The Presence of Seminal Plasma during Liquid Storage of Pig Spermatozoa at 17 degrees C Modulates Their Ability to Elicit In Vitro Capacitation and Trigger Acrosomal Exocytosis

Author(s)

Pinoti Pavaneli, Ana Paula ^{[1, 2, 3]} ; Recuero, Sandra ^{[1, 2]} ; Resende Chaves, Bruna ^{[1, 2, 4]} ; Garcia-Bonavila, Estela ^{[1, 2]} ; Llavanera, Marc ^{[1, 2]} ; Pinart, Elisabeth ^{[1, 2]} ; etBon, Sergi ^{[1, 2]} ; Cesar De Andrade, Andre Furugen ^[3] ; Yeste, Marc ^{[1, 2]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Girona, Inst Food & Agr Technol, Biotechnol Anim & Human Reprod TechnoSperm, ES-17003 Girona - Spain

^[2] Univ Girona, Fac Sci, Dept Biol, Unit Cell Biol, E-17003 Girona - Spain

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Dept Anim Reprod, Lab Androl & Technol Swine Embryos, BR-13635900 Pirassununga - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Lavras, Dept Vet Med, BR-37200000 Lavras - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES; v. 21, n. 12 JUN 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Although seminal plasma is essential to maintain sperm integrity and function, it is diluted/removed prior to liquid storage and cryopreservation in most mammalian species. This study sought to evaluate, using the pig as a model, whether storing semen in the presence of seminal plasma affects the sperm ability to elicit in vitro capacitation and acrosomal exocytosis. Upon collection, seminal plasma was separated from sperm samples, which were diluted in a commercial extender, added with seminal plasma (15% or 30%), and stored at 17 degrees C for 48 or 72 h. Sperm cells were subsequently exposed to capacitating medium for 4 h, and then added with progesterone to induce acrosomal exocytosis. Sperm motility, acrosome integrity, membrane lipid disorder, intracellular Ca(2+)levels, mitochondrial activity, and tyrosine phosphorylation levels of glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3)alpha/beta were determined after 0, 2, and 4 h of incubation, and after 5, 30, and 60 min of progesterone addition. Results showed that storing sperm at 17 degrees C with 15% or 30% seminal plasma led to reduced percentages of viable spermatozoa exhibiting an exocytosed acrosome, mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular Ca(2+)levels stained by Fluo3, and tyrosine phosphorylation levels of GSK3 alpha/beta after in vitro capacitation and progesterone-induced acrosomal exocytosis. Therefore, the direct contact between spermatozoa and seminal plasma during liquid storage at 17 degrees C modulated their ability to elicit in vitro capacitation and undergo acrosomal exocytosis, via signal transduction pathways involving Ca(2+)and Tyr phosphorylation of GSK3 alpha/beta. Further research is required to address whether such a modulating effect has any impact upon sperm fertilizing ability. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 16/02186-2 - Influence of seminal plasma from rich fraction of boar ejaculated on capacitation and hyperactivation of the swine sperm stored at 17ºC for 72 hours
• Grantee: Ana Paula Pinoti Pavaneli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 17/20419-7 - Influence of seminal plasma during cooling of boar spermatozoa on dna integrity, sperm subpopulations and calcium influx under in vitro capacitation.
• Grantee: Ana Paula Pinoti Pavaneli
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• FAPESP's process: 15/14258-5 - Influence of seminal plasma from the rich fraction of boar ejaculate on structural characteristics, kinetics, capacitation and fertility of the swine spermatozoa stored at 17°C for 72 hours
• Grantee: André Furugen Cesar de Andrade
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants