Proteomic analysis of ejaculated and epididymal sperm plasma membrane in stallions

• Grant number: 16/12375-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: August 01, 2016
• End date: July 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Veterinary Medicine - Animal Reproduction
• Principal Investigator: Priscilla Nascimento Guasti
• Grantee: Juliana Pedroso Mendes
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FMVZ). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

During ejaculation, the proteins present in the secretion of the accessory glands interact with the surface of the sperm membrane, changing its structure and even its functionality. This study aims to quantify and identify the proteins of the plasma membrane of sperm recovered from the cauda epididymis and ejaculated of stallions. Eight stallions will be submitted to semen collection and then bilateral orchiectomy for recovery spermatozoa from the cauda epididymis. The samples will be submitted to extraction of the sperm membrane proteins and protein quantification. Subsequently, epididymis and ejaculated sperm samples will be submitted to one-dimensional electrophoresis, different expression analysis and protein identification of the bands with mass spectrometry coupled to liquid chromatography (LC ESI-qTOF MS / MS). The analyzes will make it possible to verify in detail the morphological changes that occur in the sperm membrane after coming in contact with the fluid of the accessory glands. Understanding these changes will be an initial step towards a better understanding of male reproductive physiology and, consequently, of the fertilization process. And likewise, serve as a basis for future research and make it possible to obtain markers that allow establishing the stallion's fertilizing potential, and after its validation, can be used in the clinical distinction between fertility and subfertility.