323 POSSIBLE BENEFICIAL EFFECT OF REACTIVE OXYGEN SPECIES ON BOAR SPERM FUNCTION

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 317
Author(s):  
C. H. C. Viana ◽  
M. Nichi ◽  
R. O. C. Silva ◽  
E. G. A. Perez ◽  
R. N. Garcia ◽  
...  

Boar spermatozoa are sensitive to the attack of reactive oxygen species (ROS) due to the high content of unsaturated fatty acids in its plasma membrane and the relative low antioxidant capacity of boar seminal plasma. The benefical effect of antioxidant supplementation to the semen of boars is still a matter of debate, with different results in the literature, probably due to the empirical methods used to determine the more adequate antioxidant, and to the physiological role or the ROS. The aim of the present experiment was to study which ROS is the most deleterious to the boar sperm. Sperm samples from 4 boars were collected by digital manipulation. Sperm samples were then incubated (1 h, 37°C) with 4 ROS inducer mechanisms: xanthine/xanthine oxidase (produces superoxide anion), hydrogen peroxide (4 mM), ascorbate/ferrous sulfate (4 mM; produced hydroxyl radical), and malondialdehyde (lipid peroxidation product). Samples were analyzed for the 3-3′ diaminobenzidine stain, as an index of mitochondrial activity; the eosin/nigrosin staining, as an index of membrane integrity; the simple stain (fast green/Bengal rose), as an index of acrosome integrity; and the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), as an index of lipid peroxidation. Results showed that the boar sperm is relatively resistant to all ROS studied in the present experiment. Only for the percentage of sperm showing intact membrane, a difference was found between incubation with superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical (Table 1). The TBARS production was higher in samples incubated with hydroxyl radical, indicating that these samples were more susceptible to the attack of this ROS. Surprisingly, a positive correlation was found between TBARS and membrane integrity (r = 0.51, P = 0.04), indicating that samples more susceptible to the oxidative stress showed higher membrane integrity. A hypothesis to explain such conflicting results would be the physiological role of the ROS on several spermatic events, especially in this particular species. It is well known that boar semen, in order to achieve ideal motility, requires aerobic conditions. Further studies are necessary to study the effect of each ROS on each physiological or pathological event on boar sperm function. Table 1.Effect of different ROS in boar semen The authors thank Nutricell for the media used in the present experiment.

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 175
Author(s):  
E. G. A. Perez ◽  
M. Nichi ◽  
F. A. Oliveira Neto ◽  
R. O. C. Silva ◽  
A. Dalmazzo ◽  
...  

Ram sperm membrane displays a particular lipid composition, especially regarding the high quantity of polyunsaturated cholesterol. This trait improves membrane fluidity; however, the spermatozoa become more susceptible to the attack of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which may lead to structural and functional damage, impairment or even impeded fecundity. The aim of the present experiment was to study the resistance of ovine spermatozoa to different ROS. Sperm samples from 4 rams were collected using an artificial vagina. Sperm samples were then incubated (1 h, 37°C) with four ROS inducer mechanisms: xanthine/xanthine oxidase (produces superoxide anion), hydrogen peroxide (4 mM), ascorbate/ferrous sulfate (4 mM; produces hydroxyl radical), and malondialdehyde (MDA, lipid peroxidation product). Samples were analysed using the 3-3′ diamino benzidine (DAB) stain as an index of mitochondrial activity, the eosin nigrosin stain as an index of membrane integrity; the simple stain (fast green/Bengal rose) as an index of acrosome integrity; and the measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid peroxidation. Results showed that acrosome and membrane integrity as well as mitochondrial potential were highly impaired by hydrogen peroxide, which was not the case for the other ROS (Table 1). Surprisingly, TBARS production was higher in samples incubated with ascorbate and ferrous sulfate (hydroxyl radical). Furthermore, sperm showing impaired mitochondrial potential were negatively correlated with membrane and acrosome integrities (r = -0.83, P < 0.0001 and r = -0.62, P = 0.01, respectively). Results of the present experiment suggest that semen of rams is extremely susceptible to attack by hydrogen peroxide. However, the mechanism by which this substance impairs sperm quality apparently does not involve oxidative stress, because no increase in TBARS was observed. Despite the necessity of further studies to investigate how hydrogen peroxide negatively influences sperm function, the use of catalase and glutathione peroxidase, important hydrogen peroxide scavengers, appears to be an alternative to improve the quality of ram sperm. Table 1.Effect of different reactive oxygen species in semen of rams The authors thank Nutricell for the media used in the experiment and CAPES for financial support.


