Effect of packaging method on quality and functional parameters in cryopreserved porcine spermatozoa with alpha tocopherol

Objectives: Evaluate the effect of the packaging method in porcine semen cryopreserved with α-tocopherol on quality and functional sperm parameters. In porcine production, although the use of frozen semen is very limited, there are obvious advantages to use this technology. Material and Methods: Sperm samples were cryopreserved in pellets or straws with or without α-tocopherol and quality and functional parameters were determined in all groups. Results: As regards quality parameters, a significant individual effect was observed, with a similar behavior despite the packaging system evaluated. The same results were obtained in functional tests. Both packaging systems, pellets and straws, showed a similar behavior with respect to the effect of the antioxidant α-tocopherol on the quality and functional sperm parameters. Interestingly, the better results were obtained in pellets than in straws. Conclusion: The results obtained allow us to suppose that this efficient, economical and simple method, with little expensive equipment or supplies, can be used to cryopreserve boar spermatozoa for research. In fact, since the results have been better in tablets, if identification and storage problems of pellets were solved, this freezing method could be used for production purposes.

Pores Formation in Porcine Sperm Incubated in Streptolysin O and Its Post Thawing Viability after Trehalose Treatment

Background: Streptolysin O (SLO), a pore-forming protein in plasma membrane (PM), has been used to internalize a variety of molecules (DNA and RNA) in cells. In sperm, however, SLO has only been used to release acrosomal contents. Its possible use as biotechnology in the cryopreservation of pig semen. However, porcine sperm are very sensitive to the freeze-thaw process. The study aimed to evaluate the pore formation in the PM, the addition of trehalose and the post cryopreservation viability of porcine spermatozoa using SLO.Methods: Research period was spring 2017- summer 2018. Thirty ejaculates from five mature boars were used. Semen was incubated in SLO 0.6 IU/ml and trehalose (added at 100, 200 and 400 ìM). Semen diluted in commercial diluent as control group. Presence of pores was checked by scanning electronic microscopy. To evaluate sperm membrane integrity and functional status the Coomassie stain with HOST test and the Chlortetracycline test were used. Result: It was found that SLO could form pores in the sperm cell membrane The addiction of 200 ìM trehalose to the freezing medium have different effects on the quality of boar sperm, showing highest motility and viability during the cooling process.

NEDD4-like ubiquitin ligase 2 protein (NEDL2) in porcine spermatozoa, oocytes, and preimplantation embryos and its role in oocyte fertilization†

The ubiquitin-proteasome system plays diverse regulatory and homeostatic roles in mammalian reproduction. Ubiquitin ligases are the substrate-specific mediators of ubiquitin-binding to its substrate proteins. The NEDD4-like ubiquitin ligase 2 (aliases NEDL2, HECW2) is a HECT-type ubiquitin ligase that contains one N-terminal HECW ubiquitin ligase domain, one C-terminal HECT ubiquitin ligase domain, one C2 domain, and two WW protein-protein interaction modules. Beyond its predicted ubiquitin-ligase activity, its cellular functions are largely unknown. Current studies were designed to investigate the content and distribution of NEDL2 in porcine spermatozoa, oocytes, zygotes, and early preimplantation embryos, and in cumulus cells before and after in vitro maturation with oocytes, and fibroblast cells as positive control by western blot and immunocytochemistry, and to examine its roles during oocyte fertilization. Multiple isoforms of NEDL2 were identified by WB. One at approximately 52 kDa was detected only in the germinal vesicle (GV) stage and metaphase II oocytes, and in early preimplantation embryos. Other isoforms were high mass bands at 91, 136, and 155 kDa, which were only detected in somatic cells. Interestingly, ejaculated spermatozoa prominently displayed the same 52 kDa band as oocytes; they also had two minor bands of 74 and 129 kDa, which were not detected in somatic cells or oocytes. By immunofluorescence, NEDL2 showed a diffused cytoplasmic localization in all cell types and accumulated in distinct foci in the germinal vesicles (GVs) of immature oocytes, in maternal and paternal pronuclei of zygotes and nuclei of embryo blastomeres and somatic cells. In blastocysts, the labeling intensity of NEDL2 was stronger in the inner cell mass than in trophoblast, indicating higher NEDL2 content in the ICM cells than in trophectoderm. NEDL2 abundance was 10 times higher in post-maturation oocyte-surrounding cumulus cells than that of cumulus cells before in vitro maturation with hormones, indicating that NEDL2 may have a unique role in cumulus cells after ovulation. Microinjection of anti-NEDL2 antibody into oocyte before IVF did not affect the percentage of oocytes fertilized, percentage of oocytes cleaved, or blastocyst formation. However, the anti-NEDL2 antibody decreased the number of pronuclei, accelerated the formation of nuclear precursor bodies at 6 h postfertilization, inhibited sperm DNA decondensation, and resulted in more fertilized oocytes without male pronuclear formation. In summary, NEDL2 may play a key role during fertilization, especially during sperm DNA decondensation.

