 min. The spermatozoa were then washed once and co-incubated with the eggs at 38.5 degrees C for 12-16 h. Swollen sperm heads with associated tails from 1 stallion were found in 8 of 46 eggs fixed after 12-16 h incubation, whereas the corresponding figure for the other stallion was 0/30. It was concluded that considerable individual variation occurs between stallions in the morphological and functional changes exhibited by their spermatozoa in response to treatment with ionophore A23187.
Publication Date: 1991-01-01 PubMed ID: 1795262
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
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 paper reports on a study that examined how horse sperm responds to a chemical compound called calcium ionophore A23187, with findings suggesting there are individual differences in response depending on the horse. The authors conducted a series of three experiments to evaluate changes in sperm structure and function, penetration ability, and fertilization capacity.
Objective of the Study
- The aim of the study was to understand the structural and functional changes in stallion spermatozoa after exposure to calcium ionophore A23187. It also aimed to evaluate individual variations in these reactions between different stallions.
Experiment 1: Acrosome in Spermatozoa
- This experiment evaluated changes in the acrosome, a cap-like structure in the sperm cell’s head, after exposing sperm cells to A23187. The researchers found that the number of sperm cells undergoing the acrosome reaction increased with time, but at different rates between different stallions.
- They also observed that the sperm motility, or its ability to move, sharply decreased when incubation was extended beyond 30 minutes.
Experiment 2: Penetration Ability
- In the second experiment, the researchers tested the ability of ionophore-treated sperm to penetrate zona-free hamster eggs. They found varying penetration rates for the stallions, but the number of swollen sperm heads per penetrated egg was similar across all stallions.
Experiment 3: Fertilization Ability
- The third experiment tested the ability of horse sperm to fertilize horse eggs matured in a lab setting. The researchers removed seminal plasma from the semen samples from two chosen stallions and treated them with A23187. Then the sperm was co-incubated with eggs.
- Results showed a significant difference in fertilization capacity between the two stallions. While swollen sperm heads from one stallion were found in a portion of the eggs, none were found in the eggs incubated with sperm from the other stallion.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that there is a significant individual variation among stallions regarding the changes their sperm cells undergo when exposed to A23187. This included differences in sperm cell acrosome reactions, movement, and the ability to penetrate and fertilize an egg.
Cite This Article
APA
Zhang JJ, Muzs LZ, Boyle MS.
(1991).
Variations in structural and functional changes of stallion spermatozoa in response to calcium ionophore A23187.
J Reprod Fertil Suppl, 44, 199-205.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- TBA Equine Fertility Unit, Newmarket, Suffolk, U.K.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Calcimycin / pharmacology
- Horses / physiology
- Male
- Sperm Count
- Spermatozoa / drug effects
- Spermatozoa / physiology
Grant Funding
- Wellcome Trust
Citations
This article has been cited 0 times.Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
