First insights on seminal extracellular vesicles in chickens of contrasted fertility

Reproduction ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 161 (5) ◽  
pp. 489-498 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Cordeiro ◽  
Hsiu-Lien Herbie Lin ◽  
Anaïs Vitorino Carvalho ◽  
Isabelle Grasseau ◽  
Rustem Uzbekov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Viability ◽  
Protein Markers ◽  
Fertility Status ◽  
Male Subfertility ◽  
Incubation Experiments ◽  
Size Characterization

Male subfertility causes are very varied and sometimes related to post-gonadic maturation disruption, involving seminal plasma constituents. Among them, extracellular vesicles are involved in key exchanges with sperm in mammals. However, in birds, the existence of seminal extracellular vesicles is still debated. The aim of the present work was first to clarify the putative presence of extracellular vesicles in the seminal plasma of chickens, secondly to characterize their size and protein markers in animals showing different fertility, and finally to make preliminary evaluations of their interactions with sperm. We successfully isolated extracellular vesicles from seminal plasma of males showing the highest differences in semen quality and fertility by using ultracentrifugation protocol (pool of 3 ejaculates/rooster, n =3/condition). Size characterization performed by electron microscopy revealed a high proportion of small extracellular vesicles (probably exosomes) in chicken seminal plasma. Smaller extracellular vesicles appeared more abundant in fertile than in subfertile roosters, with a mean diameter of 65.12 and 77.18 nm, respectively. Different protein markers of extracellular vesicles were found by western blotting (n = 6/condition). Among them, HSP90A was significantly more abundant in fertile than in subfertile males. In co-incubation experiments (n = 3/condition), extracellular vesicles enriched seminal fractions of fertile males showed a higher capacity to be incorporated into fertile than into subfertile sperm. Sperm viability and motility were impacted by the presence of extracellular vesicles from fertile males. In conclusion, we successfully demonstrated the presence of extracellular vesicles in chicken seminal plasma, with differential size, protein markers and putative incorporation capacity according to male fertility status.

Gelatinases and their tissue inhibitors are associated with oxidative stress: a potential set of markers connected with male infertility

2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (7) ◽  
pp. 1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa M. Kratz ◽  
Anna Kałuża ◽  
Mirosława Ferens-Sieczkowska ◽  
Beata Olejnik ◽  
Renata Fiutek ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Artificial Insemination ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Reproductive Potential ◽  
Advanced Oxidation Protein Products ◽  
Tissue Inhibitors ◽  
Total Antioxidant ◽  
Infertile Patients

The expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) may be regulated by oxidative stress in various pathophysiological processes; therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyse the associations between the expression of the gelatinases MMP-9 and MMP-2 and their tissue inhibitors TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and levels of total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) in seminal plasma prepared for artificial insemination. Levels of MMPs and TIMPs were evaluated using ELISA, whereas TAC and AOPP in the seminal plasma of 131 childless men and 38 fertile volunteers were determined spectrophotometrically. Seminal MMP-9 expression was higher in childless men than in fertile subjects, whereas there was no significant differences in MMP-2 expression between the analysed seminal groups. TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression was similar in all groups. However, TAC expression was significantly higher in infertile normozoospermic and oligozoospermic men and AOPP expression was higher in astheno-, oligo- and normozoospermic infertile patients than in fertile men. High AOPP, together with an increased MMP-9 : TIMP-1 ratio alters the oxidative–antioxidative balance of the ejaculate, thereby reducing male fertility, and therefore these parameters may serve as additional diagnostic markers of semen quality and male reproductive potential.

scholarly journals Antioxidants Present in Reproductive Tract Fluids and Their Relevance for Fertility

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 1441
Author(s):  
João C. Ribeiro ◽  
Patrícia C. Braga ◽  
Ana D. Martins ◽  
Branca M. Silva ◽  
Marco G. Alves ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Antioxidant Capacity ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Psychological Health ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Female Reproductive Tract ◽  
Fertility Status ◽  
Total Antioxidant ◽  
Crucial Information ◽  
The Individual

Nowadays, infertility is classified as a disease of the reproductive system. Although it does not compromise the life of the individual, it can have detrimental effects on the physiological and psychological health of the couple. Male fertility evaluation is mainly focused on the analysis of sperm parameters. However, the ejaculated fluid is also composed of seminal plasma, and the study of this fluid can provide crucial information to help in the assessment of male fertility status. Total antioxidant capacity of the seminal plasma has been positively correlated with the fertility of men. Moreover, evidence highlights to a similar importance as that of female reproductive tract fluid antioxidant capabilities and female fertility. Herein, we describe the functions of seminal plasma and female reproductive tract fluids, as well as their main antioxidant components and their relationships with fertility outcomes. Additionally, this review contains the most up to date information regarding the mechanisms of the interaction between the male and the female reproductive fluids and the importance of proper antioxidant capacity for fertilization.

