Flow cytometry in Spermatology: A bright future ahead

Abstract

Techniques such as mass spectrometry have led to unprecedented knowledge of the proteins that are present in the spermatozoa of humans and other mammals. However, in spite of their high-throughput and fractioning techniques, most of the techniques in use only offer average values for the entire sperm population. Yet, ejaculate is very heterogeneous, and average values may mask relevant biological information.The application of flow cytometry may overcome this disadvantage, allowing proteomic analysis at the single-cell level. Moreover, recent advances in cytometry, allowing multiple analyses within a single cell combined with powerful statistical tools, as an expanding subfield in spermatology, are described. The increased use of advanced flow cytometers in andrology laboratories will allow the rapid development of multiparametric, multicolour flow cytometry in andrology that will expand the clinical applications and research possibilities of flow cytometry-based proteomic approaches, especially in the subfields of clinical andrology and sperm biotechnology.

Sperm Cryodamage in Ruminants: Understanding the Molecular Changes Induced by the Cryopreservation Process to Optimize Sperm Quality

“…A recent empirical study on bull sperm subpopulations obtained by a sperm selection procedure showed that the kinematic and functional differences between these subpopulations could be attributed to the different protein profiles detected in these subpopulations [111]. In this context, the use of computational and multiparametric flow cytometry seems to be a promising strategy to study multiple proteins simultaneously to their effects on sperm functionality at a single-cell level [112]. This approach would enhance our molecular understanding about the heterogeneous complexity of ejaculates, thereby contributing to identifying those sperm subpopulations with high cryotolerance.…”

Flow cytometry analysis of spermatozoa: Is it time for flow spermetry?

“…Technical improvements in the machines, such as the use of avalanche photodiodes, also increases the sensitivity of the cytometers (Lawrence, Varadi, Entine, Podniesinski, & Wallace, ) allowing new applications in andrology. The aim of this review is to present an overview of recent developments in flow cytometry that can be readily applied to the study of the biology of the spermatozoa; classical flow cytometry protocols will not be reviewed here and the reader is referred to recent reviews covering classical flow cytometry protocols in Spermatology (Martinez‐Pastor et al., ; Ortega‐Ferrusola, Gil, et al., ; Pena, Ortega Ferrusola, & Martin, ; Petrunkina & Harrison, ).…”

Cyanobacteria reduce motility of quagga mussel (Dreissena rostriformis bugensis) sperm

“…Whereas previous studies used fluorescent dye and flow cytometry to analyze sperm mortality in zebra mussels (Favret and Lynn ), an optical bioassay was used in the present study to provide measurements on movement of sperm exposed to cyanobacteria. The optical bioassay allowed us to track multiple endpoints of motility for individual sperm, which is not yet possible using flow cytometry (Ortega‐Ferrusola et al ). Such methods are undocumented in the current literature for use on sperm but can provide more detailed data on how environmental stressors influence delicate life‐history stages such as reproduction.…”