Maturational changes in motility, acrosomal proteolytic activity, and penetrability of the inner perivitelline layer of fowl sperm, during their passage through the male genital tract

Ahammad, Muslah Uddin; Nishino, C.; Tatemoto, Hideki; Okura, Nobuhiko; Kawamoto, Y.; Okamoto, Susumu; Nakada, Tadashi

doi:10.1016/j.theriogenology.2011.05.017

Cited by 27 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 60 publications

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“…In many species, sperm are not mature or fertilisation competent following spermatogenesis and there is evidence that fowl sperm may also acquire fertilisation capacity progressively through their passage through the vas deferens4057585960. Consistent with this idea, a comparison of two independently derived RJF SF proteomes with the domestic chicken sperm proteome revealed considerable overlap and a significant enrichment of SFPs that are structural components of the flagellum.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

The Seminal fluid proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl offers insights into the molecular basis of fertility, reproductive ageing and domestication

Borziak

Alvarez-Fernandez

Karr

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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Seminal fluid proteins (SFPs) are emerging as fundamental contributors to sexual selection given their role in post-mating reproductive events, particularly in polyandrous species where the ejaculates of different males compete for fertilisation. SFP identification however remains taxonomically limited and little is known about avian SFPs, despite extensive work on sexual selection in birds. We characterize the SF proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl, Gallus gallus, the wild species that gave rise to the domestic chicken. We identify 1,141 SFPs, including proteins involved in immunity and antimicrobial defences, sperm maturation, and fertilisation, revealing a functionally complex SF proteome. This includes a predominant contribution of blood plasma proteins that is conserved with human SF. By comparing the proteome of young and old males with fast or slow sperm velocity in a balanced design, we identify proteins associated with ageing and sperm velocity, and show that old males that retain high sperm velocity have distinct proteome characteristics. SFP comparisons with domestic chickens revealed both qualitative and quantitative differences likely associated with domestication and artificial selection. Collectively, these results shed light onto the functional complexity of avian SF, and provide a platform for molecular studies of fertility, reproductive ageing, and domestication.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 80%

The Seminal fluid proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl offers insights into the molecular basis of fertility, reproductive ageing and domestication

Borziak

Alvarez-Fernandez

Karr

et al. 2016

Sci Rep

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“…Chicken testicular sperm can fertilize eggs when deposited into the magnum but not into the vagina of the hen [30], probably because of selective mechanisms in the uterovaginal junction of the oviduct [31]. Ahammad et al [32,33] proposed that chicken sperm experience morphological and biochemical maturation as they pass through the male reproductive tract, and that this is critical for their survival in the sperm storage tubules in the oviduct. The fertility of one quail hen extended to the second week after insemination, indicating that the sperm from the transplants can survive in the sperm storage tubules as long as that of ejaculated sperm [34], posing the question of whether maturation is necessary for quail sperm to survive in the oviduct and to fertilize eggs.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Production of Live Offspring from Testicular Tissue Cryopreserved by Vitrification Procedures in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)1

Liu

Cheng

Silversides

2013

Biology of Reproduction

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Cryopreservation of testicular tissue can be used for ex situ conservation of male germplasm of avian species. The possibility of using vitrification and transplantation of testicular tissue for fertility preservation and recovery was tested in Japanese quail. Testes were removed from 1-wk-old Japanese quail; transfixed on acupuncture needles; equilibrated with dimethyl sulphoxide, ethylene glycol, and sucrose; plunged into liquid nitrogen; and stored in 2-ml straws. Cryopreserved tissue was warmed in sucrose solution at room temperature or at 40°C. Fresh and cryopreserved tissue were transplanted subcutaneously into castrated, 1-wk-old recipients. Twenty of 21 recipients survived the surgery, and 18 had viable transplants at maturity, with no difference in transplantation success between fresh and cryopreserved tissue. Fluid extrusion from 11 of the transplants was collected and inseminated surgically into the magnum of 22 quail hens, and 10 inseminations included foam from the proctodeal gland of the same recipients. Egg production in the 2 wk after insemination was reduced, and none of the hens inseminated with foam produced fertile eggs. Five hens inseminated without foam produced a total of eight live offspring; four of these hens had been inseminated with fluid extrusion from cryopreserved tissue. Histological examination showed spermatogenesis in the transplants, and the tubules, lumens, and epithelium of the seminiferous tubules were of comparable size to those of testicular tissue from intact males. These results demonstrate that testicular tissue of Japanese quail can be preserved using vitrification procedures and recovered through transplantation.

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“…However, the only studies directly testing the development of fertilizing capacity have been on the domestic fowl and Japanese quail. These studies found that subjective scores of the percentage of motile sperm increase during epididymal transit, indicating that some post-testicular sperm maturation occurs in birds (Munro 1938, Clulow & Jones 1982, Ahammad et al 2011a, 2011b. Studies involving insemination into the vagina confirmed the need for some post-testicular sperm maturation (Munro 1938, Howarth 1983.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Post-testicular sperm maturation and identification of an epididymal protein in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

Nixon

Ewen²,

Krivanek³

et al. 2014

Reproduction

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The role of the avian epididymis in post-testicular development and capacitation was examined to assess whether avian spermatozoa undergo any processes similar to those characteristic of mammalian sperm development. We found no evidence of a need for quail sperm to undergo capacitation and 90% of testicular sperm could bind to a perivitelline membrane and acrosome react. However, computer-assisted sperm analysis showed that 20% of testicular sperm from the quail were capable of movement and only about 12% of the motile sperm would have a curvilinear velocity greater than the mean for sperm from the distal epididymis. Nevertheless, epididymal transit was associated with increases in mean sperm velocity and the proportion of motile sperm. Together, these findings explain why earlier workers have achieved some fertilizations following inseminations of testicular spermatozoa and also demonstrate the need for some epididymal maturation of avian spermatozoa. Analysis of the electrophoretic profile of quail epididymal luminal proteins revealed that only one major protein (w16 kDa) is secreted by the epididymis and it was virtually the only protein secreted by the ipsilateral epididymis following unilateral orchidectomy. Mass spectrometry showed that this protein is hemoglobin; this finding was confirmed using anti-hemoglobin antibodies. It is suggested that hemoglobin may support sperm metabolism in the quail epididymis, aid in motility, and/or serve as an antioxidant.

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Maturational changes in motility, acrosomal proteolytic activity, and penetrability of the inner perivitelline layer of fowl sperm, during their passage through the male genital tract

Cited by 27 publications

References 60 publications

The Seminal fluid proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl offers insights into the molecular basis of fertility, reproductive ageing and domestication

The Seminal fluid proteome of the polyandrous Red junglefowl offers insights into the molecular basis of fertility, reproductive ageing and domestication

Production of Live Offspring from Testicular Tissue Cryopreserved by Vitrification Procedures in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)1

Post-testicular sperm maturation and identification of an epididymal protein in the Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)

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