scholarly journals MicroRNA-222 Transferred From Semen Extracellular Vesicles Inhibits Sperm Apoptosis by Targeting BCL2L11

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqun Ding ◽  
Ning Ding ◽  
Yu Zhang ◽  
Shenmin Xie ◽  
Mengna Huang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Sperm Motility ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Proteomic Analysis ◽  
Transcriptome Sequencing ◽  
Sperm Viability ◽  
Whole Transcriptome Sequencing ◽  
Boar Semen ◽  
Whole Transcriptome

Seminal plasma contains a large number of extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, the roles of these EVs and their interactions with sperm are not clear. To identify the important molecules affecting sperm motility in EVs, we analyzed RNA from seminal plasma EVs of boars with different sperm motility using whole-transcriptome sequencing and proteomic analysis. In total, 7 miRNAs, 67 lncRNAs, 126 mRNAs and 76 proteins were differentially expressed between the two groups. We observed that EV-miR-222 can obviously improve sperm motility. In addition, the results suggested that miR-222 was transferred into sperm by the EVs and that miR-222 affected sperm apoptosis by inhibiting the expression of EGFR, BCL2L11, BAX, CYCs, CASP9 and CASP3. The results of electron microscopy also showed that overexpression of miR-222 in EVs could reduce sperm apoptosis. The study of the whole transcriptomes and proteomes of EVs in boar semen revealed some miRNAs may play an important role in these EVs interactions with Duroc sperm, and the findings suggest that the release of miR-222 by semen EVs is an important mechanism by which sperm viability is maintained and sperm apoptosis is reduced. Our studies provide a new insight of miR-222 in EVs regulation for sperm motility and sperm apoptosis.

scholarly journals Seminal Plasma Analysis of Oxidative Stress in Different Genitourinary Topographical Regions Involved in Reproductive Tract Disorders Associated with Genital Heat Stress

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (17) ◽  
pp. 6427
Author(s):  
Monika Fraczek ◽  
Lukasz Wojnar ◽  
Marzena Kamieniczna ◽  
Malgorzata Piasecka ◽  
Kamil Gill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Heat Stress ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Biochemical Parameters ◽  
Reproductive Tract ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Local Heat ◽  
Accessory Gland ◽  
Male Subfertility ◽  
Alpha Glucosidase

The pathophysiological mechanisms responsible for male subfertility/infertility caused by or complicated by genital heat stress remains unclear in many respects. Because seminal plasma creates the environment for the proper functioning of spermatozoa, in this study, we verified the associations among standard spermiograms, seminal biochemical parameters (neutral alpha-glucosidase, fructose, and citric acid) and oxidative stress markers (total antioxidant capacity, catalase activity, superoxide dismutase activity, and malondialdehyde concentration) in distinct entities associated with male infertility with and without long-time exposure to local hyperthermia. We demonstrated that men exposed to prolonged environmental or clinically recognized local heat stress in adulthood may suffer from dysregulation of seminal antioxidant components, which can be directly associated with epididymal and prostate function. The comparative analysis of the studied parameters showed numerous correlations among all biochemical parameters (particularly neutral alpha-glucosidase) with low standard semen quality in almost all the investigated infertile groups. In light of the data obtained in this originally designed study, we conclude that more attention should be paid to the epididymis and accessory gland function in subfertile and infertile men exposed to genital heat stress, especially in the context of novel treatment algorithms (targeted therapies).

scholarly journals CHARACTERIZATION OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES FROM HUMAN SEMINAL PLASMA BY HIGH-RESOLUTION FLOW CYTOMETRY: NOVEL BIOMARKERS FOR MALE FERTILITY?

2021 ◽  
Vol 116 (3) ◽  
pp. e339-e340
Author(s):  
Lucía Sánchez S-Mellado ◽  
Alberto Alvarez-Barrientos ◽  
Juan A. Garcia-Velasco ◽  
Soraya Rubio ◽  
Alberto Pacheco
Keyword(s):  
Flow Cytometry ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Human Seminal Plasma ◽  
Novel Biomarkers

scholarly journals Sexually dimorphic traits and male fertility in a paper wasp

2020 ◽  
Vol 130 (3) ◽  
pp. 555-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
André Rodrigues de Souza ◽  
Eduardo Fernando Santos ◽  
Fábio Santos Do Nascimento ◽  
Roscoe Stanyon ◽  
José Lino-Neto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Paper Wasp ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Sperm Viability ◽  
Large Body Size ◽  
Sexual Traits