2004 ◽  
Vol 286 (5) ◽  
pp. C1152-C1158 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. McArdle ◽  
J. van der Meulen ◽  
G. L. Close ◽  
D. Pattwell ◽  
H. Van Remmen ◽  
...  

Contractions of skeletal muscles produce increases in concentrations of superoxide anions and activity of hydroxyl radicals in the extracellular space. The sources of these reactive oxygen species are not clear. We tested the hypothesis that, after a demanding isometric contraction protocol, the major source of superoxide and hydroxyl radical activity in the extracellular space of muscles is mitochondrial generation of superoxide anions and that, with a reduction in MnSOD activity, concentration of superoxide anions in the extracellular space is unchanged but concentration of hydroxyl radicals is decreased. For gastrocnemius muscles from adult (6–8 mo old) wild-type ( Sod2+/+) mice and knockout mice heterozygous for the MnSOD gene ( Sod2+/-), concentrations of superoxide anions and hydroxyl radical activity were measured in the extracellular space by microdialysis. A 15-min protocol of 180 isometric contractions induced a rapid, equivalent increase in reduction of cytochrome c as an index of superoxide anion concentrations in the extracellular space of Sod2+/+ and Sod2+/- mice, whereas hydroxyl radical activity measured by formation of 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate from salicylate increased only in the extracellular space of muscles of Sod2+/+ mice. The lack of a difference in increase in superoxide anion concentration in the extracellular space of Sod2+/+ and Sod2+/- mice after the contraction protocol supported the hypothesis that superoxide anions were not directly derived from mitochondria. In contrast, the data obtained suggest that the increase in hydroxyl radical concentration in the extracellular space of muscles from wild-type mice after the contraction protocol most likely results from degradation of hydrogen peroxide generated by MnSOD activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 3734-3744 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsin-Se Hsieh ◽  
Richard G. Zepp

Increases in the production and applications of graphene oxide (GO), coupled with reports of its toxic effects, are raising concerns about its health and ecological risks.


2010 ◽  
Vol 76 (24) ◽  
pp. 7918-7924 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Mendes-Ferreira ◽  
Belém Sampaio-Marques ◽  
Catarina Barbosa ◽  
Fernando Rodrigues ◽  
Vítor Costa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Throughout alcoholic fermentation, nitrogen depletion is one of the most important environmental stresses that can negatively affect the yeast metabolic activity and ultimately leads to fermentation arrest. Thus, the identification of the underlying effects and biomarkers of nitrogen limitation is valuable for controlling, and therefore optimizing, alcoholic fermentation. In this study, reactive oxygen species (ROS), plasma membrane integrity, and cell cycle were evaluated in a wine strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae during alcoholic fermentation in nitrogen-limiting medium under anaerobic conditions. The results indicated that nitrogen limitation leads to an increase in ROS and that the superoxide anion is a minor component of the ROS, but there is increased activity of both Sod2p and Cta1p. Associated with these effects was a decrease in plasma membrane integrity and a persistent cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phases. Moreover, under these conditions it appears that autophagy, evaluated by ATG8 expression, is induced, suggesting that this mechanism is essential for cell survival but does not prevent the cell cycle arrest observed in slow fermentation. Conversely, nitrogen refeeding allowed cells to reenter cell cycle by decreasing ROS generation and autophagy. Altogether, the results provide new insights on the understanding of wine fermentations under nitrogen-limiting conditions and further indicate that ROS accumulation, evaluated by the MitoTracker Red dye CM-H2XRos, and plasma membrane integrity could be useful as predictive markers of fermentation problems.