Antioxidant effect of lutein protects against oxidative damage to porcine spermatozoa

<p>Boar sperm is especially susceptible to peroxidative damage generated by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Chemiluminescence was initiated by incubating porcine semen in an in vitro ascorbate-Fe++ system, a technique that allows the evaluation of oxidative stress in these cells. Lutein is known for its antioxidant effects, chemically it is a dihydric derivative of α-carotene and belongs to the group of xanthophylls. The main objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant effect of lutein on boar spermatozoa. The effect of lutein was analyzed by two methods: 1) by adding lutein: the sperm samples were placed in an in vitro ascorbate-Fe++ system, during 120 min at 37°C adding increasing amounts of lutein (50, 150 and 250 μg) per mg of protein and 2) by incubation with lutein in an in vitro ascorbate-Fe+2 system, for 120 min at 37°C, using spermatozoa obtained from porcine semen samples previously incubated with lutein (0.15 and 0.25 mg/ml) during 24 h at 15°C. In both methods a control group (without lutein) was used. Peroxidation was measured by chemiluminescence using a liquid scintillation counter, the light emission being quantified in cpm (counts per minute). Analyzing the effect of lutein by the two methods, it was observed that the total amount of cpm/mg of protein originated by chemiluminescence was lower in samples obtained from the lutein group than in the control group (without lutein). Total chemiluminescence (cpm total) was lower in samples obtained from the lutein group than in the control group (without lutein), with a significance of p&lt;0.005. Percent inhibition of peroxidation was not concentration dependent. These results would demonstrate that lutein could act as an antioxidant that would protect the membranes of the sperm from oxidative damage.</p>

The Centriolar Adjunct–Appearance and Disassembly in Spermiogenesis and the Potential Impact on Fertility

During spermiogenesis, the proximal centriole forms a special microtubular structure: the centriolar adjunct. This structure appears at the spermatid stage, which is characterized by a condensed chromatin nucleus. We showed that the centriolar adjunct disappears completely in mature porcine spermatozoa. In humans, the centriolar adjunct remnants are present in a fraction of mature spermatids. For the first time, the structure of the centriolar adjunct in the cell, and its consequent impact on fertility, were examined. Ultrastructural analysis using transmission electron microscopy was performed on near 2000 spermatozoa per person, in two patients with idiopathic male sterility (IMS) and five healthy fertile donors. We measured the average length of the “proximal centriole + centriolar adjunct” complex in sections, where it had parallel orientation in the section plane, and found that it was significantly longer in the spermatozoa of IMS patients than in the spermatozoa of healthy donors. This difference was independent of chromatin condensation deficiency, which was also observed in the spermatozoa of IMS patients. We suggest that zygote arrest may be related to an incompletely disassembled centriolar adjunct in a mature spermatozoon. Therefore, centriolar adjunct length can be potentially used as a complementary criterion for the immaturity of spermatozoa in the diagnostics of IMS patients.