Abstract Females of many social Hymenoptera commit their reproductive potential to a single male; they mate once and never re-mate. Sexual selection theory predicts that under this regimen female precopulatory mate choice is crucial. The targets of female choice, male secondary sexual traits, should convey information about the functional fertility of the male. Here, we evaluated semen quality and its correlates in the paper wasp Polistes dominula, a monandric species with a lek-based mating system. The main goal of the study was to test whether sperm viability and the total number of sperm covaried with sexually dimorphic abdominal spots, body size and parasitic infection by Xenos vesparum. Surprisingly, superior male fertility was not predicted by attractive sexual traits, such as little round spots and large body size. We also found no effect of the parasite on male fertility, sexual ornamentation or body size. We found only that sperm viability was positively associated with the number of sperm. Moreover, there was evidence of a counterintuitive relationship between (sexually unattractive) large irregular spots and large body size of dominant successful males. Overall, our results suggest a condition-dependent trade-off between body size and costly sexual signals.

scholarly journals Urinary Bisphenol A, F and S Levels and Semen Quality in Young Adult Danish Men

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1742
Author(s):  
Thea Emily Benson ◽  
Anne Gaml-Sørensen ◽  
Andreas Ernst ◽  
Nis Brix ◽  
Karin Sørig Hougaard ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Bisphenol A ◽  
Male Fertility ◽  
Parental Education ◽  
Negative Binomial ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Count ◽  
Smoking Status ◽  
Sperm Concentration ◽  
First Trimester ◽  
Negative Binomial Regression Model

Bisphenol A (BPA) is considered an endocrine disruptor and has been associated with deleterious effects on spermatogenesis and male fertility. Bisphenol F (BPF) and S (BPS) are structurally similar to BPA, but knowledge of their effects on male fertility remains limited. In this cross–sectional study, we investigated the associations between exposure to BPA, BPF, and BPS and semen quality in 556 men 18–20 years of age from the Fetal Programming of Semen Quality (FEPOS) cohort. A urine sample was collected from each participant for determination of BPA, BPF, and BPS concentrations while a semen sample was collected to determine ejaculate volume, sperm concentration, total sperm count, sperm motility, and sperm morphology. Associations between urinary bisphenol levels (continuous and quartile–divided) and semen characteristics were estimated using a negative binomial regression model adjusting for urine creatinine concentration, alcohol intake, smoking status, body mass index (BMI), fever, sexual abstinence time, maternal pre–pregnancy BMI, and first trimester smoking, and highest parental education during first trimester. We found no associations between urinary bisphenol of semen quality in a sample of young men from the general Danish population.

scholarly journals Macro- and microelements in serum and seminal plasma as biomarkers for bull sperm cryotolerance

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Zakošek Pipan ◽  
Petra Zrimšek ◽  
Breda Jakovac Strajn ◽  
Katarina Pavšič Vrtač ◽  
Tanja Knific ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Seminal Plasma ◽  
Semen Quality ◽  
Sperm Quality ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Quality Characteristics ◽  
Freezing And Thawing ◽  
Additional Tool ◽  
Bull Semen ◽  
Bull Sperm ◽  
Fresh Semen

ABSTRACT Background Wide variation in fertility rates is observed when using frozen bull semen, even when the bulls have met quality standards for semen production. Therefore, a simple and reliable test to assess the freezing potential of bull semen based on the analysis of fresh semen or blood would be of great value. Attention is now turning to assessment of seminal plasma components such as proteins and elements. In the present study, the concentrations of macro- and microelements in fresh bull semen plasma and in serum and their correlation with quality characteristics of fresh semen and with semen quality after freezing and thawing were determined. Ejaculates were collected from 30 mature bulls, and semen volume, concentration, sperm motility, morphology, tail membrane integrity, plasma membrane permeability and DNA fragmentation were determined on the day of collection and after freezing and thawing. The concentrations of macroelements (Na, Mg, K and Ca) and microelements (Cu, Fe, Zn and Se) were determined in the seminal plasma and serum. The semen samples were classified into satisfactory and unsatisfactory groups according to the fresh semen quality. Results Zinc and Se levels measured in serum were associated with almost all fresh and frozen-thawed semen quality characteristics, while Fe levels were associated only with acrosomal defects in fresh semen. Zinc and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma were associated with various quality characteristics of fresh and frozen-thawed semen, while Se level in fresh seminal plasma was not associated with any of the semen quality characteristics. Conclusions Microelements were shown to be useful as biomarkers involved in the analysis of bull sperm quality and could be used as an additional tool to predict bull semen quality after freezing and thawing. Our results confirm that the analysis of Zn and Se levels in serum and Zn, Cu and Fe levels in fresh seminal plasma can provide information to discriminate between bull semen samples with spermatozoa with high or low cryotolerance.

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