2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjet van Wienen ◽  
Anders Johannisson ◽  
Margareta Wallgren ◽  
Joyce Parlevliet ◽  
Jane M. Morrell

The objective of this study was to scale-up the procedure for Single Layer Centrifugation (SLC) through AndrocollTM-P, as a preliminary step towords processing the whole ejaculate. The first experiment compared Single Layer Centrifugation using 4.5 mL and 15 mL extended ejaculate (SLC-4.5 and SLC-15, resp.), assessing sperm quality by objective motility analysis, morphology, viability, and the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In the second experiment, SLC-4.5 was compared to Single Layer Centrifugation with 25 mL extended ejaculate (SLC-25) using motility analysis and morphology. In both experiments, normal morphology and linear motility were significantly higher in the SLC-selected samples than in the uncentrifuged controls (P<.001), whereas total motility and membrane integrity were unchanged. Although ROS production was higher in the SLC-selected samples than in the controls (P<.01), this might have been due to the presence of antioxidants in seminal plasma in the latter. In conclusion, there was no difference in sperm quality between SLC-4.5 and SLC-15 samples, or between SLC-4.5 and SLC-25 samples, indicating that the SLC method can be scaled-up successfully.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qingda Wang ◽  
Zhigang Chen ◽  
Xi Zhang ◽  
Yuping Xin ◽  
Yongzhen Xia ◽  
...  

During aerobic respiration, mitochondria generate superoxide anion (O2&middot−), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and hydroxyl radical (HO·), and these reactive oxygen species (ROS) are detrimental to mitochondria. Mitochondrial damage is linked to a broad spectrum of pathologies such as Alzheimer's disease, hemochromatosis, and diabetes. Mitochondria contain several enzymes for rapidly removing superoxide anion and hydrogen peroxide, but how they antagonize HO· is elusive, representing a loophole in the anti-ROS system. Herein, we discovered that Rhodanese 2 (Rdl2) is critical for maintaining the functionality and integrity of mitochondria under sub-lethal ROS stress in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Rdl2 converts stable sulfur species (thiosulfate and dialkyl polysulfide) to reactive sulfane sulfur including persulfide that protects mitochondrial DNA via scavenging HO·. Surprisingly, hydrogen sulfide (H2S) promotes HO· production through stimulating the Fenton reaction, leading to increased DNA damage. Our study may reveal an ex-ante mean for antagonizing HO·, patching the loophole of the anti-ROS system in mitochondria.


Author(s):  
Sharmada Swaminath ◽  
Atul Pradhan ◽  
Rashmi Ravindran Nair ◽  
Parthasarathi Ajitkumar

ABSTRACTA classic example of antibiotic inactivating function in bacteria is the Mycobacterium smegmatis (Msm) encoded rifampicin-inactivating mono-ADP-ribosyl transferase (arr). Since its probable biological role has been proposed to be in DNA damage response, which is inflicted by reactive oxygen species (ROS), in the present study, we examined whether Msm Arr influences ROS levels. For this purpose, the levels of the ROS, hydroxyl radical and superoxide, were determined in the mid-log phase (MLP) cells of Msm arr knockout (arr-KO) strain, in comparison to those in the equivalently grown Msm arr+ wild-type (WT) strain. The MLP arr-KO cells generated significantly elevated levels of superoxide and hydroxyl radical, unlike the equivalently grown WT MLP cells. Complementation of arr-KO with arr, but not with empty vector, restored the ROS levels comparable to those in the WT strain. Elevated ROS levels in the arr-KO strain enabled selection of rifampicin-resistant mutants at 10-7 cfu/ml from the rifampicin-unexposed MLP cells of arr-KO, which is one-log10 higher than that for WT cells (10-8). Upon prolonged exposure to rifampicin, the susceptibility, persister formation, generation of elevated levels of hydroxyl radical by the persisters, rifampicin-resister generation frequency of the persisters and regrowth of the rifampicin-resistant mutants from the respective persisters were all comparable between the arr-KO and WT strains. These observations revealed that Arr influences ROS levels in the actively growing M. smegmatis cells but not in the rifampicin-exposed cells. We proposed the probable pathway through which Arr might be influencing ROS levels in the actively growing M. smegmatis cells.IMPORTANCEDiverse genera of bacteria consisting of pathogens, opportunistic pathogens and non-pathogens, possess Arr-type activities that confer equally efficient rifampicin resistance, thereby posing serious health hazard. Acquisition of this function by other bacteria through horizontal gene transfer enhances the hazard posed by the bacteria possessing it. M. smegmatis is an opportunistic human pathogen that causes infections of skin and soft tissues. Moreover, M. smegmatis is a genetically tractable model organism for M. tuberculosis with the potential to function even as tuberculosis vaccine. In view of these significant aspects of Arr and M. smegmatis, the study to find out the natural physiological role of Arr in M. smegmatis, gains importance for designing strategies to prevent antibiotic inactivation and to target the cellular function to contain the bacterium. Above all, the three-dimensional structure of M. smegmatis Arr reveals significant structural homology with eukaryotic ADP-ribosyltransferases and bacterial toxins, thereby giving the study broad significance.


