Proteins from male and female reproductive tracts involved in sperm function regulation

Abstract

SummarySpermatogenesis is a dynamic process that culminates in the production of mature spermatozoa in the seminiferous tubules of sexually mature animals. Although sperm leaving the testis are fully differentiated, they must further undergo two additional maturation steps before acquiring the capability to fertilize the egg. Such processes take place during the epididymal residency and transport in the seminal fluid during ejaculation and, after delivery into the female reproductive tract, during the journey aiming the encountering the egg in the oviduct. Throughout this trip, spermatozoa are exposed to different reproductive fluids whose molecular compositions regulate the progress towards obtaining a fertilized competent cell. This review summarizes the evidence obtained so far supporting the participation of male and female reproductive tract-derived proteins in the modulation of sperm fertilizing ability and discusses the mechanisms by which such regulation may be accomplished.

A Simple, Centrifugation-Free, Sperm-Sorting Device Eliminates the Risks of Centrifugation in the Swim-Up Method While Maintaining Functional Competence and DNA Integrity of Selected Spermatozoa

“…Protein tyrosine phosphorylation is a key intracellular signalling event regulating sperm function and is an indicator of capacitation and essential for sperm to correctly undergo acrosome reaction. [25][26][27] Seminal fluid-derived proteins attached to the sperm surface can inhibit the process of capacitation by negatively affecting the hyperactive motility and protein tyrosine phosphorylation [28]. The seminal plasma was in contact with spermatozoa throughout the MS selection, and our results have shown that the protein tyrosine phosphorylation level was affected in the processed fraction; however, the level was significantly higher than that of the DG group.…”

Freezing–Thawing Procedures Remodel the Proteome of Ram Sperm before and after In Vitro Capacitation

“…In line with these data, we found that incubation under CAP conditions increased sperm motility, mitochondrial activity, and tyrosine phosphorylation compared to NC conditions. During their journey through the female reproductive tract, sperm interact with different proteins, molecules, and hormones to achieve fertilization [18]. Under in vitro conditions, ram sperm are frequently incubated in a capacitating medium supplemented with estrous sheep serum (ESS) to acquire their fertilizing ability [37,38].…”

“…However, some authors proposed a new viewpoint, where translation of new proteins from mRNA transcripts can take place during sperm capacitation [14,15,16]. Therefore, the acquisition of sperm function and their fertilizing ability depend on post-translational modifications of existing proteins [17], interaction with proteins present in the male and female reproductive tract [18], or probably even on the synthesis of new proteins [19].…”

Protamine and other proteins in sperm and seminal plasma as molecular markers of bull fertility

“…The high levels of BSP1 will cause an imbalance in the plasma membrane, so the sperm will be more sensitive during cryopreservation [41], and cause early capacitation of sperm, which will reduce or reduce the cryosurvivability and fertility of the bull [42,43]. Viana et al [44] reported that high BSP5 concentrations are found in high fertility bulls, and this protein is very useful in the process of membrane stability and sperm capacitation, and embryonic development.…”