2011 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 215
Author(s):  
A. Dalmazzo ◽  
P. A. A. Góes ◽  
M. Nichi ◽  
R. O. C. Silva ◽  
J. R. C. Gurgel ◽  
...  

Due to the importance of dogs to humans, there is increasing interest in breeders in the use of reproductive biotechnologies. However, most of the biotechnologies would require the removal or dilution of the seminal plasma, which is known to exert both beneficial and deleterious effects on sperm quality. One of the beneficial effects of seminal plasma would be the antioxidant protection because sperm are particularly susceptible to oxidative stress, mainly due to the reduced cytoplasm and the high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids in their membrane. An alternative to overcome the injuries caused by oxidative stress is the antioxidant treatment, which requires the identification of those reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are the most deleterious. The aim of this study was to identify the most harmful ROS to dog semen. Semen samples from 6 adult dogs were collected and centrifuged. Seminal plasma (SP) was removed and samples were incubated (1 h, 37°C) with 4 ROS-inducing mechanisms: xanthine/xanthine oxidase (produces superoxide anion), hydrogen peroxide (4 mM), ascorbate and ferrous sulfate (4 mM; produces hydroxyl radical) alone or with additional SP. Samples were analysed for motility by computer assisted sperm analysis (CASA). The 3-3′ diaminobenzidine stain was used as an index of mitochondrial activity, the eosin nigrosin stain as an index of membrane integrity, the simple stain (fast green/Bengal rose) as an index of acrosome integrity, sperm chromatin structure assay (SCSA) as an index of DNA fragmentation, and measurement of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) as an index of lipid peroxidation. Statistical analysis was performed using the SAS System for Windows (SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA; least significant differences test and Spearman correlation; P < 0.05). Results showed that dog sperm is differentially modulated depending on the presence of SP. In addition, damage to the different sperm structures depended on the different ROS. Samples incubated with SP showed no differences concerning TBARS (1 233 in SP, 1 260 in Tris; P = 0.99). On the other hand, samples incubated without SP showed higher lipid peroxidation when treated with hydroxyl radical compared with the other ROS. Furthermore, although hydroxyl radical mostly altered mitochondrial activity in samples incubated with SP (DAB IV = 4.3%; P < 0.05 against all other ROS), the most significant ROS in samples incubated without SP was hydrogen peroxide (DAB IV = 4.7%; P < 0.05 against all other ROS). Superoxide anion was less harmful to acrosome integrity in samples incubated with SP and to motility in samples incubated without SP. The present results suggest that seminal plasma may play an important role in the susceptibility of dog sperm to oxidative stress. Moreover, the results indicate that different sperm compartments are susceptible to different ROS. It is concluded that the quality of frozen–thawed dog semen may be improved by treating with a combination of different antioxidants to destroy the chain reaction causing the oxidative stress. FAPESP is acknowledged for financial support.


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